Opinion News - Page 23
Geopolitics has no free lunches: Pragmatism is Bangladesh’s only real option
New Delhi has clearly articulated its approach with a more robust Neighbourhood First policy, but the ball is in Dhaka’s court. Tarique Rahman must make the right choices to steer Bangladesh onto a development path
When graffiti becomes history: Indian imprints in the land of Pharaohs and beyond
While ancient Indian graffiti in Egypt may be in the news right now, historical graffiti are not rare either in India or elsewhere in the world
How Bangladesh polls prick the ‘Gen Z revolution’ bubble and leave students in the lurch
Protesting students gathered on the streets in pursuit of true democracy but ended up as puppets for the designs of the deep state
Why Trump is rebuffing Netanyahu’s push for a tougher stance on Iran
The US president has stated that reaching a diplomatic deal with Iran is his ‘preference’
Bangladesh polls: Tarique Rahman’s resounding victory comes with a crown of thorns
With a two-thirds majority, BNP leader Tarique Rahman must now act decisively to meet the formidable challenges and honour his lofty promises. He would do well to remember that public memory is short, Bangladesh’s youth are restless, and its generals have historically not remained indifferent observers
How Saudi Arabia’s embrace of ‘Axis of Ikhwan’ shatters the IMEC dream
Mohammed Bin Salman might keep the illusion of participation open—all the better to play into the wishful thinking of the West that does not want to acknowledge the loss of Saudi Arabia—but India should be under no illusion
Dealing with China: Why trade and Kailash Yatra should be India’s opening move before LAC settlement
A simpler first step for an India-China reset could be to reopen the frontiers as they were in the 1950s, particularly for trade and the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage, following the centuries-old tradition
How Islamists are the real winners in Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party may have won the 2026 election, but with the Jamaat rising to take the principal opposition position, the real victory has been for the Islamists
Bangladesh polls: People choose stability over chaos, but Dhaka’s real test begins
The verdict is not a triumph of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party alone. It is a collective signal that governance matters more than agitation, and that radical rhetoric does not substitute for administrative competence
PM Modi’s Kuala Lumpur visit: India’s ties with Malaysia enter a comprehensive strategic phase
A total of 10 agreements were signed between the two countries, covering diverse areas including disaster management, combating corruption, semiconductors, and UN peacekeeping operations
Epstein’s death homicide or suicide? Latest DoJ files deepen mystery
Newly released interviews of an inmate and two guards present during Jeffrey Epstein’s death and the differences in the DoJ and FBI analyses of footage raise serious questions
Bangladesh polls: Why India should watch Jamaat’s resurgence closely
Jamaat’s return to the centre of electoral politics signals a new and potentially volatile chapter in the country’s political development — one whose implications will be felt well beyond Bangladesh
Journalism’s business model is broken: Lessons from Washington Post layoffs
Journalism has survived many crises, but today’s challenge is different because it is built into the economics of the industry itself
From Berbera to Bab el-Mandeb: Enter the New Great Game in the Horn of Africa
As Somaliland enters the diplomatic spotlight, the Horn of Africa is fast becoming the epicentre of a new great-power contest over the Red Sea and global trade routes
How Jamaat breaks free of BNP’s shadow to emerge as a power centre in Bangladesh polls
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leads an 11-party alliance, formalised in late 2025, bringing together traditional Islamist forces like Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Nezame-e-Islam, as well as an apparently secular force in the form of the National Citizen Party
How great empires rise and fall: A cue to America’s fate
Like Ottoman, Mughal, Qing and British, America’s decline will be gradual
How Trump is pursuing America First in the Ukraine war and Iran crisis
On Ukraine, the US is keen to draw Russia away from China, while in Iran its focus has shifted from supporting protestors to military and nuclear issues, signalling that it does not anticipate a regime change in the near future
A big step in the right direction: Decoding the India-US interim trade deal
The India-US interim trade agreement is a significant, positive development in bilateral economic ties. Yet, the broader relationship remains subject to the unpredictable whims and transactional demands of the Trump administration
From Bangladesh to Nepal, US to Israel: Elections that New Delhi will be closely watching in 2026
From disputed ballots and snap elections to historic landslides and democratic pushback against extremism, 2026 is shaping up as a year of political reckoning
What Takaichi’s ‘wonderful and rearmed’ Japan will have for India
Sanae Takaichi views India as a civilisational ally, and in the Takaichi-Modi era, the Indo-Pacific has a new, formidable, evolving axis
Japan: Sanae Takaichi secures a historic mandate, but uphill challenges lie ahead
Although Takaichi may enjoy the proverbial political honeymoon phase for a while, in the longer term, she has to do a lot of balancing acts in ensuring her popular base while steering the country forward amidst regional and global tumult and geopolitical unpredictability
PM Modi's Malaysia visit: A diplomatic catch-up or a strategic reset?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stand-alone visit to Malaysia remains a careful step toward keeping doors open in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific
Operation Herof 2.0: Pakistan is a pawn in the new Great Game in Balochistan
Operation Herof 2.0 may ultimately be remembered as the moment when Pakistan failed to realise that it is no longer the kingmaker playing the Great Game but a pawn in the hands of great powers getting played in the very same game
US-India interim trade deal: Don’t let ‘perfect’ become the enemy of good
One should seek 99.99% purity in bullion, not strategic autonomy
Beyond ‘Ikkis’: Arun Khetarpal and Hanut Singh’s heroics in the 1971 war
From the battlefield of Basantar to the pages of history, saint-soldier Lt Gen Hanut Singh and young champ Second Lt Arun Khetarpal embodied courage, strategy, and sacrifice that transcended their era
India-US trade deal: A strategic win or a tough choice?
The true measure of success for India’s latest trade manoeuvres will lie in execution. If India leverages improved market access to accelerate its manufacturing, broaden its export portfolio, and attract investment into high-tech industries, it could pave the way for long-term economic resilience
How Islamabad Shia mosque bombing fits Pakistan’s history of manufactured crises
Several incidents illustrate an alleged pattern: the army uses violence as a tool to manipulate narratives, secure budgets, and maintain control, often at the expense of its citizens, to project itself as a necessary evil to fend off against India
Historical ties, strategic horizons: The significance of PM Modi’s Malaysia visit
India and Malaysia have shared historical and cultural linkages through trade, civilisation, and people-to-people contacts, and it is time to give these ties renewed relevance for a win-win proposition amid shifting regional dynamics
Deal or no deal, India should remain cautious of Trump
India should never allow Donald Trump the illusion that he is in the driver’s seat
Beyond Trumpian tariffs: Trade deal fortifies India-US ties, boosts global supply goals
Beyond tariff cuts, the Trump-Modi understanding reflects India’s calibrated alignment with the West and its ambition to anchor global supply chains without surrendering strategic autonomy