South Asia and Beyond

Ashwin Ahmad

Traveller, bibliophile and wordsmith with a yen for international relations. A journalist and budding author of short fiction, life is a daily struggle to uncover the latest breaking story while attempting to be Hemingway in the self-same time. Focussed especially on Europe and West Asia, discussing Brexit, the Iran crisis and all matters related is a passion that endures to this day. Believes firmly that life without the written word is a life best not lived. That’s me, Ashwin Ahmad.

India’s Welfare Critically Important To U.S.: Kamala Harris

NEW DELHI: Declaring that the “welfare of India is critically important to the United States” Vice President Kamala Harris was quick to rebuff charges from her critics that both she and the administration had been slow to respond to India during its moment of crisis. “The surge of Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths in India is […]Read More

Virtual Summit: India, UK Announce £1 bn Trade, Investment Deal

Deeper economic co-operation between India and the UK was already on the agenda before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Prime Minister Boris Johnson held their virtual summit but the takeaways were still impressive. The first step was the adoption of ‘Roadmap 2030’ which will provide a framework for UK-India relations across health, […]Read More

India And We Can Do More Together: Nato Chief On China Challenge

NEW DELHI: The idea of India as a close and strategic partner of Nato is something the trans-Atlantic organization appears to have been mulling over for some time. Concerns over the rise of China and its threat to the “rules-based order” has prompted what Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg believes are serious challenges to the […]Read More

India Pushing The Curve On Climate Change, Says Kerry

NEW DELHI: On the second day of his four-day visit to India, America’s climate czar John Kerry described India as a major player on a global stage. “Decisive action now in partnership with the rest of the world will determine what this transformation will mean for all generations to come.” The praise came with a […]Read More

Bid To Break Iran-U.S. Nuclear Logjam But Both Sides Cautious

NEW DELHI: “The talks were constructive,” on that cryptic but positive note from Iran, the first round of discussions in Vienna to break the stalemate on the Iran nuclear deal adjourned late on Tuesday but with the promise to resume on Friday. The U.S. and Iranian delegations are staying in different hotels in the city—with […]Read More

‘India Must Convince China That Quad Is No Asian Nato’

NEW DELHI: Beijing has no reason to be anxious about the Quad. Such sentiments voiced by former foreign secretary and China expert Vijay Gokhale, on the day the virtual Quad summit at the head-of-state level is being held, is welcome news for those who believe that apart from the Galwan clashes, Chinese apprehensions about the […]Read More

Biden’s MBS Problem Won’t Go Away, Democrats Won’t Let It

NEW DELHI: Cracks in the Democratic Party over Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are increasingly apparent. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Tom Malinowksi have proposed two bills to punish MBS for his many transgressions including the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Kashoggi. While Omar’s bill called for direct sanctions on the Crown Prince, Malinowski has […]Read More

Iran Applies ‘Maximum Pressure’ Tack, Will Biden Blink?

NEW DELHI: The game of brinkmanship between Tehran and the West continues as Iranian lawmakers overturned the recent agreement with the IAEA to continue inspections for a further three months at selected sites. If sanctions are not lifted by then, the inspections would be ended. The collapse of this agreement suggests that Tehran’s politicians are […]Read More