Amid geopolitical fragmentation, India maintains constructive ties across competing blocs

Sarabjeet S Parmar | March 13, 2026 9:37 PM

New Delhi: The ongoing conflict in West Asia, particularly the rising escalation involving the US, Israel, and Iran, has sucked in the Gulf states and has created one of the most volatile environments in recent decades. For India, whose economic and strategic interests are deeply tied to West Asia, the crisis presents both challenges and opportunities. New Delhi has responded with a carefully calibrated policy of strategic neutrality, emphasising restraint, dialogue, and diplomatic engagement rather than overt alignment with any side. This posture reflects India’s broader foreign policy doctrine of strategic autonomy and plurilateralism, which seeks to maintain balanced relationships with multiple actors.

Door opens for Nepal to buy extra 350 MW of power from bordering Indian states

IANS | March 13, 2026 9:34 PM

Kathmandu, March 13 (IANS) The door has opened for Nepal to import up to 350 MW of electricity from neighbouring Indian states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, after a new deal was reached between officials of the two countries during a two-day meeting of a bilateral mechanism which concluded in the western Pokhara city of Nepal on Friday.

Pakistan exploiting Interpol to silence critics abroad: Report

IANS | March 13, 2026 9:19 PM

Athens, March 13 (IANS) Pakistan's strategy to silence opposition combines domestic authoritarianism with transnational repression. As the crackdown inside the country intensifies through arrests of journalists, censorship of media, and violent dispersal of protests - the drive to target critics who evade domestic crackdown but remain vocal abroad has also escalated, a report has highlighted.

Nepal halts visa-on-arrival facility for Iranian citizens

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:36 PM

Kathmandu, March 13 (IANS) The government of Nepal has decided to stop providing visa-on-arrival facilities to Iranian citizens visiting the country amid the ongoing US–Iran conflict in West Asia, the country's Department of Immigration said on Friday.

Iran’s new leader Mojtaba Khamenei wounded: Pentagon

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:33 PM

Washington, March 13 (IANS) U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been wounded and forced into hiding as the country’s military leadership struggled amid intense American strikes.