https://www.scmp.com/rss/517479/feed Junaid Kathju is a freelance journalist based in India whose work has been published in publications including Al Jazeera, Foreign Policy magazine, NBC News, The Quint and more. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Vietnam has become the latest country to enter talks to buy India’s supersonic BrahMos missile – and at least 15 more are reportedly interested – as defence ministries across Asia and elsewhere increasingly look beyond Western-made systems. New Delhi and Hanoi are in advanced negotiations over a potential US$700 million deal, with talks progressing during Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to India this week, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352981/vietnam-joins-rush-indias-battle-tested-brahmos-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352981/vietnam-joins-rush-indias-battle-tested-brahmos-missiles?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 05:30:06 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Brics’ inability to speak with one voice on the Middle East conflict has become a stern test of India’s leadership of the bloc, exposing the challenge of building consensus among its 10 members with divergent interests and concerns. The bloc could not agree on a common position on the war at a meeting of Brics officials to discuss Middle East and North Africa issues in New Delhi last week. Brics has long sought to present itself as a voice for the Global South as frustrations with the US-led... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352055/iran-war-tests-indias-brics-leadership-political-relevance-questions-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352055/iran-war-tests-indias-brics-leadership-political-relevance-questions-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:49:38 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India and Germany’s new defence road map could give New Delhi fresh momentum in its long-running push to modernise its undersea fleet, while helping Europe expand its security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say. The two countries signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Road Map in Berlin on Wednesday, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, agreeing to deepen collaboration in development, production and niche technologies. The agreement was... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351377/india-germany-defence-road-map-good-template-wider-eu-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351377/india-germany-defence-road-map-good-template-wider-eu-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:00:20 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju A cautious reset in India-China relations is taking root, according to analysts, with the two rivals increasingly walling off their border disputes from expanding cooperation on trade, security and multilateral diplomacy. The clearest marker yet came last week in New Delhi, where the two sides held their first-ever bilateral consultations focused exclusively on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Eurasian security bloc that also includes Russia, Iran, Pakistan and four Central Asian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350732/india-and-china-wall-border-rows-focus-trade-and-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350732/india-and-china-wall-border-rows-focus-trade-and-security?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:12:46 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As Russia comes to India’s aid amid the global energy crisis, a familiar mantra has resurfaced among officials and political analysts – that Moscow is New Delhi’s “all weather-friend”. Such a stance is anchored by deep strategic interests, with both countries viewing each other as vital to their balancing between China and an increasingly erratic United States, according to observers. On Friday, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said Moscow was well-positioned to ramp up oil and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349063/india-turns-trusted-friend-russia-oil-lng-supply-iran-war-energises-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3349063/india-turns-trusted-friend-russia-oil-lng-supply-iran-war-energises-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:29:34 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As the Iran war reshapes West Asian geopolitics, Pakistan has unexpectedly emerged as a backchannel mediator between Tehran and Washington, potentially sidelining India’s efforts to assert itself as a credible global diplomatic actor. India, despite its growing partnerships with the US, Israel and the Gulf states, has been absent from any meaningful conflict-resolution initiative on Iran. Umer Karim, a political science researcher at the University of Birmingham, said India’s strengthening... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347999/pakistan-steps-iran-mediator-while-india-watches-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347999/pakistan-steps-iran-mediator-while-india-watches-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:21:12 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As the world reels from the fallout of the Iran war, India is seeking to manage its risks and interests in the Middle East and beyond while maintaining its neutrality in the widening conflict. This can be seen in New Delhi engaging with combatants US and Iran, as well as other nations caught in the crossfire of the war, according to political analysts. In the past two weeks, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken four times with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, while Prime... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347402/why-india-faces-dilemma-over-iran-war-while-seeking-diplomatic-flexibility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347402/why-india-faces-dilemma-over-iran-war-while-seeking-diplomatic-flexibility?