Shibani Mehta

In memoriam: R. Rajaraman, scholar and citizen-scientist who informed public debate about nuclear weapons in South Asia and beyond thebulletin.org/2025/08/in-mem…

@amitjulka Where are you watching/reading this, Amit?

Pakistan’s news channels are denying that any operation has taken place in Jammu, or that PAF planes have been struck down. Strange. Or, could be an attempt at an off ramp? (being optimistic here)

Discussed with @SCMPNews: As India-China carefully manage border tensions, how does the world's largest planned hydropower project on Yarlung Tsangpo river reshape bilateral dynamics? @mariasiow

Also, this means I’m now in the fine company of Trent Crimm. #BiscuitsOptional

Spoke with Namita Singh at @Independent about the Army’s move to open iconic battlefields like Siachen & Galwan for tourism. While such visits could offer unique perspectives, we must weigh the risks & environmental impact against the value of traditional memorials & museums.

@amitjulka @SahebSChadha Interns' Room represent✌️ Thank you for sharing, Aryan!

My wonderful ex-colleague @mehtasaurus and @SahebSChadha carefully lay out the intricacies of the recently initiated detente between India & China. Read here: firstpost.com/opinion/india-…

.@ForeignAffairs reviews Institutional Roots of India's Security Policy, edited by @MilanV with contributions from @Rudra_81, @mehtasaurus, & others. The book offers insights into India’s security institutions, highlighting strengths and areas for growth. bit.ly/3A3qig4

Whether the allegations levelled by WaPo/ABC are true or not will be revealed over time. What's more important for us in India is to use this crisis to undertake long-pending reforms to create an external intelligence agency suited for the Information Age. @mehtasaurus & I had some ideas in this @timesofindia article from Dec 2023. The weak link is in its personnel lifecycle management.

In the latest episode of Wider View by @TVPWorld_com, @mehtasaurus joins @jamescrabtree and @Alberto_Rizzi_ to discuss India’s growing global influence, PM Modi's diplomatic ambitions, and its strategic ties with the EU, Russia, and China. youtu.be/Xu-6-VQcFFM?si…

Today is Indian Air Force Day. From supporting the RAF to becoming a formidable force, the IAF's journey is remarkable. Our chapter traces this evolution, from its modest start to its crucial role in modern warfare. @RahulBhatia @MilanVaishnav academic.oup.com/book/56133/cha…

Today marks another step in a long, difficult process of India and the Maldives resetting their relationship. This is a painful adjustment for both sides: For regional power India, this means learning to live (coexist, compete, or conflict) with an increasingly influential China in its periphery. Across the Himalayas, China is now an Indian Ocean power. For small state Maldives, this means learning that India's red lines and geographic proximity continue to matter. The Chinese have a proverb for this: “Distant water cannot put out a nearby fire.” Democratic and electoral politics add huge risks and will inevitably lead to repetitions of the 2023-24 crisis: more Maldivian candidates will embrace "India out" campaigns to mobilize support, get elected, balance against and then settle with India. (This political cycle of J-curves in India-Maldives relations is not new, only more intense and frequent than in the past. Bless those who believe in the mythology of an era when India was supposedly loved and embraced by its smaller neighbor countries!). The only thing that Delhi can continue to do more of -- as apparent in today's deliverables -- is to invest in all forms of connectivity, especially in economic interdependence. Whenever useful or necessary, it can do so in consultation and coordination with partner countries that share Indian interests (currently: everyone except China). That will mitigate political risks and smooth the sharp J-curves ahead. The long-term and strategic objective, of course, remains: to make India the only indispensable partner for Maldivian prosperity and security.

TL;DR from China: we think you're desperate, India, and you need our investment. So, you need to lift restrictions cuz we did nothing wrong and we should just behave like 2020 didn't happen. Trust us.

Europe’s China Policy with @oertel_janka interpreting-india.simplecast.com/episodes/europ…

Understanding Drivers of China's Foreign Policy with @HelenaLegarda interpreting-india.simplecast.com/episodes/under…

@CarnegieIndia's Interpreting India podcast has been central to my small attempt to highlight the incredible work of women in security studies. Over the last two years, I've had the chance to learn from brilliant ladies like @zahahassan @Meerasrini @DrJSarkar 🎙️Here's a list: