Patel vs. Patel
Has Hardik Patel done more harm than good to the Patel community? The Patels of the US say that their credibility has been tarnished by the protests in Gujarat. Seema Sirohi talks to Patels in America and assesses their mood.
Has Hardik Patel done more harm than good to the Patel community? The Patels of the US say that their credibility has been tarnished by the protests in Gujarat. Seema Sirohi talks to Patels in America and assesses their mood.
If the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership moves ahead after further negotiations were held in July, Indian exporters could be disadvantaged. Instead, India must be ready to use the further opening up of huge markets across the Atlantic, and adopt trade policies that mix regionalism and multilateralism.
The cancellation of the August 23-24 meeting of the national security advisors of India and Pakistan follows a pattern of unrealistic expectations raised and then quickly dashed. This is compounded by Pakistan’s long history of denial on numerous issues. It may be time for both countries to abjure high-profile diplomacy and turn to small confidence-building measures.
India, along with China, will present the case for food security protections at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in December, where India will find it difficult to maintain its integrity as both a leader of G33 countries and a nation that has an expressed stake in the expansion of global trade. But it should stick to the G33’s Bali proposal for flexibilities for developing countries.
In Germany in June 2015, G7 countries made major commitments towards decarbonisation and reduction in greenhouse gases, which will lead to binding decisions at the COP-21 conference in Paris in December. Germany pushed for these outcomes, and as one of the most energy efficient countries in the world its technology and expertise can help India’s targets of alternative energy and sustainable industry.
A report by the Carnegie Endowment and the Stimson Center attempts to recognise Pakistan’s nuclear programme as ‘normal’ and India’s as not. However, with dangerous new additions to Islamabad’s arsenal, a throwback to simplistic US rationalisations still won’t bring Pakistan into the non-proliferation mainstream.
The second Forum for India and the Pacific Islands in Jaipur on August 21 will be a historic summit that brings together the interests of India and the 14 island countries of the Pacific. It is India’s acknowledgement of the emerging strategic importance of the Pacific region, and a chance for the islands to turn this into an opportunity for growth, development, and greater security.
The India-Africa Forum Summit in October in New Delhi will be a milestone event, with more than 50 African states and representatives from the African Union participating. It will demonstrate how Africa fits into India’s new foreign policy outlook, clarify to African countries how ‘Make in India’ impacts their economies, and will be an opportunity for both sides to renew development cooperation.
South Asia’s national anthems are patriotic rather than nationalistic.
A month after Iran’s milestone nuclear deal with the P5+1 countries, the fine print is being scrutinised by hardliners in Iran and the deal will eventually be prepared for implementation by President Rouhani’s government. India, poised to revitalise bilateral trade, will be among many countries that can now benefit from robust business ties with the Persian Gulf country.