Seema Sirohi is currently based in Washington as a senior journalist specializing in foreign policy. She received her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and studied sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
As a journalist, she has covered India-US relations for more than two decades for The Telgraph, Outlook and Anand Bazar Patrika, writing on topics ranging from geo-politics and the North-South divide to Pakistan and Afghanistan. She has reported from various nations around the globe, such as Italy, Israel and Pakistan and published opinion pieces in The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor and The Baltimore Sun.
She was also a commentator with National Public Radio and has made various appearences with BBC and CNN. Apart from her career as an analyst and journalist, as an author, she has published a book titled Sita’s Curse: Stories of Dowry Victims (HarperCollins India) in 2003.
Seema Sirohi is also on Twitter, and her handle is @seemasirohi
In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, the Pakstani deep state role was highlighted. The U.S. has come to realise this reality too. Bilateral information sharing could prove to be vital to combat terrorism - both regionally and globally.
The first Indo-U.S. Education Summit held last week showed much promise. While education can be driving force of the strategic dialogue between the two countries, this is also an opportunity for business. India's massive education sector, estimated at $25 billion, is waiting to be tapped.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech at the UN General Assembly has put Indian perceptions on the record and clearly outlined India’s independent foreign policy. India came out unequivocally in support of the Palestinian struggle & reiterated its traditional stance of respecting countries’ sovereignty.
Repeated applause greeted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' speech to the UN General Assembly, asking for support for the “establishment of Palestine.” But with the U.S. backing Israel, under almost all circumstances, will Abbas' proposal be able to bring about any change?
Although the U.S. has not faced another terrorist attack since 9/11, much has changed in its democratic framework. Gripped by fear, 3,984 federal, state and local organizations work on domestic counter-terrorism, spending an estimated $1 trillion.
The job of forging partnerships while sustaining India’s interests is done by its ambassadors –and New Delhi has the unique distinction of sending two women ambassadors in a row to the US. A study of Indian envoy Meera Shankar’s tenure, and what awaits her successor –and former foreign secretary–Nirupama Rao.
The U.S. Justice Department is slowly but surely clamping down on Pakistani terrorist activities, as is evident not only by the recent arrest of Kashmiri propogandist Ghulam Nabi Fai but also in open claim that the ISI Security Directorate "overseas militant groups".
The 10-year old war in Afghanistan has reached a hazy stage as the U.S. announced a quicker withdrawal of troops, with NATO countries soon to follow. The South Asian region will undergo another makeover, hopefully opening doors for New Delhi and Islamabad.
With the post for the head of the International Monetary Fund up for grabs, the emerging market countries are yet to unite and provide a suitable candidate who receives formidable support for his or her candidature. China, however, may boldly question the status quo and step ahead.
Even ardent supporters of Pakistan are unable to explain to Washington, and indeed the rest of the world, how Osama Bin Laden lived in a mansion with the Pakistani military and ISI as his neighbours. The implications on US-Pak relations are likely to be heavy.
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