Just wanted to let you know that Drishtikone's blogs are now available for subscription on Amazon's Kindle. So, if you have Kindle and would like to read a unique perspective on topics and issues related to India and the rest of South Asia (including Pakistan etc), please do subscribe to Drishtikone. Read more
The military operation against Taliban will create more problems going forward is probably best brought home by what Sufi Mohammad, the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief said this week.[1] "The peace deal has been broken by the government. Even in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian government does not use bombs against its own people. The government is trying to keep a foreign power happy by killing its own people." It is questionable whether Army is actually killing Taliban in all the areas. Even Pakistanis themselves are not certain about this fact. But even if they are - then they are losing the PR battle. The Lal Masjid offensive was bad enough and created many more Jehadi minds amongst the devout. This offensive - where the Government should have used Obama's proverbial "scalpel" instead of a "hatchet" to weed out the Taliban fighters - will create even more brain-washed youth. Read more
Sometimes you come across a news item and are surprised at where all can the Indian companies go. I just happened to read about Aurobindo Pharma opening up a facility in Malta - of all places... to make that a packaging, warehousing and manufacturing hub - which will obviously feed the European market. Pretty interesting. The €3 million factory at Hal Far was innaugurated by teh Maltese Finance Mnister Tonio Fenech. Honestly, I haven't really heard or read about Aurobindo Pharma a lot, but from the look of it, they seem quite ambitious and well positioned to be a leading player in the years to come. They already have 14 facilities around the world to produce generics and do lab work. Read more
Eisuke Sakakibara, Japan's Vice finance minister in the 1990s, said in a forum at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) that the current global recession will last 2 to 5 years. Read more
As the economy goes up or down in the eyes of various analysts.. some figures as they come in: India's exports are down year-on-year from last year by 33%. They contracted for 7 months in a row as the demand goes down in the West.[1] Depending on who you talk to the GDP growth for India will be much slower than the past years but still a respectable figure. The Rating agency Fitch gives a figure of 5% growth in GDP.[2] Meanwhile a survey of 17 forecasters conducted by the Reserve Bank gives a figure of 5.7%.[3] Read more
What is the Similarity between Shahrukh Khan and Gandhi? Both returned to India after getting insulted in SOUTH AFRICA. Read more
From all apparent evidence, it now seems certain that a combination of different parties may come to the center in India. Although, NDA may get more seats, Congress or Third Front - with the support of the other.. may form the Government. Read more
A new study by BBC shows that only 38% of the NWFP and surrounding areas are under the Pakistan Government's control. That means 62% is outside of the Government's "real" jurisdiction. The source of the study is based on the research of BBC's Urdu News Service. The claim has been denied by the Zardari Government. The map, compiled by the BBC's Urdu language service, was based on local research and correspondent reports as well as conversations with officials. Many have been fleeing the area as the fighting goes on in that area. In fact, one Pakistani blogger I interacted also suggested that the Pak Army in some areas may be working along with Taliban and actually bombing innocent civilians (the blogger has gotten some exclusive pictures which confirm it - although they have not been shared in public). In at least some cases, innocent civilians are presented as Taliban in front of the world. As this shopkeeper in the news article on BBC says, normal and innocent civilians are in deep distress. "People are becoming mentally ill, our senses have shut down, children and woman are crying, please tell the government to pull us out of here," This is troubling - specially looking at the map. But what is even more troubling is the claim of the correspondent from BBC that in 47% of Punjab province, the militancy and violence may increase further. Read more
The last phase of the elections is over. And the exit polls are now making their presence felt now. According to the various exit polls, one thing becomes clear - that Congress has a lead - little, but definite one. However, if the overall UPA and NDA alliance is taken into account, then one feels that NDA has a better tally than the UPA. But that is where the rational forecasting stops. The dark horses are those in the Third Front. It is obvious that Congress and these rag-tag Third Front have at different times supported each other at different times totally at variance with the election promises and manifestoes. In a radio program in Houston, where I was invited, I had argued that manifestoes - based on which so many debates are done, are basically useless! Specifically in case of Congress. Because we all know that they will in the end join Communists and make a mincemeat of all the progressive and trade oriented thinking! So basically get ready for a round of hard core horse trading by Congress and YET AGAIN... the joining of hands with Communists.. not for something positive.. but to "keep BJP out". Sometimes, I wonder if the Third Front and Congress say this because they are afraid of a majority actually BECOMING a vote bank? Why are they so afraid of BJP? And please let's not get into the "Secular vs Communalism" nonsense! Congress and Communists are more communal than BJP but they have been more effective in projecting themselves. It is easy in India to utter the word "Hindu" or "Hindutva" and make one embarrassed. Such is the ridiculous situation! No one party has killed and abused as many communities - minorities and majority - to retain power as Congress has! Read more
I haven't kept up with my twitter messages. Today I looked at them and saw the link from @arunsark (Thanks Arun!). He sent me a link from CNN-IBN where the leading Af-Pak US expert is warning that another 26/11 style attack on India is a "serious" possibility.[1] Bruce Riedel is the guy. He is extremely important from US standpoint as Obama had appointed him as chair of White House review to overhaul of U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan by April, which he has already presented. A lot of what is happening in Pakistan - specifically the change in tone and direction of US-Pakistan relationship is due to the assessment of Riedel. Riedel has said categorically that "there is a serious risk of another Mumbai-style attack.". As Arun pointed out to me via his tweet, Riedel seems to echo what this post on Drishtikone had warned against. Read more
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