This week has been one of the most eventful in recent times in the chronicles of Indian diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping signalled their intent to defuse tensions with their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia. This development has been preceded by South Block announcing that both sides had agreed to patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
After generating days of excitement in the media, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit finally concluded with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar making a quick visit to Islamabad. For all the speculation about India and Pakistan, in the end, what the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the SCO will likely be remembered for is perhaps Jaishankar's sunglasses. In this age of intense social media scrutiny, a small clip, now viral, of Jaishankar sporting his sunglasses in style became symbolic of India's confidence in dealing with Pakistan. Hilarious though this might seem, all that is left of Pakistan in Indian foreign policy imagination today is decoding our diplomats' style and body language.
Haryana’s outcome show that people can still trust a political leadership that disappointed earlier, provided it promises something better. India’s political leadership should read that as a chance to revive farm reforms.
The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024. The Bill seeks to replace the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, of 1925.
The delegates invited, the agenda unveiled, and the larger context, indicate China’s efforts to convert Tibet (renamed recently as Xizang) into the fulcrum of sub-regional initiatives as well as to expand China’s influence in the neighbourhood.
Sheikh Hasina, now a guest of India, has accused the United States of orchestrating her ouster under the guise of a ‘student revolution’. With mounting US pressure over the years and alleged plans to acquire Bangladesh's St Martin’s Island, Hasina's suspicions have grown. Meanwhile, China, leveraging Bangladesh’s $6 billion debt, stands to gain significantly, further deepening its influence in the region as it eyes strategic control over the Bay of Bengal and strengthens its economic ties with Dhaka.
For the Rights to explore 'Cobalt-Rich Crusts’ In the Indian Ocean.