Nikhil Lakshman In Beijing

Stories by Nikhil Lakshman In Beijing

'Pakistan Generals Are Unhappy With Munir'

'Pakistan Generals Are Unhappy With Munir'

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2025

'Pakistan's army has got a streak of democracy. It is more democratic than the country.'

'Money Is Trump's Driving Vice'

'Money Is Trump's Driving Vice'

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2025

'His love of money goes beyond all reasons,' says Trump watcher Arjun Appadurai.

'Drones And Missiles Can't Deliver A Decisive Military Victory'

'Drones And Missiles Can't Deliver A Decisive Military Victory'

Rediff.com   15 May 2025

'Unfortunately, India and Pakistan could learn a 'lesson' from this conflict that will make them more likely to use these weapons against each other in the future.' 'Rounds of missile and drone attacks could be more routine features of their hostility, just like artillery fire has become a familiar fact of life along the Line of Control.'

'China Was Single Most Important External Factor In This Conflict'

'China Was Single Most Important External Factor In This Conflict'

Rediff.com   15 May 2025

'Every decision India makes along the LoC, it must also consider implications along the LAC.'

'India Missed Opportunity To Take Back Parts Of PoK'

'India Missed Opportunity To Take Back Parts Of PoK'

Rediff.com   14 May 2025

'Had Haji Pir and/or Skardu been taken, the message would have gone out not just to General Asim Munir and his cohort in the Pakistan army but to the Pakistani people that every terrorist incident in India would lead to substantial loss of territory in PoK.'

'China Will Keep Supplying Pakistan Weapons'

'China Will Keep Supplying Pakistan Weapons'

Rediff.com   14 May 2025

'The lesson Beijing would have learned is that there is, cost-benefit wise, no better option than to keep the Pakistan military supplied with its most advanced armaments, certain that in hostilities with India these would be used for maximum effect.'

'Rubio's Call To Munir Was Critical'

'Rubio's Call To Munir Was Critical'

Rediff.com   12 May 2025

'Fears in Washington began to intensify when it was realised that subsequent Pakistani and Indian attacks on major military facilities -- which were significant in terms of geographic scope and intensity -- could rapidly take both sides to where neither actually wanted to go.' 'The US objective was to stop the fighting as soon as possible. Everything else was secondary.'

'Neither India Or Pakistan Desire Full-Scale War'

'Neither India Or Pakistan Desire Full-Scale War'

Rediff.com   10 May 2025

'I am worried that Pakistan will still feel compelled to take substantive military action beyond this apparent drone activity.' 'If so, the crisis could persist for a while more and dangerous days are still ahead.'

Operation Sindoor: 'Escalation Can't Be Ruled Out'

Operation Sindoor: 'Escalation Can't Be Ruled Out'

Rediff.com   7 May 2025

'It could take the form of sporadic LoC violation through heavy artillery and mortar fire, focusing on border villages where the Hindu Dogra population is predominant.'

India-Pakistan: 'China Could Create Problems'

India-Pakistan: 'China Could Create Problems'

Rediff.com   7 May 2025

'If there is a military standoff eyeball to eyeball on the western border, the Chinese could create problems by making movements in the north, in our northeast, which could involve us tying down some forces there so that could stretch our military actions.'

Pahalgam Attack: 'Munir Would Have Known'

Pahalgam Attack: 'Munir Would Have Known'

Rediff.com   6 May 2025

'Pakistan's only concern has been while they were on the FATF watch list was to distance their State institutions and organs from any direct connection with the actual execution of militancy inside Kashmir.'

'India Must Not Support Nepal's Ex-King'

'India Must Not Support Nepal's Ex-King'

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2025

'Gyanendra back on the throne would be bad news for the Nepali people. He may not have learnt from his experience, but we have.'

'Putin And Putin's Elite Hate America'

'Putin And Putin's Elite Hate America'

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2025

'Putin will not be bound by any kind of deal he would sign with the US.'

'Modi Bought A Reprieve, Not A Resolution'

'Modi Bought A Reprieve, Not A Resolution'

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2025

'Modi's intention was to create goodwill that will allow India to be seen by Trump as more than just a bad tariff problem.' 'He succeeded brilliantly on that count but none of these wins are unfortunately permanent.' 'Modi will have to do this again and again if Trump's grievances are to be durably assuaged.'

'Trump Has Very Positive View Of Modi'

'Trump Has Very Positive View Of Modi'

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2025

'By his words, actions, and body language during their joint press appearance wanted to convey his personal respect and, more broadly, his desire to work closely with India.'

'Trump Doesn't Want To Wait For Benefits Of A Long-Term Partnership'

'Trump Doesn't Want To Wait For Benefits Of A Long-Term Partnership'

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2025

'He needs to see results while he is in office.'

The Legend That Was Pritish Nandy

The Legend That Was Pritish Nandy

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2025

He was colourful. He was dramatic. He was The Master of His Craft. There never will be an editor as versatile as Pritish Nandy, notes Nikhil Lakshman.

'Maharashtra Verdict May Open New Chapter'

'Maharashtra Verdict May Open New Chapter'

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2024

'The political situation in the country will depend on the electoral outcome in Maharashtra.'

Comrade Sitaram Yechury, Lal Salaam!

Comrade Sitaram Yechury, Lal Salaam!

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2024

Biman Basu, the senior-most Marxist leader in the country, pays homage to a comrade he has known and admired since the 1980s.

'Israel Will Engineer A Broader War'

'Israel Will Engineer A Broader War'

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2024

'Israel is counting on the United States to enter the fray on their behalf and perform destructive strikes against these targets that are beyond Israel's conventional capabilities.' 'They may well get their way if they start a war, because the United States is still committed to Israel's security, and it won't matter whether it is Trump or Harris in the White House.'