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:00:17 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju A warning by a senior US official that the Trump administration would not repeat with India the “mistakes” it made in its past dealings with China signals that Washington would not allow New Delhi’s rise to come at the expense of its strategic interests. Speaking at a conference on international politics and economics in Delhi on Friday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the US wanted to work with India to unlock its “limitless potential”. But he added at the Raisina Dialogue:... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346231/why-us-policy-india-aims-avoid-repeat-china-mistake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346231/why-us-policy-india-aims-avoid-repeat-china-mistake?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju For years, India has prided itself on a foreign policy doctrine of “dehyphenation”: maintaining productive, parallel relations with conflicting countries such as Israel, Iran and the Arab Gulf states without letting any one bilateral tie poison the others. That doctrine is now being tested to the limit. The killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US-Israeli strikes within days of Narendra Modi returning from a high-profile visit to Tel Aviv provided instant ammunition for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345120/iran-conflict-puts-indias-cherished-middle-east-neutrality-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345120/iran-conflict-puts-indias-cherished-middle-east-neutrality-test?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:14 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Brazil’s dismissal of the idea of a Brics currency suggests that the bloc may continue to pursue less politically fraught monetary cooperation that stops short of challenging the US dollar’s dominance, such as swaps and seamless payment systems, according to analysts. During Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s recent trip to India, Lula sought to play down speculation that the 10-member grouping of developing nations was drafting plans for a shared currency. In an interview with an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344501/why-brics-cant-do-away-us-dollar-even-currency-cooperation-rises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344501/why-brics-cant-do-away-us-dollar-even-currency-cooperation-rises?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The United States’ latest trade deal with India may be linked to a freeze on discounted Russian oil purchases, but analysts say it is unlikely to upset New Delhi’s decades-old defence ties with Moscow. Announcing the agreement last week, US President Donald Trump said tariffs on India imports would be cut from 18 to 50 per cent, tying the reduction to India halting its intake of Russian crude. “India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342912/why-us-tariff-deal-cannot-sever-india-russia-defence-ties-structural-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342912/why-us-tariff-deal-cannot-sever-india-russia-defence-ties-structural-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:30:16 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India is facing multiple geopolitical challenges in the region as Bangladesh and Myanmar show signs of drifting away from New Delhi’s orbit amid its long-standing disputes with Pakistan and China. Dhaka has been drawing closer to Islamabad following the downfall in 2024 of its former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who had close ties with Delhi during her rule, while China has continued to maintain its influence in Myanmar since the junta in Naypyidaw ousted the elected government in a coup in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340184/why-india-losing-ground-over-bangladesh-and-myanmar-regional-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340184/why-india-losing-ground-over-bangladesh-and-myanmar-regional-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:35:15 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India plans to lift long-standing restrictions on Chinese companies bidding for government contracts, a move officials say is aimed at easing shortages and project delays as relations with Beijing show tentative signs of stabilising. The proposal, first reported by Reuters, would roll back curbs, imposed after the two countries’ deadly 2020 border clash in the Galwan Valley, that effectively shut Chinese firms out of a vast segment of India’s public procurement market. In October 2024, India and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339772/india-proposes-reopening-government-bidding-chinese-firms-ties-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3339772/india-proposes-reopening-government-bidding-chinese-firms-ties-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s defence modernisation is on track even as it faces the challenges of ensuring that weapon systems are deployed quickly and boosting its military’s capabilities to counter external threats, according to analysts. Last year, the Indian government approved three major defence packages totalling US$30 billion out of the country’s total defence budget of US$78.7 billion for the current financial year, which was ratified by parliament in February. The three packages were cleared in the second... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3338568/indias-military-upgrade-counter-regional-threats-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3338568/indias-military-upgrade-counter-regional-threats-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 05:30:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Sitting on the pavement outside the emergency ward of the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases in South Delhi’s Mehrauli, Asha promised her son she would not leave his side. Nineteen-year-old Nitish was reluctant to be admitted to a government hospital, even after doctors said he needed further tests to understand the cause of his sudden breathlessness. He had been struggling to breathe for two or three days – something he had never experienced before – and his family... