'The Modi government's lurch toward America has not brought it any dividends so far. The Western world is simply not in a position to make big investments in India... India needs to take a leap of faith vis-a-vis China.'
'It is in the interest of both sides that the visit of the US President is seen as being successful. Both sides have invested considerable political capital in it. This rapid exchange of visits and the decisions taken have to be justified, beyond the symbolism, which is no doubt important in itself. This opportunity to impart a fresh momentum to ties should not be missed,' says former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal.
'What gives hope is that Modi's own leadership is vitally linked to his capacity to deliver on the economic front. Indeed, if he succeeds, India's foreign policies will have changed beyond recognition,' feels Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Once we bring the Lankans into our economic embrace we will be in a position to dominate their internal politics. And only then can we offer true protection to Tamils in Sri Lanka, says M R Venkatesh.
India should shift to a 'flexible response' from the current no first use and minimum deterrence posture. Against China it would be a strategy of dissuasion based on survivable second strike force that could threaten Chinese high value targets. In case of Pakistan, the flexible response strategy would be based on ambiguous no first or second use and a 1,000 point targeting with the aim of annihilation of that entity.
Those who oppose the deal cannot be trusted as much as those who are for the deal.
'These militants are our relatives, our brothers. How can we watch the security forces kill them?' Political Front leader Mohammed Musadiq Aadil explains why they pulled out of the dialogue with the Centre.
Reforms started by Manmohan Singh in 1991 concentrated on things that would help large firms in the private sector. But these moves did not help the poor, says author Rafiq Dossani.
'Polls have shown that about 70% of Afghans are waiting to see which side to pick - the US/NATO forces or the Taliban.'
India and Indians need to think a little more openly about other states and their problems.
'What would have happened if people had not thrown garbage and plastics everywhere? Well the answer is there would have been no waterlogging in the city.'
'Indians are merely going for software programming: it is like a car mechanic repairing cars, which is a tremendous ability. But though we can repair cars we cannot design them!' says Nasscom president Kiran Karnik.
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