Paris: India has intensified efforts to join Europe’s largest sixth-generation fighter jet program, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), after Germany’s recent withdrawal. The program, launched in 2017 by France, Germany, and Spain with a budget of €100 billion, aims to develop an advanced stealth fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons and launching from aircraft carriers. Germany Pulls Out Reports indicate that preliminary discussions have already taken place between India and France regarding potential participation. Germany’s exit, announced last week by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, opens the door for India. Germany cited fundamental differences with the program: while France requires a nuclear-capable fighter, Germany opposes nuclear weapons entirely and has even shut down its...

Tel Aviv: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel on February 25–26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a strategic initiative called the “Hexagon of Alliance,” aiming to position India as a central pillar. Experts caution, however, that Delhi is unlikely to join the alliance without carefully weighing its strategic implications. What is the Hexagon of Alliance? Netanyahu envisions a six-member coalition centered around Israel, including India, Mediterranean partners Greece and Cyprus, alongside select Arab and African countries. The alliance is intended to coordinate on security, economic cooperation, and diplomatic alignment, particularly to counter what Netanyahu describes as the “radical Shia axis” and “emerging radical Sunni axis,” with Iran f...

Kabul/Islamabad: Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are escalating after Pakistan conducted early-morning airstrikes on Sunday targeting seven locations inside Afghanistan. The Pakistani government described the strikes as actions against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State militants, while the Afghan Taliban called them attacks on civilians and vowed retaliation. Experts warn that continued cross-border military actions increase the risk of full-scale armed conflict. Details of the Strikes Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar confirmed that the airstrikes targeted seven locations in Afghanistan in response to recent extremist attacks within Pakistan. A Pakistani security official claimed that over 80 militants were killed. Meanwhile, a Taliban spokespe...

Tel Aviv: Rising unrest in Iran has captured international attention, with domestic protests against the Khamenei regime intensifying and fears of a U.S. military strike looming over Tehran. According to a report by Israeli media N12, a source within the Saudi royal family claims that Riyadh supports a leadership change in Iran, insisting that the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is essential for stability. The source told N12 that limited military action alone will not resolve the crisis in Iran. “Fundamental structural change is required,” the source said. “The regime under Khamenei must be dismantled, and a strong new government installed in Tehran. This should not replicate the weak technocratic model seen in Iraq. Iran needs a resilient government to replace Khamene...

Tehran: Tensions between the United States and Iran are escalating as a substantial U.S. military presence has been observed in the Middle East, signaling the possibility of imminent conflict. Recent reports indicate that multiple fighter jets, along with aerial refueling tankers, have been deployed toward the region, fueling speculation of a major operation. The U.S. has also positioned aircraft carriers, cruisers, and submarines in the Gulf. Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz Iran is simultaneously balancing diplomacy with military preparedness. While engaging in talks with the U.S., Tehran has conducted naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian and Oman Gulfs. Though Iran frames these exercises as routine, temporary closures of sections of the strait convey...

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s President Mohammad Shahabuddin has raised serious concerns over a trade deal finalized with the United States just days before the February general elections, alleging that even the President’s office was kept in the dark. The revelation has triggered questions about transparency and constitutional compliance during the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus. According to President Shahabuddin, Yunus’s interim government, which lasted 18 months following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s administration in August 2024, failed to follow constitutional protocols regarding foreign engagements. “The Constitution requires that the President be informed of all foreign trips, both before departure and after return. I was never briefed on Yunus’s 14–15 internationa...

Dhaka: China’s involvement in Bangladesh’s Teesta River project is raising strategic concerns for India, particularly due to the project’s proximity to the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” which connects India’s northeastern states to the rest of the country. Following the formation of the new government in Dhaka, China has intensified its engagement. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen met with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to express Beijing’s support for Prime Minister Tariq Rahman and his “Bangladesh First” policy. During the discussions, both sides addressed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, with the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project emerging as a key topic. Ambassador Yao stated that talks on the Teesta project, whi...