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3338226/india-new-delhis-smog-crisis-exposes-high-price-clean-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3338226/india-new-delhis-smog-crisis-exposes-high-price-clean-air?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Discussions on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) are being revived by some of its founders even as questions persist over the political will to implement the ambitious project, with analysts saying the Gaza situation is a key hurdle in hampering progress. Unveiled in 2023, IMEC is positioned as a single economic artery connecting South Asia, the Middle East and Europe through shipping lanes, railways, energy pipelines and high-speed data cables running via the Gulf. Planners... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3337145/why-india-europe-trade-corridor-stalling-even-talks-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3337145/why-india-europe-trade-corridor-stalling-even-talks-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India and Indonesia are close to finalising a US$450 million sale of BrahMos missiles, in a deal analysts say could give Southeast Asia a long-sought alternative to dependence on the US or China. The deal, discussed last Thursday during the third India–Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue co-chaired by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, would make Indonesia only the second Southeast Asian country after the Philippines to acquire the missile... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334719/indias-looming-us450-million-brahmos-deal-indonesia-challenges-us-china-binary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3334719/indias-looming-us450-million-brahmos-deal-indonesia-challenges-us-china-binary?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 04:30:10 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The Indian Navy has marked a milestone with the launch of its first locally made anti-submarine ship, but it still faces a naval capabilities gap compared with arch-rival Pakistan, which is set to acquire potent Chinese-made submarines. The core issue is New Delhi’s long-standing failure to modernise its conventional submarine fleet, analysts say. This leaves India vulnerable to the new-generation, air-independent propulsion (AIP) equipped Hangor-class vessels that Beijing is supplying to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333802/indias-submarine-deficit-persists-china-bolsters-pakistans-undersea-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3333802/indias-submarine-deficit-persists-china-bolsters-pakistans-undersea-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:01:07 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India has secured a contract with the US to supply engines for its indigenous Tejas fighter jets, reinforcing defence ties despite trade tensions – even as military analysts say that Pakistan’s superior Chinese-supplied warplanes remain a formidable threat. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday announced it had signed an agreement with US-based General Electric Company (GE) for the supply of 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines and a support package for India’s Tejas Mk1A light combat... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332447/indias-tejas-fighter-jet-gets-us-engines-battle-pakistans-chinese-air-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332447/indias-tejas-fighter-jet-gets-us-engines-battle-pakistans-chinese-air-power?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Indian police are investigating a car explosion in New Delhi under the country’s primary anti-terrorism law as a pall of gloom descended over the capital on Tuesday. Exasperated families at a hospital were anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones after the blast near the landmark Red Fort killed at least nine people on Monday evening. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is used to investigate and prosecute acts related to “terrorism” and activities that threaten India’s sovereignty... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332271/indian-police-begin-delhi-car-blast-probe-families-wait-anxiously-news?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3332271/indian-police-begin-delhi-car-blast-probe-families-wait-anxiously-news?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 02:46:36 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India has taken a big step in enhancing its military’s deterrence capabilities along its borders with Pakistan and China through the creation of new commando and drone units. The army will also be equipped with carbines designed for close-quarter battles and the latest anti-tank weapons, in a move that analysts say will significantly strengthen the country’s border security and defence sector. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar, director general in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330276/indias-army-boost-deterrence-along-borders-new-commando-and-drone-units?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3330276/indias-army-boost-deterrence-along-borders-new-commando-and-drone-units?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 07:00:12 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India is finally set to induct its first two Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets later this month, replacing its ageing MiG-21 fleet after decades of delays and marking a milestone in its bid for military self-reliance, but analysts warn overreliance on foreign engines and production bottlenecks remain pressing concerns. Defence Secretary RK Singh announced the coming delivery on Saturday during a summit in New Delhi, describing it as part of a broader effort to build indigenous defence capabilities. