Articles in Courtesy: Mail Today

Pakistan isn't ready for peace with India
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 26 Aug , 2014
We have to draw some hard lessons from the latest drama in India-Pakistan relations. If we do not, we will continue being beset with unmet expectations, unrequited gestures and a thousand...

India's foreign policy has become a delicate balancing act
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 25 Jun , 2014
The complexity of our foreign relations is illustrated by certain realities of our external political, economic, defence and popular ties. In the case of our major partners individually, the...

Foreign ties will blossom under the new Modi government
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 20 May , 2014
The BJP’s massive electoral victory brings us foreign policy gains. The prospect of a strong and stable government in India makes our external image more positive. Modi’s personality gives us...

India must revamp its policy towards Pakistan
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 22 Apr , 2014
Several aspects of our Pakistan policy need a fresh look by the new government in May, though how much change can be brought about remains an open question as the issues involved and the options...

The future of Indo-US ties now lies squarely on America's shoulders
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 11 Apr , 2014
After entering a green light mode, India-US relations have slipped into an amber mode. How soon we can get back into smooth circulation will depend largely on the US, as the responsibility for the...

Modi's stance on foreign policy remains a mystery
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 25 Mar , 2014
Little interest has been shown domestically about possible new orientations in foreign policy under a Modi-led NDA government. Modi’s single-minded focus on the development agenda has dominated...

Turning Putin into a Demon
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 14 Feb , 2014
From our vantage point the vicious onslaught against president Putin in western political circles, especially the media, is difficult to appreciate. The media is of course reflecting prevailing...

The right way to look East
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 28 Jan , 2014
Much has been achieved during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s current visit to India and much has not. In reiterating a clear intention to strengthen bilateral ties, the visit has been a...

Abe’s visit will bolster security ties
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 14 Jan , 2014
Japan’s Prime Minister Abe will be the chief guest at our next Republic Day, a decision that marks India’s reciprocal interest in deepening bilateral political and economic ties. Until now the...

Fixing the Fault Lines in 2014
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 30 Dec , 2013
Our major foreign policy challenges are enduring and no dramatic change in our security environment is likely in 2014. Relations with Pakistan could actually worsen. Nawaz Sharif is focusing on...

Iran’s Nuclear Deal: Embracing change in West Asia
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 27 Nov , 2013
The interim nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 countries opens up real prospects of resolving an issue that has generated enormous tensions in the region for years with threats of military...

India being pulled apart from within
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 13 Nov , 2013
The political controversy generated over Prime Minister’s participation in the Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka on November 15 deepens mounting concerns about our foreign policy being...

India and the US: Slow and Steady Relationship
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 24 Sep , 2013
All eyes will be on the meeting between our Prime Minister and President Obama this week and what it produces. This is natural as our relationship with the US is, in many ways, the most important...

Syria: Need proof to pass judgment
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 10 Sep , 2013
The G 20 meeting in St Petersburg has further exposed and deepened international divisions on Syria. President Obama believes that the Syrian government is responsible for last month’s chemical...

India lost in Afghan endgame
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 27 Aug , 2013
The situation in Afghanistan is full of uncertainties and the prospects of India’s neighbourhood becoming even more difficult for us are real. We have little control over the situation in...

Dialogue With Pak A Trap
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 13 Aug , 2013
Our response to the killing of five Indian soldiers last week by the Pakistanis inside our Line of Control has again shown our inability to deal effectively with the dual issue of dialoguing with...

Political Islam’s Failure
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 09 Jul , 2013
If the overthrow of President Mubarak by the mass of protestors in Tahrir Square in 2011 was a surprise, the ouster of President Morsi by even larger protests in Tahrir Square and across Egypt in...

Make most of Japan’s overtures
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 12 Jun , 2013
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan from May 27 to 30 was opportune as the circumstances today are more propitious than ever for India and Japan to forge a solid strategic...

India’s China Syndrome
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 29 May , 2013
India-China relations are complex enough not to be seen in black and white terms. Amidst all the good reasons for India to mistrust China and deal with it as an adversary, it makes sense to work...

Bowing down to the dragon
By: Kanwal Sibal | Issue: Courtesy: Mail Today | Date: 14 May , 2013
Our statements on the recent India-China face-off in Ladakh continue to confound. One would have thought that we would have analysed the incident in depth, tried to figure out China’s...