America and Russia fought a secret battle to control India

Their spies funded Indian parties, manipulated the media and stole secrets

"The whole country is for sale," said one Russian spy

🧵on the fight to influence India For decades, India was a prime target for foreign spies

It was the world's largest democracy and an influential power among developing countries

Both America's Central Intelligence Agency and the Soviet Union's KGB fought to influence India's politics in their favour

NEW: RAW agents were kicked out of Australia in 2020 for stealing defence secrets

ABC News reports that Australia's govt found a "nest of spies" in 2020

India was at the centre of this scandal

Here's everything the report says🧵 Australia's ABC News reported today that RAW agents were expelled from Australia in 2020

The govt suspected them of trying to steal sensitive defence technology, classified airport security information and details of Australia's trade relationships

RAW Chief Samant Goel approved the Pannun killing plot, believe US agencies

The CIA believes NSA Ajit Doval may have known about the Pannun operation

US govt is looking at potential links to PM Modi's inner circle

Here's everything the Washington Post's report says 🧵 In a new report, the Washington Post has named Vikram Yadav, a RAW official, as the man responsible for managing the plot to kill Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant SIngh Pannun on US soil

Yadav was responsible for coordinating the operation

His identity was previously not known

Narendra Modi won some big global victories in 10 years

He reached out to America, built the Quad and pulled off G20

BUT, his China policy has failed

🧵on the Modi govt's diplomatic record Since 2014, Narendra Modi has made foreign policy a central focus of his govt

We talk a lot about that

But after 10 years of the Modi govt, we need to take a look at what Modi achieved and didn't on the world stage

So let's start with his big foreign policy wins...

China just won more power in India's neighbourhood

Maldives' pro-China President has just won a massive election victory

That should worry India

🧵 On April 21, Maldives held elections to its parliament (the Majlis)

The country's President is Mohamed Muizzu, whose govt has had tensions with India

His coalition that has a minority in Parliament right now

According to early results, his party is set to win a solid majority

A new conflict threatens the Middle East

India is trying to stop it

🧵 For the last few days, tensions between Iran and Israel have led to fears of war

On April 1, an attack on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria led to the deaths of several senior Iranian military commanders

Iran blamed Israel for carrying out the airstrike on the building

The Congress just released its election manifesto

It promises to restore India's "damaged" global reputation

🧵 The Congress released its manifesto earlier today

It made a series of commitments on foreign policy and defence

Let's get into them

Just finished Jaishankar’s most interesting interview ever

A key highlight: India was too slow in stopping China

🧵(THREAD) On Monday, the Lallantop’s Saurabh Dwivedi sat down for a marathon 3 hour interview with Dr. Jaishankar

Here are the really interesting bits summarised for you

The Citizenship Amendment Act is back

In 2020, it caused a diplomatic firestorm for India

🧵 So what was the controversy about ?

Briefly, CAA allows a pathway to Indian citizenship for illegal migrants from three countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan

CAA specifies that only those from the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Christian & Buddhist communities are eligible

The RSS is India's most powerful political organisation

Its top goal: India must unify South Asia

🧵on geopolitics and the RSS Founded in 1925, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been an influential force in India

According to the RSS, its goal is to restore lost national pride after centuries of "subjugation" by foreign powers like Britain and the Mughal Empire

A major Asian power is threatened by China

So it needs a strong partnership with India

BUT, something is going wrong

🧵 That country is South Korea

While India and S. Korea are two of Asia's most powerful states, their relationship has underperformed

Despite the rise of China posing challenges to both countries, the two have struggled to prioritise each other

But why does S.Korea matter to 🇮🇳?

The Mughal Empire was a dominant world power

For 200 years, it had a smart geopolitical strategy to defend its massive territory

🧵on this strategy From 1526 to 1707, the Mughal Empire ruled large parts of India, Afghanistan and Central Asia

Its power and influence led it to fight, trade and deal with Persia, Central Asia, Turkey and even Europe

The Empire's grand strategy had three main goals

India is developing a vital naval base against China

BUT, New Delhi really wants to keep it a secret

🧵 Agalega is a remote island, located in the Southwest Indian Ocean, that is part of Mauritius

The island is home to 300 people

Experts believe the island is strategically located

It is close to the Mozambique channel, a key maritime route for commercial ships & oil tankers

A scandal is threatening one of India's most successful industries

India calls itself the "pharmacy of the world"

BUT, contaminated Indian medicines have caused 100 deaths abroad

🧵 This controversy began in October 2022 when 70 children died in Gambia after consuming contaminated cough syrup

The syrup was manufactured by the Indian firm Maiden Pharmaceuticals

Another scandal broke when 18 children died in Uzbekistan after consuming cough syrup

Indians are being forced to fight for Russia, say reports

The government is rushing to get them back

BUT, this isn't the first time Indians have been stuck fighting foreign wars

🧵 According to The Hindu, around 100 Indians were hired as "helpers" for Russia's military, which is fighting a war in Ukraine

These men were offered an attractive salary (Rs 1.95 lakh/month) by recruitment agents

They come from places like UP, Gujarat, Punjab & Kashmir

India has a new ally in Europe

Its aim: establish India's presence in geopolitically vital European waters

It also hopes to isolate rivals like Turkey

🧵 That Western power is Greece

Its Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is on a state visit to India right now

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Greece

It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over 40 years

But why does Greece matter to India?

Today, India's Prime Minister inaugurates the largest Hindu temple in the Middle East

This matters for two pretty important reasons

🧵 Today, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the BAPS Hindu temple in the UAE

The temple, built at the cost of 700 crore, will be Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple

So why would the PM travel for this event, just months before general elections in India?

There's two reasons why

India has just woken up to a big diplomatic win

8 naval veterans sentenced to death by Qatar have been released

Here's what you need to know🧵 Early this morning, India's Foreign Ministry announced that the eight naval veterans imprisoned in Qatar since 2022 have been released

The men are now back in India

But, just months ago, these veterans were sentenced to death on suspected charges of espionage

So what changed?

Indians are missing a massive story

After Maldives, a new "India Out" campaign is starting in a vital neighbouring country

This campaign is calling for the boycott of everything Indian

🧵 That neighbouring country is Bangladesh

A new "India Out" campaign has been launched with the support of the country's opposition parties

They are accusing India of influencing B'desh's politics and calling for the boycott of Indian products

So what's going on?

If you're just waking up, something extraordinary is happening in Pakistan

Against the efforts of PAK's military, Imran Khan's party is dominating the elections

If trends hold up, that result will be historic

BUT, the vote may be stolen

🧵 So what do we know right now?

Yesterday, Pakistan held its general elections

Going into the polls, it seemed that a winner had already been "selected" by Pakistan's powerful military

That was Nawaz Sharif, a three-time Prime Minister, who leads the Pakistan Muslim League (N)

India's oldest rival heads into a controversial election today

130 million people in Pakistan will vote to elect their new government

Here's all you need to know🧵 Pakistan's general elections are expected to return former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to office

That's because Sharif has the backing of PAK's powerful military, which has controlled politics for decades

His main rival, Imran Khan, is in jail

So how did we get here?