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324066/indias-military-self-reliance-dream-takes-flight-first-tejas-mark-1a-jet-deliveries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324066/indias-military-self-reliance-dream-takes-flight-first-tejas-mark-1a-jet-deliveries?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:30:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India and Pakistan have embarked on a new arms race, investing billions in advanced missile systems that observers warn could define the next era of South Asian warfare. The moves follow their deadly four-day conflict in May, which saw some of the most intense border hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals in years. Earlier this month, India announced it would procure an additional 110 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as part of a new 670 billion rupee (US$8.7 billion) defence... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322212/india-pakistan-enter-new-missile-race-after-deadly-border-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322212/india-pakistan-enter-new-missile-race-after-deadly-border-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 08:28:03 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The grey hulls of two new Indian stealth frigates are set to slide into service side by side this month, in a rare twin commissioning that analysts say embodies India’s maritime ambitions and sends a clear message to its rivals. The INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are set to formally join the fleet on August 26 in a ceremony at Visakhapatnam on India’s east coast. Both vessels, which were built in separate shipyards, are part of Project 17A – India’s most advanced stealth frigate programme – and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321747/indias-navy-gets-double-dose-stealth-twin-warship-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321747/indias-navy-gets-double-dose-stealth-twin-warship-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:26:03 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As India shores up military upgrades with a 670 billion rupee (US$8.7 billion) defence package after its clash with Pakistan in Operation Sindoor, observers say New Delhi should be more transparent in its scope of foreign-bought equipment amid a push for self-reliance. The latest security splurge was approved on August 5 by the Defence Acquisition Council, under Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, aimed at delivering defence equipment across the army, navy and air force. The package will come under... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321470/indias-us87-billion-defence-splurge-sparks-calls-clarity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321470/indias-us87-billion-defence-splurge-sparks-calls-clarity?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:20:46 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju An abrupt decision by US President Donald Trump to double tariffs on Indian goods has triggered what analysts describe as a “total mistrust” in bilateral ties and sent a “muddled strategic signal” about Washington’s foreign policy priorities. The move – an additional 25‑percentage‑point tariff on Indian exports, doubling duties to 50 per cent – was issued in an executive order on Wednesday to penalise India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which Washington argues is helping fund Moscow’s war... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321146/trumps-50-tariff-sows-total-mistrust-between-us-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3321146/trumps-50-tariff-sows-total-mistrust-between-us-india?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju An unexpected resurgence in ties between the United States and Pakistan amid Washington’s simmering tensions with India has turned the tables in the dynamics between the three nations, according to observers. US President Donald Trump last week imposed a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported from India, on top of a “penalty” import tax, citing New Delhi’s trade barriers and continued purchases of Russian oil and weapons. Hours after the announcement, the American leader revealed a “massive” oil... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320578/trumps-pakistan-pivot-redefines-us-india-dynamics-no-permanent-friends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320578/trumps-pakistan-pivot-redefines-us-india-dynamics-no-permanent-friends?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the Maldives is being viewed as a symbolic yet strategic reset in bilateral ties, signalling New Delhi’s renewed engagement with its island neighbour amid waning Chinese investment and mounting economic distress in Male. Modi’s two-day trip, which coincided with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations, marked his first visit since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in late 2023 following an election campaign built on a combative... