@tanvi_madan's Threads
I have a story about two very good (and, it goes without saying, smart) people - Steve Cohen & Fiona Hill - that explains 1 reason why I am so fond of them. 1/
Years ago, when I was a research asst, there was a project to be done on the energy security strategies of major energy consuming countries & how they might/might not affect those countries' foreign policies 2/
Steve Cohen asked me if I'd be interested in taking on the India paper. Fiona backed him up on it. In those days, Brookings' rules allowed senior RAs to do such papers, but it did not often happen... 3/
If you haven't watched HBO's Chernobyl, which won outstanding limited series at the #Emmys yesterday, you should 1/ 
But I'd also recommend reading one or both of these books. One's by historian Serhii Plokhii; the other by journalist @HigginbothamA. 2/
@HigginbothamA Both books have brief India-related anecdotes. @HigginbothamA's book mentions Soviet concerns about the reaction of countries like India, to whom the USSR was trying to export nuke tech, to continuing secrecy about the Chernobyl disaster simonandschuster.com/books/Midnight… 3/
Imran-Trump mtg at UNGA.
ARY? Journo: for the 1st time we get honest leadership like u in America.
Trump: I agree w/ u...Ppl in my position hv treated Pakistan v badly...I wouldn't say Pak has treated us too well either but maybe there was a reason. I think there was a reason 1/
ARY? Journo: for the 1st time we get honest leadership like u in America.
Trump: I agree w/ u...Ppl in my position hv treated Pakistan v badly...I wouldn't say Pak has treated us too well either but maybe there was a reason. I think there was a reason 1/
Imran-Trump mtg at UNGA.
ARY Journo: in the past u hv said u don't trust Pakistan...
Trump: I trust Pakistan, but ppl before me didn't. But they didn't know what they were doing...I trust this gentleman right here. 2/
ARY Journo: in the past u hv said u don't trust Pakistan...
Trump: I trust Pakistan, but ppl before me didn't. But they didn't know what they were doing...I trust this gentleman right here. 2/
Imran-Trump mtg at UNGA.
Trump...& I do trust Pak. I hv a lot of Pakistani friends, living in NY, great negotiators btw...among the toughest. 3/
Trump...& I do trust Pak. I hv a lot of Pakistani friends, living in NY, great negotiators btw...among the toughest. 3/
Imran Khan goes on Fox News (@BretBaier's show) , says the Pakistani delegation "loved" the meeting with President Trump video.foxnews.com/v/606283028000…
@BretBaier .@BretBaier asks Imran if a drawdown from Afghanistan will make US vulnerable. Pakistani PM says Taliban "a localized movement," hasn't attacked anyone outside Afghanistan [which apparently is ok?]. Reiterates Taliban not "an int'l terrorist movt"
@BretBaier .@BretBaier asks Imran abt continuing Taliban attacks even while they're negotiating. Imran pivots & says really danger if there's no peace settlement in Afghanistan is ISIS
India's headed to the moon w/ #Chandrayaan2. Both the project director & the mission director are women - Muthayya Vanitha & Ritu Karidhal respectively. Reportedly, 30% of @isro's workforce is female. 1/
There were also several female scientists in the leadership team of India's Mars orbiter mission, some of which were featured in this video 2/ #Mangalyaan
ISRO scientist V. R. Lalithambika leads India's Human Spaceflight Programme. India is aiming to send astronauts into space by 2022 #Gaganyaan 3/
THREAD on China & the potential designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the UNSC's 1267 committee. France, UK, US proposed the listing again after the Pulwama attack. Deadline for response is tomorrow. 1/
China has blocked the designation of JeM's Masood Azhar in the past for its ally Pakistan. Re the current proposal, keep in mind that Beijing does not have to vote *for* the listing. It just has to refrain from objecting to it. 2/
Will China let the Azhar designation go through? Its foreign minstry spox has been noncommittal, reiterating its past position re the cmte (see img). That's not definitive one way or the other. Keep in mind that China has let Pakistan-based terrorists be designated in the past 3/
Re "who is winning PR war" (really ppl??). A DC pov: folks know what caused this crisis: a terrorist attack from a grp based in Pak. Can argue abt GOI/pol approach. But re pilot release - not seen as grand gesture but obvious step Pak had to take to ensure crisis didn't escalate
Probably an unpopular opinion among the crowd here, but India's restraint since 2001 has not been seen as a sign of weakness, but a sign of maturity -- & that India has its eyes on the prize, while Pakistan seems to only hv eyes on India.
That restraint, which let India gain power/position, and Pak's contd links w/ terror groups (that don't just target India) is why almost no country has publicly criticized Indian airstrike (despite ?s abt wisdom of extent of incursion) & contd to call for Pak to take CT steps. 2/
THREAD Deconstructing the Indian foreign secretary's statement on "the Strike on JeM training camp at Balakot" (esp for those just starting their day in the US)
mea.gov.in/press-releases… 1/
mea.gov.in/press-releases… 1/
The Indian FS also separately briefed diplomats (bit.ly/2INs2ye), and did a briefing for journalists 2/
GOI's public approach - thus far, just MEA out front (right pic) - is in contrast to post-Uri "surgical strikes" briefing (left pic) done jointly w/ the defence ministry (bit.ly/2GLiRwA). Signals desire to emph non-mil targets & minimize likelihood of escalation 3/
Fmr Indian FonSec Jaishankar @raisinadialogue: for yrs we saw China pushing. Over last yr, we've seen US fighting back. Whether it wld, was unclear a year ago. It's clearer now, but we still don't know how serious, sustainable it is yet
Fmr Indian FonSec @DrSJaishankar at @raisinadialogue: In the US, on China my sense is that the "deep state" and the "loud state" are united.
Fmr Italian PM Gentiloni: Growing awareness in Europe of necessity of having common stand on China - we recognize that in econ rels, it's not just an opportunity. But worried abt unpredictable escalation btwn US and China. @raisinadialogue
Gotta love South Asian conspiracy theories (not). This one is not just a conspiracy theory about India's external intel service & Sri Lanka, but that service freelancing w/o the knowledge/ok of the Indian PM 🤨
Sri Lanka denies the (alleged) conspiracy theory was propounded; says relations with India are strong and include intelligence sharing.
On the Modi-Sirisena phone call that followed...
