It is generally believed that India has not handled its neighbourhood well and that this failure has diminished its capacity to play a more prominent international role. Yes, India’s soft image, its perceived internal disarray, its inability to guard its borders, its inclination to shun hard decisions, its readiness to make concessions out of a pronounced sense of vulnerability, historical pressures on it by Western powers and the conflict with China, have given room to its neighbours to disregard its interests and sensitivities with little cost.

Kanwal Sibal

The crassly cynical political developments in Pakistan, epitomised by the Memogate scandal, befit a banana republic. The Army is accusing the Head of State of acting against national security by seeking to conspire with the US to curb its power. In a move without parallel anywhere, the Army Chief has approached the Pakistani Supreme Court to investigate the matter.