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India Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Climate crisis results from mankind's primitive tendency to consume": Acharya Prashant pushes for solutions
New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): Acharya Prashant, a philosopher and spiritual teacher, explores the problem of human consumption amid the ongoing global climate crisis in his new feature piece published by The Sunday Guardian, where he argues that humanity faces an unprecedented crisis, which he labels as 'the sixth mass extinction', driven by human actions and 'mankind's primitive tendency to consume.' He explains that Operation 2030 is an emergency call to raise awareness about the climate crisis and the urgent need to address it. His central argument is that true climate transformation can only begin when material excess is replaced with inner wisdom. In his column with Sunday Guardian, Acharya Prashant wrote that the PrashantAdvait Foundation has initiated a campaign by the name of 'Operation 2030', where the understanding is that the climate crisis wasn't merely a political or technological problem, but stems from a deeper psychological tendency toward excessive consumption and a flawed philosophy of happiness based on material excess. 'We at the Foundation have been of the realised view that the Climate crisis cannot have a purely political or technological solution. The Climate crisis is a situation resulting from mankind's primitive tendency to consume, which reflects in population explosion, per capita consumption, and the global pop philosophy of maximising happiness through consumption. The crisis is therefore firstly inside us,' Acharya Prashant writes in his feature published by the Sunday Guardian. He explains that Operation 2030 remains an emergency call to raise awareness about the climate crisis and the need to address it. Acharya Prashant's main argument remains that true climate transformation begins when we replace material excess with inner wisdom. In his Sunday Guardian column, the author states that Operation 2030 urges inner transformation, climate accountability, and citizen-led change to combat ecological collapse. Focusing on the motives of Operation 2030, Acharya Prashant argues that the campaign is a call to address the long-standing urgency of the climate crisis. 'It was a collective promise made during the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015, to protect the future. But now, in 2025, that promise lies broken. The 1.5C threshold we aimed to avoid until 2030 has already been breached -- with global temperatures now already exceeding 1.5C above normal. The alarm rang -- but we were too distracted to hear,' he writes in his feature published by the English daily, The Sunday Guardian. Calling this a 'premature breach', Acharya Prashant advocates the need to have such an operation in order to address the climate crisis. He advocates calling out elites, who he says are the 'real culprits', for leaving high carbon footprints. Operation 2030 supports public declarations of carbon emissions and collaboration with data-driven organisations for accountability, the author states in his column at The Sunday Guardian. In democratic societies, meaningful climate action requires citizen pressure, Acharya Prashant writes in his article, adding that Operation 2030 aims to make climate a political issue by empowering individuals, especially youth, since 'they are not just future victims but present agents of change.' (ANI)
India.com
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Masterstroke by Modi govt as India opens new front against Pakistan, New Delhi planning to...
(File) There was a time when the Taliban was completely unreachable for India. When the group returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, India quickly shut down its embassy in Kabul. Back then, it seemed like India had lost all access to Afghanistan. But today, things look very different. When Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently made a phone call to the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, it surprised many. It was the first time an Indian foreign minister had ever spoken directly to a Taliban leader. What made it even more significant was that the call came at a time when reports suggested a top Taliban official was quietly visiting India. This wasn't just a routine diplomatic gesture. It was a clear sign that India is thinking in new strategic ways especially when it comes to Pakistan. For years, India kept its distance from the Taliban. But now, with changing global politics and rising tensions with Pakistan, India seems ready to explore new partnerships and also with old adversaries. Why Jaishankar's call was more than just symbolic? Jaishankar's phone call to the Taliban wasn't just a symbolic gesture it marked a clear shift in India's long-standing foreign policy. For years, India avoided any direct contact with the Taliban, seeing them as puppets of Pakistan. This call breaks that silence. It signals the beginning of direct relations with the Taliban and shows that India is willing to adapt to the new power structure in Afghanistan. This move tells us three important things: India's first public signal of possible recognition of the Taliban: By talking directly to the Taliban's foreign minister, India is openly showing it's ready to engage with the Taliban regime, something that would have been unthinkable earlier. India may now be open to using Afghanistan as a front against Pakistan: With Taliban-Pakistan ties worsening, India sees a chance to push back against Pakistan by building influence in Afghanistan. India's strategic return to Afghanistan: After the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power, China has been active in Afghanistan. Now, with this outreach, India is stepping back into the game possibly to balance China's presence and safeguard its own interests. The Secret visit that says a lot There are reports, though not officially confirmed, that Mullah Mohammad Ibrahim Sadr, a top Taliban security leader and deputy minister of interior affairs, secretly visited Delhi in early May, just days after the Pahalgam terror attack. He is known to have strong ties with Iran and little affection for Pakistan. According to The Sunday Guardian, he is close to the Taliban's supreme leader and has major influence over their security apparatus. His possible visit to India sends a strong message especially as tensions between India and Pakistan grow. If this visit did happen, it could mean India is using backdoor diplomacy with the Taliban to send a warning to Islamabad. A