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320027/modis-visit-indian-aid-pledge-reshape-maldives-ties-china-wavers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3320027/modis-visit-indian-aid-pledge-reshape-maldives-ties-china-wavers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:01:36 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s acquisition of the latest variant of US-made Apache attack helicopters is a key step towards bolstering its ability to fight on two fronts against Pakistan and China, but experts are divided on whether the ageing aircraft can remain battleworthy over the long term. On Tuesday, the Indian army took delivery of the first three AH-64E Apache helicopters, with plans to induct them into its attack aviation wing based in the state of Rajasthan. Three more units are expected to arrive by the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319329/new-apaches-india-are-us-helicopters-battle-ready-future-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3319329/new-apaches-india-are-us-helicopters-battle-ready-future-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 02:30:09 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju The government in India’s southern state of Karnataka has started a special investigation into allegations of a mass burial at Dharmasthala, a major pilgrimage centre, following a confession by a former sanitation worker that has sent shock waves across the country. In a formal complaint to police dated July 3 – a copy of which has been seen by This Week in Asia – the worker revealed that between 1998 and 2014, he was allegedly instructed to bury “hundreds of bodies” of women and children. Some... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319080/mass-grave-scandal-cover-claims-rock-southern-indian-state?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319080/mass-grave-scandal-cover-claims-rock-southern-indian-state?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:39:56 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system has reportedly drawn interest from at least 15 countries spanning from Asia to South America after its use in cross-border strikes against Pakistan enhanced the global profile of the Indian weapons industry. While security experts acknowledge the growing clout of the industry, they say sustaining this momentum would require broader expertise, less reliance on foreign technology and more supportive policies to realise India’s potential as a global... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318809/india-gets-global-buyer-interest-brahmos-missile-asia-south-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3318809/india-gets-global-buyer-interest-brahmos-missile-asia-south-america?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2025 08:30:14 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s failure to rally international backing for its claims that Pakistan was behind a recent deadly militant attack in Kashmir has exposed the limits of its diplomatic influence. The setback has raised questions about India’s ability to mobilise multilateral platforms in its favour, despite being a prominent member of the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the US-backed Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), according to analysts. At the SCO meeting in Qingdao on June 25,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317231/indias-global-clout-doubt-after-failing-sway-sco-quad-pakistan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317231/indias-global-clout-doubt-after-failing-sway-sco-quad-pakistan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:00:16 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju In a chorus of condemnation, India’s silence spoke volumes. New Delhi has distanced itself from a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) statement denouncing Israel’s attacks on Iran, revealing the intricate web of interests tying it to both warring states. The SCO – a 10-member bloc focused on economic and security interests, and currently chaired by China – issued a statement on Saturday censuring Israel’s military action. But India’s endorsement was conspicuously absent. Other SCO members,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314824/where-does-india-stand-israel-iran-conflict-its-sco-opt-out-offers-clues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314824/where-does-india-stand-israel-iran-conflict-its-sco-opt-out-offers-clues?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 04:00:14 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju As India embarks on its path to self-sufficiency in modern weapons production to shore up its defence clout, its military inventory may have already surpassed arch rival Pakistan’s, but still lags behind China. The drive is marked by New Delhi’s latest bid to acquire the Rs 30,000 crore (US$3.6 billion) Indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system, after it fended off Turkish-origin drones and Chinese-made missiles launched by Pakistan last month at the height of clashes. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314215/india-path-weapons-self-sufficiency-still-lags-behind-china-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314215/india-path-weapons-self-sufficiency-still-lags-behind-china-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju For decades, India’s most advanced fighter jets have borne the stamp of foreign origin. But the country’s quest for military self-reliance took a leap forward last week with the long-awaited go-ahead for its own stealth fighter jet. The Indian government’s green light for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is being lauded by analysts as a watershed moment for national security, as the country confronts mounting military pressures from both Pakistan and China. New Delhi’s Defence Ministry... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312516/meet-indias-answer-pakistans-chinese-jets-amca-fifth-generation-stealth-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312516/meet-indias-answer-pakistans-chinese-jets-amca-fifth-generation-stealth-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju Calls to boycott Turkish and Azerbaijani products and travel have intensified across India, with experts describing the push as an emerging form of consumer-led diplomacy in response to the two countries’ support for Pakistan during recent cross-border hostilities. While analysts said the economic fallout for either side might be limited, they suggested the backlash reflected deeper shifts in Indian public opinion – and the country’s evolving use of economic tools to signal foreign policy... