India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat A seemingly innocuous crackdown on social media apps in Nepal led to deadly Gen Z protests spiraling out of control eventually leading to a regime change in Kathmandu marred by bloody riots and elimination of the old political guard. An interim administration is now in charge and is responsible to hold General elections in early 2026. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 50 India Strikes Back Deep Inside Pakistan by Mohal Joshi & Kishor Narayan

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat 26 people including 25 Hindus were massacred by Pakistan based terrorists in Pahalgam in Hamas style swoop attack. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat US President Donald Trump has unleashed a wave of sweeping tariffs on many countries in a bid to correct trade imbalances that US has with these countries. Even before the tariffs could see the light of the day, he has announced a 90 day pause for all countries except for China. So, what did the "Liberation Day" tariffs hold in store for India and other countries and how can the 90-day pause benefit India? Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat US President Donald Trump is busy ever since his inauguration working on cutting deals with world leaders. Narendra Modi in his first visit to Washington DC since Trump's return showed how exactly to deal with Donald Trump and massage his ego. Even CNN termed this as a Modi masterclass. On the other hand Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faltered to handle Trump and Vice President JD Vance amidst the cameras and exited with nothing to show. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled out of the country after a massive student uprising led to her iron rule coming to an abrupt end. An interim government under Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus has taken over amidst continued violence especially against the minorities including the Hindus. What transpired in the weeks and months before the ouster and what happens next? How should India respond now? Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat Pakistan voted on 8th February to select a new national government amidst several controversies including jailing ex-PM Imran Khan and banning his party from contesting and suspension of internet across the country. Within hours of the start of the counting of votes, there were allegations of rigging and vote manipulation by the Pakistani deep state to favour it's political dummies. Images: Pakistan Election Results Map: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/9/pakistan-election-2024-live-results Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat On October 7th, terror group Hamas launched coordinated attacks from the Gaza Strip onto the bordering areas in Israel. These attacks led to more than 1300 Israelis killed. Israel in response declared that it is at war with Hamas and launched a major counteroffensive on Gaza Strip. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat India Canada relations have nosedived suddenly after the explosive allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the involvement of Indian government agencies in the killing of a wanted Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first state visit to the United States in the 9th year of his Prime Ministership Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat On December 9, around 300 PLA soldiers tried to transgress into Indian territory by crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and were met by 50 brave Indian soldiers who physically stopped them from doing so. In the ensuing brawl, the outnumbered Indian soldiers were successful in not only stopping the PLA soldiers on their tracks, but also chase them back into their territory. This episode delves into this event with whatever little information is available in public domain and tries to analyse the Chinese psyche and the Indian response. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat On December 9, around 300 PLA soldiers tried to transgress into Indian territory by crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and were met by 50 brave Indian soldiers who physically stopped them from doing so. In the ensuing brawl, the outnumbered Indian soldiers were successful in not only stopping the PLA soldiers on their tracks, but also chase them back into their territory. This episode delves into this event with whatever little information is available in public domain and tries to analyse the Chinese psyche and the Indian response. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat From China to Pakistan, from the United States to Russia, India is facing tremendous challenges in engaging with global powers during these troubled times. Under the erudite MEA S Jaishankar, New Delhi has been able to not only put forth its position on varied issues, but also winning praise for its unbiased stand. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ As the Ukraine War continues in Europe, India's immediate neighbourhood is facing economic crises. The economic crisis in Pakistan has now led to a political crisis eventually leading to the replacement of Imran Khan with Shahbaz Sharif. In Sri Lanka, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration finds itself cornered unable to manage the economy and is on the verge of defaulting its payment of international debts. #Pakistan #ImranKhan #ShahbazSharif #GeneralQamarJavedBajwa #PTI #SriLanka #GotabayaRajapaksa #MahindaRajapaksa #IMFBailout #IndianAssistance

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat It has been two weeks since Russia ordered a "special military operation" into Ukraine with a stated goal of demilitarisation and deNazification of Ukraine. With US and other NATO powers refusing to send their weapons or soldiers, Ukraine is alone in defending itself. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #Russia #Ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #NATO #NATOExpansion #USA #VladimirPutin #VolodymyrZelenskyy #Kiev #Moscow #India #China #XiJinping #NarendraModi

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat The Taliban are now in complete control of Afghanistan and have announced a Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with a temporary government. Is this akin to same vine in a new bottle or is there something new that Taliban have to offer? Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #Afghanistan #Taliban #HaibatullahAkhundzada #MaulviHassanAkhund #MullahBaradar #Kabul #Pakistan #ISI #Russia #China

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat In the backdrop of the US-led NATO forces withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army forces have surrendered without a fight to a determined Taliban who advanced through the country and eventually captured Kabul in less than a fortnight. This bloodless victory for Taliban has surely ruffled many feathers around the world and will have global ramifications. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat A year ago during the summer of 2020 when the world in general and India specifically was reeling under the full brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic, the soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) came up to the Line of Actual Control to occupy strategic areas across the perceived LAC (Line of Actual Control) just as the snow was melting during the summer months. It’s been a year now and instead of the situation easing off, we have heard of soldiers from both sides digging their heels. The fact that the issue isn’t grabbing the headlines doesn’t mean that the issue has gone away. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #LineOfActualControl #IndiaChinaBorder #PeoplesLiberationArmy #IndianArmy #WangYi #SJaishankar #NarendraModi #XiJinping #Ladakh #Sikkim #GenBipinRawat

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat The month of Ramadan is generally tense in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Arabs wish to pray in the Al Aqsa mosque which is situated in the walled Old City. And fearing unrest, Israel deploys its defence forces to control the crowds who come to pray over there. This year was no different. However, what added to the already tense situation was the verdict about the ownership of land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem in addition to the Jerusalem Day celebrations planned by ultra right wing parties in Israel. This led to a highly volatile situation which was milked by the Hamas militant group in a rather unexpected fashion. In this episode we dig deep into what triggered the crisis and what was India’s stand in the whole situation. Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #Israel #Hamas #WestBank #Palestine #SheikhJarrah #Jerusalem #AlAqsaMosque #IronDome

India Rising: Strategic Affairs Conversations with Mohal and Kishor @mohaljoshi @veggiediplomat Just about 2 months ago, India was sceptical about the possibility of getting involved in a two front war. Surprisingly, India has managed to achieve not just a disengagement by the Chinese People's Liberation Army at the Line of Actual Control in Pangong Tso region but also a commitment to ceasefire by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control. How did India manage it and what are its implications? Cover tune: Hand In Hand by Nicolai Heidlas | https://www.nicolai-heidlas.com​ Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com​ Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #India #China #India-China #LineOfActualControl #Pakistan #IndiaPakistan #LineOfControl #CeasefireAtLOC #DisengagementAtLAC #PangongTso #ImranKhan #NarendraModi #XiJinping #PakistanArmy #GenMMNaravane #GenQamarBajwa