Modi will also face pressure to protect India’s traditional sphere of influence in South Asia. “Maneuvering in the current international situation will be quite a challenge for Modi,” said Dilip Sinha, a retired Indian diplomat. During the Cold War, India didn’t have open relations with Israel, leaning heavily in favour of the Palestinians. But delays by Indian companies have led to cost overruns, prompting India’s neighbours to look toward China for speedy development. “The fog around India’s policies on Kashmir is increasingly getting removed thanks to Modi and Co.,” said Sajjad Ahmed, a schoolteacher.

Source: National Post May 28, 2019 03:45 UTC