Not our war...
THE WEEK|March 13, 2022
...but India should be part of the peace. New Delhi’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been dictated by its self-interest, but it should be geared to counter the costs that it would incur
NAVTEJ SARNA
Not our war...

TIGHTROPE WALKING IS an acquired skill demanding years of practice and India’s abilities in this regard, as it balances its strategic relationships with Russia and the United States, are being severely tested by the Ukraine conflict. As the conflict intensifies and is brought closer home with the unfortunate death of an Indian student and growing difficulties for thousands more, there is no certainty how long this tightrope may have to extend, or how our official stance may evolve.

To recapitulate, India has so far taken—in carefully-crafted statements at the UN Security Council— what appears to be a balanced and even-handed stand; our fortuitous presence at the horseshoe table as a non-permanent member results in both a greater prominence for and a closer examination of our position. While these statements have predictably called for diplomatic dialogue, de-escalation of violence and a settlement on the basis of the Minsk Agreements, they have been perceived to contain a nuanced tilt towards Russia. Expressed in diplomatic shorthand, this tilt lies in our refusal to name Russia as the aggressor, a repeated reference to “legitimate security interests” of all states and a reluctance to categorise the developments as anything beyond “violence and hostilities”. While these statements have grown sharper with the spiralling of the situation into a full-blown conflict, the tightrope has held in essence, culminating in India’s abstention on the crucial draft resolution tabled on February 26 that sought to deplore Russian aggression.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 13, 2022 من THE WEEK.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 13, 2022 من THE WEEK.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE WEEK مشاهدة الكل
War Over Wounded Earth
THE WEEK India

War Over Wounded Earth

For the BJP andthe Congress, the ravaged farmlands of Vidarbha represent a cxitieal battleground in their larger struggle to win Maharashtra

time-read
9 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Say no to continual elections
THE WEEK India

Say no to continual elections

Following the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind to streamline the widely scattered schedule of national, state and local elections, the Union cabinet has reportedly approved two constitutional amendment bills for likely introduction in Parliament. Predictably, the return of the ‘one nation, one election’ issue to news has set off a flurry of objections by several opposition leaders.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Fabulously, fashionably funny
THE WEEK India

Fabulously, fashionably funny

The third season of the Karan Johar-produced Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives dropped on Netflix, but articles criticising the show appear in some news site or the other almost daily. If it is so bad, why keep writing about it? And if it is so bad, why would the superpowers at Netflix, who are harder to meet than the prime minister, commission the show season after season?

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
All in the family
THE WEEK India

All in the family

The Chitaras have been passing down the secret art of Mata Ni Pachedi through generations for more than 400 years now

time-read
6 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Raise a toast to Vidya Balan
THE WEEK India

Raise a toast to Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan is a New Year baby. At 45, she is aglow in the most beautiful way, having won the hearts and admiration of countless fans across the world, who watched the supremely talented actor take a public tumble on stage at a high-profile promotional event recently, sharing the platform with no less a dancer than the eternally graceful Madhuri Dixit.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Death no bar
THE WEEK India

Death no bar

Being alive is not a legal requirement to be elected president of the United States

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
The Lotus POTUS
THE WEEK India

The Lotus POTUS

You should visit us one of these days— there is so much excitement in our USA! No, I don’t mean the famous USA—the Ulhasnagar Sindhi Association of Mumbai.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 10, 2024
RAY OF HOPE
THE WEEK India

RAY OF HOPE

Actor and cancer survivor Lisa Ray talks to oncologist Dr Jame Abraham about inner strength and her surrogacy journey

time-read
5 mins  |
November 10, 2024
LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK
THE WEEK India

LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK

AT THE WEEK Health Summit, Siddharth Bagga, head (retail, CPG and health care), Google Cloud, elaborated on the significant work that Google has been doing in health care through artificial intelligence (AI).

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
PRESSURE POINTS
THE WEEK India

PRESSURE POINTS

Author and MP Shashi Tharoor and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das on how to find healing and meaning in today's world

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024