The US ambassador in Islamabad, Mr. Ronald Spiers, has made a speech on Pakistan-US relations which is truly remarkable for its candour. At the very start of his address to the Karachi institute of foreign relations on April 20, Mr. Spiers spoke of “a number of mutual disappointments” in the … Read More
In an article last Sunday on Mrs. Gandhi’s forthcoming visit to Washington, I argued that the obvious disarray in the Reagan administration’s foreign and defence policies should enable her to command a sympathetic hearing for the Indian point of view. But what is the Indian point of view? In the … Read More
It is hazardous to predict the outcome of Mrs Gandhi’s proposed visit to the United States in July. However, the moment is most opportune for an Indo-US dialogue. Many of the prejudices, ideas and schemes which President Reagan and his aides brought with them to the White House have not … Read More
If anything can be said about Indian Muslims, it is that they are quite capable of looking after themselves and do not need any outside agency or power to espouse their cause. This fact finds expression in a number of ways. Let us take the worst situation first. They do … Read More
A spectre haunts the political scene in Maharashtra, the spectre of Mr. AR Antulay. It will have to be exorcised, not through incense burning, ritual incantations and offerings but through tough action. Else there can be no political stability and order in the state. Mr. Antulay resigned as chief minister … Read More
A day after Mrs. Gandhi selected Mr. Babasaheb Anantrao Bhosale as a replacement for Mr. AR Antulay as Maharashtra’s chief minister, we ran an editorial describing the choice as a sorry one. We argued that “on the present reckoning at least, he does not appear capable either…. of refurbishing its … Read More
It is too early to speculate on Mrs. Maneka Gandhi’s future. But certain points are beyond dispute. She has decided to chalk out an independent political career for herself in the face of Mrs. Gandhi’s trenchant opposition. Rather than accept the Prime Minister’s advice to dissociate herself from certain elements, … Read More
The luckless people of Bangladesh have once again passed under military rule. It had been widely predicted for the last two months or so that General Ershad would seize power. He has finally done so. The pretext is that corruption had assumed alarming proportions and that the law and order … Read More
The Bhosale affair has posed a challenge to serious and responsible journalists in India. They have been agonising over it for almost two months and they do not quite know how to deal with it. To recapitulate the facts briefly, ugly rumours began to circulate about Mr Babasaheb Anantrao Bhosale … Read More
Ever since Mr. Kissinger made his famous statement about Mrs. Gandhi in 1971, most Western assessments of her have centred on her toughness. The Observer profile we publish elsewhere on this page is no exception. This emphasis has been justified. Mrs. Gandhi has demonstrated her determination, strength of character and … Read More