wake-up call for Pakistan Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan are not what they used to be. In fact, they're now quite tense. Ibrahim Sadr is known to be anti-Pakistan, and his growing closeness with India would certainly worry Islamabad. For Pakistan, which has long seen Afghanistan as a strategic asset (its idea of 'strategic depth'), this is a serious concern. India's new approach to Afghanistan Earlier, India's involvement in Afghanistan focused on building democracy, promoting women's rights, constructing infrastructure like the Afghan Parliament, roads, and dams. But with the Taliban back in power and the US gone, India had to change its approach. Now, India is choosing realism over idealism. The new strategy is: talk to whoever is in power even if it's the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil isn't used for anti-India activities and to maintain stability in the region. It's also a move to counter the growing China-Pakistan partnership in the area. Taliban needs India too The Taliban is desperate for international recognition. So far, very few countries officially engage with them. A relationship with India, would be a big step toward legitimacy for the Taliban. Afghanistan is also going through a major economic and humanitarian crisis i.e. hunger, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure are everywhere. China is stepping in with money and projects, but many Afghans feel uneasy about becoming too dependent on Beijing. India, in contrast, has a history of goodwill in Afghanistan. It has built roads, schools, dams, and even the Afghan Parliament. For many Afghans, India is a trusted friend. So if India steps in again, it could be the helping hand Afghanistan really needs.
India.com
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Is India using Afghanistan to counter Pakistan? Jaishankar's first-ever call to Taliban minister raises BIG questions; What does it mean?
There was a time when the Taliban was completely unreachable for India. When the group returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, India quickly shut down its embassy in Kabul. Back then, it seemed like India had lost all access to Afghanistan. But today, things look very different. When Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently made a phone call to the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, it surprised many. It was the first time an Indian foreign minister had ever spoken directly to a Taliban leader. What made it even more significant was that the call came at a time when reports suggested a top Taliban official was quietly visiting India. This wasn't just a routine diplomatic gesture. It was a clear sign that India is thinking in new strategic ways especially when it comes to Pakistan. For years, India kept its distance from the Taliban. But now, with changing global politics and rising tensions with Pakistan, India seems ready to explore new partnerships and also with old adversaries. Why Jaishankar's call was more than just symbolic? Jaishankar's phone call to the Taliban wasn't just a symbolic gesture it marked a clear shift in India's long-standing foreign policy. For years, India avoided any direct contact with the Taliban, seeing them as puppets of Pakistan. This call breaks that silence. It signals the beginning of direct relations with the Taliban and shows that India is willing to adapt to the new power structure in Afghanistan. This move tells us three important things: India's first public signal of possible recognition of the Taliban: By talking directly to the Taliban's foreign minister, India is openly showing it's ready to engage with the Taliban regime, something that would have been unthinkable earlier. India may now be open to using Afghanistan as a front against Pakistan: With Taliban-Pakistan ties worsening, India sees a chance to push back against Pakistan by building influence in Afghanistan. India's strategic return to Afghanistan: After the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power, China has been active in Afghanistan. Now, with this outreach, India is stepping back into the game possibly to balance China's presence and safeguard its own interests. The Secret visit that says a lot There are reports, though not officially confirmed, that Mullah Mohammad Ibrahim Sadr, a top Taliban security leader and deputy minister of interior affairs, secretly visited Delhi in early May, just days after the Pahalgam terror attack. He is known to have strong ties with Iran and little affection for Pakistan. According to The Sunday Guardian, he is close to the Taliban's supreme leader and has major influence over their security apparatus. His possible visit to India sends a strong message especially as tensions between India and Pakistan grow. If this visit did happen, it could mean India is using backdoor diplomacy with the Taliban to send a warning to Islamabad. A wake-up call for Pakistan Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan are not what they used to be. In fact, they're now quite tense. Ibrahim Sadr is known to be anti-Pakistan, and his growing closeness with India would certainly worry Islamabad. For Pakistan, which has long seen Afghanistan as a strategic asset (its idea of 'strategic depth'), this is a serious concern. India's new approach to Afghanistan Earlier, India's involvement in Afghanistan focused on building democracy, promoting women's rights, constructing infrastructure like the Afghan Parliament, roads, and dams. But with the Taliban back in power and the US gone, India had to change its approach. Now, India is choosing realism over idealism. The new strategy is: talk to whoever is in power even if it's the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil isn't used for anti-India activities and to maintain stability in the region. It's also a move to counter the growing China-Pakistan partnership in the area. Taliban needs India too The Taliban is desperate for international recognition. So far, very few countries officially engage with them. A relationship with India, would be a big step toward legitimacy for the Taliban. Afghanistan is also going through a major economic and humanitarian crisis i.e. hunger, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure are everywhere. China is stepping in with money and projects, but many Afghans feel uneasy about becoming too dependent on Beijing. India, in contrast, has a history of goodwill in Afghanistan. It has built roads, schools, dams, and even the Afghan Parliament. For many Afghans, India is a trusted friend. So if India steps in again, it could be the helping hand Afghanistan really needs.
