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A tribute to Chandan, a large-hearted man
A multifaceted personality, he juggled many hats with aplomb and dexterity. But his soft, kind heart was easily his biggest asset by Ashok K Mehta I first met Chandan when he was resident editor, Hin…
Columns
The never-ending devastation of Afghanistan
There were a host of reasons that led to the abject and sudden collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces in so short a period by Ashok K Mehta With a steady supply of Kabul cherries till early…
Columns
Afghanistan falling to the Taliban
Though New Delhi belatedly began back-channelling the Taliban, it must now explore all possible options to checkmate it in sync with Iran by Ashok K Mehta In his Twelve Dilemmas Behind the UK’s Afgh…
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India: When politicos pass the buck to military
After decades-long wait, Modi 2.0 appointed Gen Rawat as the CDS in 2019 but the Defence Planning Committee fell short of groundwork by Ashok K Mehta Before the monsoon session of Parliament, Defenc…
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Nepal’s judiciary rises to the occasion
With the return of Sher Bahadur Deuba and the Opposition alliance, India has been dealt a tricky hand; thanks to the Supreme Court’s independence by Ashok K Mehta Never before has the Supreme Court …
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Is Afghanistan now up for grabs?
In theory, the transition will now be genuinely Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled. But how much of it will translate into reality? by Ashok K Mehta Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani a…
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Resistance to coup bleeds Myanmar
State administration has shut down due to rail, health, bank and civil servants being AWOL and the country’s economy has collapsed by Ashok K Mehta Military coups, if successful, have instant rewa…
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Nepal: Heads or tails, Oli wins. Or, does he?
Our neighbourhood is in turmoil, democratically and constitutionally, but the ruling political powers there need to learn their lessons as well by Ashok K Mehta Call it a quirk of fate, constitutio…
Diplomacy
Nepal needs to quell the mess
Though not highly popular, and ironic, Oli looks better poised to form a Government. And the Himalayan State needs one by Ashok K Mehta The five most powerful and, according to a study of the Nepales…
World View
The Myanmar crisis lingers on
The General has to decide whether to escalate the conflict or seek a temporary pact through a mediated political dialogue by Ashok K Mehta The most effective means of foiling a coup is a countercoup…
Columns
Nepal: The conundrum gets trickier
The Supreme Court’s scathing judgment notwithstanding, Nepal's PM KP Oli has prorogued the House a second time by Ashok K Mehta After the Supreme Court of Nepal on February 23 overturned Prime M…
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Myanmar coup cauldron simmers
The nation’s under-20 youth and ethnic armed organisations are solidly backing the unarmed civil disobedience movement by Ashok K Mehta In his book, Coup d’Etat, Edward Luttwak says that the coup is …
Diplomacy
India: Modi's Bangladesh visit will reinvigorate bond
Modi is the chief guest even as Dhaka and New Delhi have shown how neighbours can cohabit and thrive despite the ups and downs by Ashok K Mehta Indisputably, Bangladesh has turned out to be the sheet…
Diplomacy
Indo-China Relations: Pact price less than cost of strained ties
China managed to get the strategic Chushul heights vacated on the cheap but India is portraying the partial disengagement as victory by Ashok K Mehta With five State elections planned over the next…
Columns
India: Kailash card used, Depsang in limbo
The trump card has already been played as quid pro quo for Fingers. This round is win-win for both India and China by Ashok K Mehta Some questions on disengagement from the Line of Actual Control (L…
World View
India: Time to set our house in order
The Government has missed a legitimate opportunity to repair the frail Defence Budget which is unfit to meet the Pakistan-China dual threat by Ashok K Mehta China’s pithy, almost dismissive, respons…
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