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310592/india-boycott-calls-against-turkey-azerbaijan-reflect-growing-consumer-led-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310592/india-boycott-calls-against-turkey-azerbaijan-reflect-growing-consumer-led-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 10:00:28 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India’s latest BrahMos missile production facility marks a strategic milestone in its decades-long push for defence self-reliance and increased arms exports, though analysts say it is more a symbol of industrial ambition than a game-changer for the country’s military posture. The 3 billion rupee (US$36 million) plant in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, inaugurated virtually on Saturday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will produce between 80 and 100 supersonic cruise missiles a year. Launched... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310018/india-opens-new-brahmos-missile-plant-amid-growing-export-demand-and-regional-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310018/india-opens-new-brahmos-missile-plant-amid-growing-export-demand-and-regional-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 May 2025 10:08:39 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India has signed a US$7.4 billion deal to acquire 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets from France, a move analysts said would strengthen the country’s maritime defence capabilities as it grapples with China’s expanding naval presence and renewed tensions with Pakistan. The agreement was finalised on Monday in New Delhi, with Indian Defence Secretary Raj Kumar Singh and French Ambassador Thierry Mathou presiding over the signing ceremony. The deal, which covers 22 single-seat carrier-based jets and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308294/indias-rafale-marine-fighter-jet-deal-targets-china-pakistan-maritime-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308294/indias-rafale-marine-fighter-jet-deal-targets-china-pakistan-maritime-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 04:00:13 +0000 India is poised to unveil a new state-of-the-art naval base in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, a move seen as reflecting its ambitions to expand its underwater fleet and counter China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean. The base, located near Rambilli village, will serve as a hub for India’s warships and nuclear-powered submarines, according to local media, enhancing its ability to project power in an increasingly contested region. The facility will support India’s fleet of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306217/indias-new-submarine-base-targets-chinas-growing-sea-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306217/indias-new-submarine-base-targets-chinas-growing-sea-power?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Apr 2025 10:00:18 +0000 India is set to kick off its first major naval exercise with 10 African nations next month, in a move signalling its growing strategic ambitions. The Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise, will take place off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in mid-April amid New Delhi’s deepening military outreach on a continent where China has long been a dominant player. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the six-day exercise, which will see India co-hosting with the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3304352/aikeyme-action-india-counters-china-african-naval-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3304352/aikeyme-action-india-counters-china-african-naval-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:00:07 +0000 The release of the Hindi film Chhaava has inflamed communal tensions in India, triggering violent protests and renewing debate about Bollywood’s use of controversial and often inaccurate historical narratives to appeal to the country’s dominant religious group. The film depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a Maratha king who fought against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb before he was killed. Historians have criticised the film for misrepresenting key figures and events from the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3303208/are-indian-films-tapping-hindu-nationalism-achieve-box-office-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3303208/are-indian-films-tapping-hindu-nationalism-achieve-box-office-success?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:07:06 +0000 India’s move to upgrade its ties with Mauritius is seen as a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean and reinforce New Delhi’s role as a key security and economic partner in the region. During his two-day visit to Mauritius as a chief guest of the country’s national day celebrations last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced the two countries’ “enhanced strategic partnership” and reaffirmed their commitment to a free,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302715/indias-embrace-mauritius-aimed-countering-chinas-indian-ocean-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302715/indias-embrace-mauritius-aimed-countering-chinas-indian-ocean-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Mar 2025 11:00:38 +0000 Beijing has called for closer trade cooperation with New Delhi to counter growing US tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods, but analysts are sceptical about whether economic pragmatism can overcome the deep-seated mistrust between the two Asian powers. