Vikas Khanna An attack on an airbase in the border town of Pathankot by Pakistan-based terrorists poses a serious challenge to immediate engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad. The siege, which continued for more than 72 hours, left seven Indian soldiers dead and scores others injured. The January 15 foreign secretary level talks seem to be in jeopardy. That National … [Read more...] about Ping-Pong in Indo-Pakistan talks needs a pause
No Lessons Learnt, Intelligence fails again
Vikas Khanna While Indian government may be self congratulating itself for containing the terror attack in Pathankot and securing assets in the air base, it can be accused of glossing over intelligence failure. Authorities had prior information of such an attack. An alert had already been sounded. Then on Friday, the terrorists infiltrated into India before striking at two … [Read more...] about No Lessons Learnt, Intelligence fails again
Dormant India-Pakistan ties need a jolt
Vikas Khanna It was not a surprise stopover when Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Lahore from Afghanistan to meet and greet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his 66th birthday. It was the visit shrouded in secrecy. Since the PMO has taken over reigns of foreign affairs with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the helm, diplomacy has acquired a new meaning. … [Read more...] about Dormant India-Pakistan ties need a jolt
From Paris to Bangkok to Islamabad in 10 days!
Vikas Khanna The lightening speed with which India-Pakistan talks have traveled is amusing if not baffling. Can a less than three-minute conversation between prime ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Paris climate summit change the atmospherics so much that the two countries would agree to composite dialogue within 10 days? How can a government, … [Read more...] about From Paris to Bangkok to Islamabad in 10 days!
When will the West’s romanticism with terror end?
Vikas Khanna A series of recent terror attacks, the latest being the coordinated Mumbai-style attacks in Paris, should serve as a warning to the global community that terrorists can’t be friends of anybody. India, which has been a victim of terrorism for decades, has been pleading for a global action, but its pleas have fallen on deaf ears. As long as the West was not hit, it … [Read more...] about When will the West’s romanticism with terror end?