Diplomacy Direct

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗦 Despite their liberal leanings within the American political landscape, many Indian American lawmakers maintain neutral or supportive stances toward India's BJP government. For instance, in 2022, when Representative Ilhan Omar introduced a bill criticizing India's religious freedom policies, no Indian American members of Congress backed it. Conversely, in 2023, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna from California extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to address the U.S. Congress, garnering bipartisan support. This exemplifies how Indian American politicians wield influence in shaping bilateral relations, bridging the gap between the two nations' political landscapes.

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 As India gears up for the 2024 general elections, it is imperative to uphold democratic principles and safeguard the electoral process from external interference.  Robust cybersecurity measures, including monitoring social media and enhancing financial vigilance, are crucial to protect against cyber threats and illicit foreign funding. Microsoft's warning about China's intent to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea, and India using AI-generated content is particularly concerning. This follows a trial run during the Taiwan presidential election,  where China attempted to influence the outcome using similar tactics. Chinese state-backed cyber groups, including those from  North Korea, are expected to target high-profile elections in 2024. The use of AI-generated content via social media platforms marks a dangerous trend in state-backed interference, highlighting the need for robust cyber-security measures and vigilant monitoring of online activities during elections.

𝗕𝗝𝗣’𝘀 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺: 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱 This analysis addresses four key questions: what was BJP's 2019 manifesto promise, how many of these promises were fulfilled, what was not delivered, and whether economic conditions are improving or getting worse.

𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧, 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 This sad story of how two best friends (Iran and Pakistan) became enemies despite no real problem teaches us some important lessons in geopolitics and how the West creates troubles between two Nations. West's problem is not everyone's problem, so every country needs to look at its individual relationship with another country rather than that country's equation with the West.

India's trade deficit with China increased to $48.53 billion in early 2023, despite a slight decline in exports. This highlights India's challenges in maintaining a balanced trade relationship with China and calls for strategic measures. The second half of the fiscal year may see higher trade gaps due to global economic slowdown and geopolitical factors, potentially widening tensions on the Line of Actual Control. https://lnkd.in/dCV7zgaD #linkedinnews Neeraj Mahajan

The Maldivian Mess: Money Laundering, Terrorism and Political Chaos

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟗𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐬 𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙡𝙖 𝘼𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙊𝙒𝙨 The Shimla Agreement of August 2, 1972, marked a pivotal moment in India-Pakistan relations, authorizing the release of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war (POWs) in exchange for ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The agreement, a diplomatic manoeuvre by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, aimed at safeguarding the life of Rahman, who faced the threat of execution by a Pakistani military court. The release of Rahman, orchestrated through discreet diplomatic channels involving Laila Hussain and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, eventually paved the way for the liberation of all POWs. However, the aftermath saw Rahman's tragic death in 1975, raising questions about the efficacy of the Shimla Agreement and its implications for the unresolved Kashmir issue. The diplomatic intricacies behind this historic decision continue to be debated, emphasizing the complexity of international relations during that period. https://lnkd.in/dMtDAmUM

‘𝕱𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖞’ – 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗶𝗿𝘀 The forthcoming memoir, "Four Stars of Destiny," by former Indian Army (COAS) Chief General MM Naravane promises a unique glimpse into critical military decisions and controversies during his tenure. Unprecedentedly written just months after retirement, the excerpts have already sparked attention for shedding light on governmental actions against military advice. The book delves into the Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff with China, specifically the Galwan incident, revealing details about Chinese casualties and the strategic decision-making process. Additionally, Naravane discusses the Agnipath Scheme's surprise implementation, contrary to his recommendations. As the Indian Army reviews the book, questions arise about potential redactions and the impact on military transparency. https://lnkd.in/dZR9eYUM

𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 wishes all the 𝐍𝐃𝐀 alumni a '𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓝𝓓𝓐 𝓓𝓪𝔂' and Celebrates the 𝕯𝖎𝖆𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖉 𝕵𝖚𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖊 of India's Cradle of Leadership along with all Indians.

In my weekly column in 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, this week I cover a crucial aspect of 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫-💣𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 measures employed by the Indian government. In addition to the details covered in the article, 🇮🇳 India's counter-terrorism landscape has seen dynamic shifts since 2014, emphasizing technological advancements and community engagement. 💻India's technological advancements strengthen cyber defense capabilities to counter online radicalization and recruitment by terrorist groups. 🕵🏼India's National Intelligence Grid is an extensive project that aims to connect various intelligence agencies for seamless data sharing and real-time analysis, aiding in threat detection and prevention. 👁Utilizing drones and advanced satellite technology for improved border security and monitoring of potential terrorist hideouts and implementing Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) at strategic locations like airports and railway stations to identify potential suspects. 👳🏻🧕👧👦In terms of community engagement, India emphasizes deradicalization programs by implementing rehabilitation programs and counseling initiatives to address individual radicalization and reintegrate former militants into society. 📡The government with its central machinery and the military along with the local state-level support, strives to empower local communities by building trust and cooperation through outreach programs, education initiatives, and economic development projects to counter narratives used by terrorist groups. 📚🖥To counter online radicalization, the government promotes media literacy and digital awareness programs to equip individuals, especially youth, with skills to critically evaluate online content and identify extremist propaganda. There is a heavy reliance on interfaith dialogue to foster understanding to address religious tensions and prevent communities from being targeted by terrorist groups. 💵The government focuses on financial disruption cracking down on terrorist financing networks and utilizing financial intelligence to track and dismantle terrorist fundraising channels. Strengthening regional cooperation by collaborating with neighboring countries and international partners to share best practices and intelligence, enhancing regional counter-terrorism efforts. 📱Increasing public awareness about online threats and promoting responsible digital citizenship to mitigate online radicalization risks. India acknowledges that these measures are multifaceted and come with complex considerations. Balancing security with individual rights, ensuring transparency and accountability in security operations, and addressing potential biases in technological solutions are crucial areas of ongoing discussion and refinement.