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasised the need for stronger economic ties with New Delhi on Friday, declaring that cooperation between the “dragon and the elephant” would accelerate the “democratisation of international relations” and enhance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302127/india-and-china-urged-unite-against-us-tariffs-amid-growing-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302127/india-and-china-urged-unite-against-us-tariffs-amid-growing-trade-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:42:09 +0000 India has launched a renewed diplomatic offensive to drive forward an ambitious infrastructure project that analysts say could redraw global trade routes and serve as a strategic counterweight to China’s sprawling Belt and Road Initiative. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), as the project is known, is envisioned as a network of railways, shipping lanes, energy pipelines and high-speed data cables connecting South Asia, the Gulf and Europe. “IMEC enhances India’s connectivity,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3301532/indias-answer-chinas-belt-and-road-starts-take-shape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3301532/indias-answer-chinas-belt-and-road-starts-take-shape?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2025 08:30:18 +0000 India has significantly increased its financial aid to the Maldives in its latest budget, with analysts calling it an effort to “outdo and outwait” China’s influence in the region. In the country’s 2025 national budget released on Saturday, the Maldives received an allocation of 6 billion rupees (US$69 million), up from 4.7 billion rupees last year, marking the biggest increase among South Asian beneficiaries. India initially earmarked 6 billion rupees for the Maldives in its budget last year,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297519/india-boosts-aid-maldives-bid-outdo-chinas-influence-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297519/india-boosts-aid-maldives-bid-outdo-chinas-influence-region?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:21 +0000 The opening of Gwadar International Airport, a key piece of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is expected to bolster the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while also intensifying India’s concerns over Beijing’s potential military presence in the region, analysts said. The US$230 million state-of-the-art airport, which spans 430 acres in southwestern Pakistan, is central to China’s US$65 billion CPEC project to develop Gwadar into a pivotal trade and transport hub. Inaugurated in October... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296697/gwadar-airport-opening-boosts-china-pakistan-ties-raises-indias-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296697/gwadar-airport-opening-boosts-china-pakistan-ties-raises-indias-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2025 10:00:20 +0000 As US President Donald Trump begins his second term with a softer stance on China, observers believe the policy is still a “work in progress” and India will remain a key Quad partner for Washington as a counterweight to Beijing’s Indo-Pacific influence. In a historic move, China sent Vice-President Han Zheng to attend Trump’s inauguration last week, a move widely seen as upbeat for US-China relations. But also on Washington’s radar is the Quad – a security grouping consisting of India,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296504/should-india-be-worried-about-warmer-us-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296504/should-india-be-worried-about-warmer-us-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jan 2025 04:00:24 +0000 China’s record US$3.7 billion investment in a Sri Lankan oil refinery has sparked fresh security concerns in India, analysts say, as New Delhi sees the growing Chinese presence near its borders as a strategic threat. During Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to Beijing last week, where he held talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, both sides signed the refinery deal – which Colombo has described as its biggest-ever foreign investment agreement – alongside 15 other... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3295521/unwelcome-news-should-india-be-worried-about-sri-lanka-and-chinas-growing-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3295521/unwelcome-news-should-india-be-worried-about-sri-lanka-and-chinas-growing-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:30:08 +0000 The United States’ latest sanctions targeting Pakistan-based entities for their involvement in the country’s ballistic missile programme have bolstered India’s strategic position and underscored Islamabad’s fading relevance in Washington, analysts say. The US sanctioned four entities on Wednesday, including the state-owned National Development Complex, that it said were contributing to the programme. A statement by the US Department of State said the entities were “proliferators of weapons of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3292048/net-advantage-india-what-us-sanctions-mean-pakistans-relevance-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3292048/net-advantage-india-what-us-sanctions-mean-pakistans-relevance-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:30:24 +0000 India’s reopening of its embassy in North Korea marks a strategic recalibration of New Delhi’s foreign policy, analysts say, aimed at addressing national security concerns linked to missile proliferation and maintaining influence in a region shaped by volatile geopolitics. According to media reports this week, India has decided to resume normal operations at its Pyongyang embassy, three and a half years after it was closed due to the pandemic, by dispatching technical staff and diplomatic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3291778/india-reopens-pyongyang-embassy-strategic-decision-monitor-korean-peninsula-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3291778/india-reopens-pyongyang-embassy-strategic-decision-monitor-korean-peninsula-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:40:00 +0000