India pays for being pals with US
The reason behind India remembering Nehru often is that the first PM of our country laid down a strong foreign policy for the nation. He took the mid path when two most powerful nations tried to drag an independent India, in their stride.
Along with that, he took a soft stance on communism in Russia. India had gained enough stronghold to assume the power of command as the reckoning force of third front during Nehru and Indira Gandhi’s time. During this phase, Nehru’s foresightedness regarding foreign policy had played a major role, in post-independent India. But in the last two decades, India is in a confused state with no clear road map regarding this diplomatic matter.
The ones who rule us assume being close to America is our ticket to increase the country’s image and power. And even America has used this ‘illusion’ that India has been nourishing since long. Most of the economic crisis we are facing today are a result of our close bonding with the USA. A bungled up foreign policy is what leads to this consistent hike in petrol and diesel prices in India. Many argue that our country could have escaped the wrath of this situation had it exercised safe distance from America in view of the sanctions USA has imposed on Iran.
American president Donald Trump had imposed sanctions against Iran in view of the failed nuclear agreement with Iran. India had reduced its buying of fuel from Iran after that. Even USA pressurized India not to warm up with Iran. Though oil company CEOs had said it is not possible to meet the supply demand in the country without being in good terms with Iran, and get our regular supply of oil. The central ministry did not think through to understand the repercussions of such a decision on the political scenario.
The country has still not been able to nail its stance on Iran, after the sanctions were imposed. We don’t even know whether we can reduce our dependency on Iran for fuel needs. India may request US to allow us to continue buying fuel from Iran. And US may hold out a carrot of assuring to reduce duty on exports to the US from here. Ever since Republican Donald Trump assumed office, he has been opposing nuclear deal with Iran. Indian Foreign Policy office had been preparing a plan to reduce the country’s fuel dependency on Iran since that time. But India’s relationship with Iran is not restricted to fuel alone and has larger significance as far as international politics is concerned.
Modi govt chose to ignore that aspect. While Trump retreated unilaterally from nuclear agreement with Iran, he also had India getting stuck in a very tricky situation.
American President had directed the ‘friends of US’ including India to cut off trade relations with Iran. Now having done that, US has not only restricted India’s fuel supply from Iran but also indirectly meddled with the nation’s foreign security policy.
In the last 12 years after India entered into nuclear agreement with the US, a lot of changes have happened in the nations’ approach towards each other. Modi has visited America more than any other foreign leader in the world. Even Obama administration had shown warmth and cooperation with India. But then the same nation had suggested that India backs out from the deal of India, Pakistan and Iran’s plan to lay gas pipeline to benefit all the three nations.
But then this is a massive blow for India which is already reeling under massive damage caused by demonetization and GST implementation.
Any reduction in buying oil from Iran or looking for another source of oil is going to have a heavy impact in the coming days. A cursory glance reveals there are no chances of oil prices coming down in the near future.
In case India loses a good relationship it shares with Iran, it may take ages for the nation to regain confidence in this space. Iran had taken India’s side in many a fora of Islamic nations. India’s decision, if it happens, to ruin a well formed bond with another resourceful nation which never damaged the country would mean self-harming of interests for India.
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Suspected drones observed along IB in Jammu's Samba, being engaged: Army
Jammu, May 12 (PTI): Security forces are engaging suspected drones observed along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu region on Monday, an Army said.
This fresh incident of drone activity along the borderline comes barely hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first address to the nation following Operation Sindoor and the meeting of the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.
The Army, however, said there is no need to be alarmed.
“A small number of suspected drones have been observed near Samba in J&K. They are being engaged,” it said.
In the backdrop of the situation, several areas witnessed blackouts in Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Jammu.
Lights were switched off at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and along its track as a precautionary measure, sources said.
On Monday, talks between the DGMOs were held during which issues related to the continuing commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive or inimical action against each other were discussed, the Indian Army said.
It was also agreed that both sides would consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction along the borders and in forward areas, it added.
The situation remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir, with no incidents of ceasefire violation reported along the Indo-Pak border Sunday overnight — marking the first calm night after 18 days of hostilities following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people — mostly tourists — dead.
India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to cease all firing and military actions on land, air, and sea with immediate effect, following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes that brought the two countries to the brink of full-scale war.
Eighteen days of intense hostilities following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, which brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war, ended with a ceasefire that restored calm along the Line of Control, the International Border, and the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army thwarted Pakistan’s Hamas-style kamikaze drone attacks during the escalation.
Since the night of April 24, hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani troops repeatedly targeted Indian positions along the LoC — beginning in the Kashmir Valley and quickly expanding to the Jammu region.
The latest hostilities began in the northern districts of Kupwara and Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley, before spreading southwards to Rajouri, Poonch, Akhnoor, and the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district. The firing affected five border districts — Baramulla, Kupwara, Poonch, Rajouri, and Jammu.
The recent round of cross-border firing further undermined the ceasefire agreement reached in February 2021, which has largely been seen as ineffective due to Pakistan’s frequent violations along the 740-km-long LoC.
The April 22 terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people — mostly tourists — in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley, triggered a strong response from the central government.
The India-Pakistan border stretches over 3,300 kilometers, divided into three segments: the International Border (IB), spanning about 2,400 km from Gujarat to Akhnoor in Jammu; the 740-km-long Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir; and the 110-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), which separates the Siachen Glacier region.
WATCH: OP Sindoor continues. Minutes after PM Speech.
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 12, 2025
A small numbers of suspected drones being observed near Samba in J&K. Being engaged . pic.twitter.com/jmGmRkmQ26
