world

Berlin: Europe has acknowledged a strategic miscalculation in how it viewed emerging powers like India and Brazil, according to ****, Germany’s Foreign Minister. Speaking at the *Munich Security Conference*, Wadephul emphasized that India should not be evaluated solely through the lens of its membership in *BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)*. “Europe made a strategic error by seeing countries such as India and Brazil only as BRICS members,” Wadephul said. “This perspective created unnecessary distance between Europe and these nations, which was wrong.” Recognizing Shared Values Wadephul stressed that Europe is now reassessing its global outlook. The continent is increasingly focusing on shared democratic values and common interests with India and Brazil. “Despite ...

Islamabad/Washington: After record spending on lobbying in the United States last year, Pakistan has significantly cut its expenditure in 2026. The move comes after Islamabad spent heavily in 2025, particularly during Operation Sindhur, to influence U.S. policy through high-profile lobbying firms. Last year, Pakistan reportedly spent nearly three times more than India on U.S. lobbying, aiming to cultivate strong ties with the Trump administration. The country engaged firms with close connections to Washington, including Javelin Advisors, Seiden Law, Orchid Advisors, Square Patton Boggs, and Conscious Point Consulting, paying up to $600,000 per month at the height of the lobbying drive. Why the Sudden Shift? According to former diplomats, the recent downsizing indicates that Islama...

Moscow: Amid a rapidly shifting global order, India’s ally Russia faces a new and concerning development. Reports indicate that Pakistan’s notorious intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has established a secret operational unit in Moscow, potentially targeting Russian military and intelligence systems. According to intelligence assessments, the ISI unit, reportedly named “Matryoshka Desk,” was set up inside Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Moscow. The unit’s objectives appear highly alarming, including infiltrating Russian intelligence networks and gathering information on Russian intelligence assets abroad. Covert Operations Under Leadership Sources suggest that the ISI unit was initiated in January 2026 under the directive of ****, Pakistan’s Army Chief, f...

Washington: The United States Air Force may need a rapid expansion to maintain its strategic edge over China, according to a new report. Experts are urging the Pentagon to commission 200 new B-21 bombers, citing the growing threat posed by China’s military capabilities. The B-21 Raider, a sixth-generation stealth bomber, is designed to evade advanced radar systems and carry nuclear weapons over long distances. A think tank supporting the U.S. Air Force has warned that the current bomber fleet is insufficient to handle a future conflict with China, particularly for strategic long-range missions. Capability Gap Against China The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies report highlights that in a potential war over Taiwan or other regional allies, the U.S. would require a significan...

Jerusalem: Ahead of Indian Prime Minister ****’s upcoming visit, Israeli Prime Minister **** has heaped praise on India, describing the Israel-India partnership as a “powerful alliance.” Speaking at a conference organized by a major American Jewish organization in Jerusalem, Netanyahu highlighted India’s 1.5 billion-strong population and noted Israel’s widespread popularity there. “You all know who is coming next week — Narendra Modi,” Netanyahu said. “Israel and India share a powerful alliance, and we will discuss cooperation in every possible area.” He further added, “India is not a small country. It has 1.5 billion people. Israel is extremely popular there — very popular indeed. Did you know that?” Modi’s Israel Visit Prime Minister Modi is set to visit Israel later this month,...

Dhaka: Following a decisive victory in the February 12 parliamentary elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is poised to return to power after two decades. With a two-thirds majority, Rahman’s appointment as Prime Minister appears almost certain. As the new government prepares to take office, all eyes are on how Dhaka’s leadership will navigate relations with India. BNP sources indicate that several India-related issues will top the agenda, including the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Indian soil, cross-border killings, and the renewal of the Ganga water treaty. 1. Sheikh Hasina’s Presence in IndiaBNP sources told The Hindu that Hasina’s presence in India will be a major concern. She has reportedly remained on Indian soil since r...

Warsaw/New Delhi: Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski recently attempted to take a dig at India over its purchase of Russian military hardware, claiming that these weapons have underperformed in the ongoing Ukraine war. Sikorski, whose country has historically maintained strong ties with Pakistan, suggested that India’s reliance on Russian arms has been misplaced. The remarks come on the heels of India opposing Russian oil imports, after which Sikorski reportedly mocked India’s defense acquisitions. However, former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has publicly refuted these claims, emphasizing that the Russian equipment procured by India has proven highly effective in real operations. Sibal Sets the Record StraightSibal posted on social media platform X, stating, “Russia...

Washington: Amid escalating tensions with Tehran, U.S. military officials have revealed that preparations are underway for a major operation against Iran—potentially the largest American strike on the Islamic Republic to date. Sources speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity said the campaign could extend over several weeks, significantly raising the risk of a large-scale conflict in West Asia. The announcement comes shortly after Iranian and U.S. diplomats met in Oman last week to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program, a dialogue now overshadowed by military contingencies. Deployment of Second Aircraft CarrierThe Trump administration is reportedly sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as part of the operation. Officials confirmed that the deployment will include thous...

Dhaka/New Delhi: The recent parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on February 12 have seen Jamaat-e-Islami secure a total of 68 seats, including 51 constituencies located along the Indian border—raising potential security concerns for India. Jamaat’s chief, Shafiqur Rahman, had publicly assured that the party would maintain friendly relations with India. However, analysts say this statement was carefully crafted to address domestic and regional political considerations. Speaking to an Indian news channel a day before the elections, Rahman emphasized: “India is our closest neighbor. It is our priority.” Border District StrongholdsA closer look at Jamaat-e-Islami’s 51 border constituencies shows significant electoral gains in districts adjacent to India, particularly in areas neighbori...

Baku/Tel Aviv: Tensions have flared between Israel and Azerbaijan over the sale of a high-tech suicide drone to Armenia, with allegations that India played a role in transferring the technology. The Armenian firm Davaro recently unveiled the Dragonfly-3 drone, which Azerbaijan claims closely resembles the Israeli Harop drone, a system it considers highly strategic and potentially dangerous. According to Azerbaijani sources, India may have supplied the technology to Armenia, though New Delhi has not commented. The Controversy ExplainedThe Harop drone, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, was used by Azerbaijan against Armenia during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is considered highly lethal due to its “loitering” capability, which allows it to circle over a target for up to ...