Turkey, Russia tiptoe toward ‘unnecessary war’

The Russian destruction of Turkish fleet at the Battle of Sinop on 30th November 1853 sparked the Crimean War. (Painting by Ivan Aivazovsky, Russian Romantic painter who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art.) A military confrontation between Turkey and Syria has erupted in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib. Latest reports say …

Pakistan’s triumphalist moment in regional security

The acrimony over the disputed results of the Afghan presidential election notwithstanding, there has been a consensus within Afghanistan for the “reduction in violence” plan negotiated by the US and the Taliban, which commenced at midnight Friday.  Hope has replaced despondency. President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former president Hamid Karzai (who is …

US rams down Taliban pact. Will Afghans throw up?

US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (L) called on former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Kabul, Feb, 20, 2020 The manner in which the Trump administration is ramming down the Afghan throat a peace settlement is disconcerting. Delhi’s silence is more so. One shudders to think that comprador elements in the Indian establishment could be silently collaborating …

Russia warns Turkey against rash moves in Idlib

Turkish military reinforcements preparing to cross the border into Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, February 12, 2020 Moscow has taken with a pinch of salt Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s statement on Wednesday that a Turkish incursion into the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib is imminent.  Objectively speaking, Erdogan should be out of his mind to order …

India should be wary of US ‘pro-activism’ on Lanka’s Tamil problem

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena (C) summoned US envoy AlainaTeplitz to convey “strong objections” on the travel restrictions on Army Commander & Actg. Chief of Defence Staff, Colombo, Feb. 16, 2020. What cannot be lost sight of is that the “public designation” of the Sri Lankan army chief and Acting Chief of Defense Staff …

Tweaking ‘Namaste Trump’ is still possible

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar accosting US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Munich, Bavaria, February 15, 2020  Among the notable interactions External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has had on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (February 14-16), the momentary encounter  with the US House Speaker Nancy …