The Neighbourhood

The existential threat to India posed by China's Pakistan gambit

The massive Chinese investment in Pakistan has dangerous consequences for India too, and geopolitical equations change. Even China may have got more than it bargained for. India needs to play its cards extremely carefully

Sugar Daddy Xi Jinping is effectively reducing Pakistan to a vassal state

The Chinese plan to invest a massive $46 billion in Pakistan may be aimed against India, but it is also an effort to keep Pakistan in one piece and prevent Islamist jihadis from threatening China's own backyard

Double the force: Parikkar takes Modi-Doval hardline on Pak firing further

The new NDA policy of hitting Pakistan back hard when provoked is a much-needed corrective to the old policy of not doing anything to escalate tensions.

China needs a U-turn, India only a nudge on the road to reform

In many ways, India is farther down the road to reform than China. But China tends to be more decisive when it decides to makes changes while we blunder along

Summit to nowhere: SAARC won't take off as long as Pakistan is on board

The SAARC summit now underway in Nepal will not deliver any major results because of Pakistan's decision to play spoilsport. No economic bloc can take off without key belligerents agreeing to a political deal before signing up.

Freed fishermen: Modi tells Tamil Nadu parties they are part of the problem

The release of five fishermen convicted on drug trafficking charges by the Sri Lankan President at Modi's intervention has shown Tamil politicians that so far they have been part of the problem, not the solution, on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue

Modi can't expect any quarter from Xi Jinping; China respects only power

India and China are destined to have a difficult relationship despite rising trade. This is because we want to maintain the status quo and they don't - and they are stronger than us right now.

Why Modi-Jinping talks must also focus on CoK - China-occupied Kashmir

Some 19 percent of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir is under Chinese occupation. Modi will have to bring these into the broader discussions when Xi Jinping comes.

It's not about Kashmir: Like UPA, PM Modi is on the wrong track with Pakistan

Pakistan's creation as an ideological state based on religion and in opposition to India makes it a genetically defective nation-state, as on Pakistani journalist notes. Our strategy needs to deal with this reality, not the romance of peace.

Why it should be NPR plus Aadhaar, not NPR or Aadhaar

The home ministry is giving NPR primacy over Nandan Nilekani's Aadhaar. Actually, Rajnath Singh should use both, and the objective should be to identify illegal immigrants, but not throw them out.