India.com
04-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
India-Pakistan war: How Modi govt's surgical strike is destroying Pakistan daily, each day Islamabad is losing...
(File) India-Pakistan war: Amidst the looming threat of a full-scale India-Pakistan war, or even a targeted military strike by India to avenge last month's barbaric Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan's already fragile economy is already feeling the heat due to war preparations and the punitive diplomatic measures taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian government. According to a report by The Sunday Guardian, the Pakistan's armed forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force), are incurring additional expenses or around $1.5 to $3.2 million daily since April 22 (Pahalgam attack), which amounts to $45-$96 million per month, a huge for a country whose economy lies in shambles with high inflation driving millions of citizens towards poverty and starvation. Pakistan economy in freefall after Pahalgam terror attack As per the report, the Pakistan Army has started mobilizing troops in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), deploying around 18000 soldiers stationed in Balochistan to the region as tensions with India threat to boil over into a major conflict. The fear of a full-scale India-Pakistan war has also drowned the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with investors losing billions of dollars since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. As per official figures, the market cap of Pakistani companies has tanked by around $4 billion, which is huge considering the country does not have gigantic multinational conglomerates like India. Additionally, the KSE-100 index fell 2500 points to 114,740.29 on April 24 and 1204 points on April 23, while the Pakistani rupee, which was already in freefall, has fallen 30 percent compared to 2023. In wake of the escalating situation with India, the IMF has lowered Pakistan's GDP growth forecast to 3.2% in 2025, How an India-Pakistan war will destroy Pakistan economy? Beyond political posturing and war threats, its a well-known fact that war costs money, a lot of it, which Pakistan doesn't have. Let us a take look at how much Pakistani armed forces are spending and how a war would destroy the Pakistan economy. The Pakistan Navy spends roughly $100,000 to $500,000 on patrolling in Karachi and Gwadar Port, while the fuel for its Type 054A/P frigates and Hangar-class submarines is also highly expensive. The Pakistan Air Force spends $150,000-$400,000 per day on combat air patrols using its JF-17 and F-16 fighter jets, with each aircraft costing $10,000–$15,000 per flight hour for 10–20 flights, according to estimates. As per experts, the Pakistan's surface-to-surface ballistic missile test on April 24-25 is estimated to cost around $100,000 to $500,000. Pakistan Army's operational costs on LoC According to defence experts, manning the Line of Control (LoC) is hugely expensive for the Pakistan Army, with $800,000–$1,800,000 spent each day on fuel for its armored vehicles, while logistics for troops and missile systems like the Nasr cost around $600,000 daily. This amounts to a total cost ranging between $1.5–$3.2 million per day or $45–$96 million per month, putting more burden on Pakistan's $7.64 billion 2024–25 defence budget. Pakistan's armed forces are already on a tightened budget, with the Pakistan Army having the largest allocation ($4–5 billion), followed by the Pakistan Air Force ($1.6 billion), and the Pakistan Navy ($700–800 million). How India conducted a surgical strike on Pakistan economy? While there was speculation that India would conduct an immediate military strike on Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam attack, instead New Delhi opted wisely to target the enemy's already vulnerable economy. The Modi government has placed a blanket ban of all Pakistani imports, essentially bringing the bilateral trade to zero, closed the key Attari-Wagah border, and suspended the critical Indus Water Treaty. Economic experts believe this would have a huge impact on Pakistan's economy with the Attari border closure alone estimated to cost around $2.4 billion in trade, while the suspension of the IWT could have a far reaching impact as 24 percent of Pakistan's GDP is reliant on the Indus River. Pakistan a GDP of $338.37 billion, and only enough cash left to import goods for around two-three months, while its foreign exchange reserves (Forex) have dwindled to just $13.15 billion, against foreign debt of $26 billion it needs to pay back in the 2025-26 fiscal year. According to geopolitical experts, the Indian government led by PM Narendra Modi has already brought the Pakistan economy to its knees without even firing a single bullet, by forcing Islamabad to spend heavily on its military amid the threat of an India-Pakistan war.
