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Dear Readers,
Welcome to the May-June edition of the magazine. It is different in the sense we have two major country specials tucked into the main issue. Both Seychelles and Mongolia are celebrating their national days in June and July. The fascinating facts that make these countries attractive have been identified and covered; abundant natural beauty, diversity, tourism, natural resources, investment potential etc are sketched out in detail.
In India, the comeback of the UPA Government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh for a second consecutive term with a decent majority has set the stage for more strides by India in the economic and foreign policy fronts. Dr. Singh’s last term ended India’s global isolation in nuclear commerce with the NSG giving the nod for uranium supplies to India thanks to the Indo-US Nuclear deal. The deal was a major foreign policy achievement for Dr. Singh.
In the new innings, the Indian Prime Minister has set up a brand new foreign office ministerial team. The new foreign minister Mr. S.M. Krishna is a former Full Bright Scholar and a man of experience. Mr. Shashi Tharoor, a former UN official is India’s minister of state in the foreign office. The induction of this specialist in UN affairs can be seen as part of India’s ambition to assert its right to be in the extended UN Security Council. Our cover story gives interesting insights into the whole issue.
Pakistan Army’s war on the Taliban in the Swat Valley and elsewhere is significant as part of the larger war on terror. Rather than exterminating the Taliban, the offensive is showing many executional flaws as human costs are more appalling than Taliban casualities with thousands of civilians being killed, injured or rendered hapless. Anil Bhat delves into this issue in his article.
US President Barrack Obama’s emotional speech to the Muslim world in Cairo invoking his own personal connections with Islam has struck a right chord. Our report takes a look at the implications of this diplomatic address.
India’s tourism sector survived a nightmare after the Mumbai terror attack that left a negative image about India as an unsafe destination. The downturn further dipped tourist arrivals. Thanks to strategic marketing in international cities, with a campaign theme Visit India, things have started to look up. The story on a resurgent tourism sector tells the inside initiatives. So, happy reading…
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