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Mohamed Zeeshan

Mohamed Zeeshan

Mohamed Zeeshan is a foreign affairs columnist and author of “Flying Blind: India’s Quest for Global Leadership.”

Mohamed Zeeshan is a foreign affairs columnist, consultant and author based in Washington, DC. He is a regular writer on international affairs and his key areas of interest are Indian foreign policy, Asian geopolitics and global economics. He has previously served as a consultant to the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York and advised governments in the Middle East on issues of foreign policy and economic reform. Zeeshan has previously written for The Washington Post, The Telegraph and others, and currently writes regular columns on Indian and international affairs for the South China Morning Post and Deccan Herald. His first book, titled “Flying Blind: India’s Quest for Global Leadership,” deals with India’s aspirations and interests as an emerging power and was published by Penguin in 2021. Follow him on X.

Posts by Mohamed Zeeshan
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March 03, 2023

For India, There’s No Escaping Ukraine at the G20

By Mohamed Zeeshan
India's hope to avoid the Ukraine issue during its G-20 presidency has proved immensely naïve.
February 19, 2023

India Establishes Clout in Global Aviation Market

By Mohamed Zeeshan
The country has become the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing market in the aviation sector.

February 07, 2023

Adani Scam Tests the Credibility of India’s Institutions

By Mohamed Zeeshan
The more Adani and his backers deploy nationalism to deflect and shut down questions, the more doubts will grow and linger amongst foreign investors.

January 19, 2023

Japan’s Military Resurgence Takes the Heat off India

By Mohamed Zeeshan
The rise of alternative military partners means that the U.S. doesn’t need to press New Delhi to align with it on sensitive geopolitical issues or against China or Russia.

January 03, 2023

Forget the Taliban and Help the Afghan People Instead

By Mohamed Zeeshan
The international community must prioritize evacuating and settling Afghanistan's embattled female population at the earliest possible opportunity.
December 13, 2022

India Is Squandering Its Two Big Advantages Over China

By Mohamed Zeeshan
The BJP government’s communal politics at home has divided the Indian diaspora and undermined Bollywood’s soft power appeal.

November 17, 2022

Can India Make the G20 Relevant Again?

By Mohamed Zeeshan
In a world that is now defined by geopolitical fissures, New Delhi will need to get the grouping to focus on its economic agenda.
November 11, 2022

Can India Rein In Putin’s Worst Impulses in Ukraine?

By Mohamed Zeeshan
It is hard to see how India can influence the Russian president, given its military and economic dependence on his country.

October 19, 2022

With Pakistan, America is Back Between a Rock and a Hard Place

By Mohamed Zeeshan
Given India's inability and unwillingness to counter China on matters of strategic importance to the US, Biden is now reaching out to Pakistan on at least a limited scale.

October 03, 2022

A Combative India is Hitting Back Abroad

By Mohamed Zeeshan
Irked over Canada allowing a referendum on Khalistan to take place, India hit back with a travel advisory cautioning against increasing hate crimes in Canada.

September 19, 2022

Despite Difficulties, SCO Underscores Growing Indian, Chinese and Russian Convergence

By Mohamed Zeeshan
Among other things, India shares with Beijing and Moscow concern over the U.S. increasingly weaponizing the dollar.
September 01, 2022

Indian FM Speaks Hard Truths on India’s Foreign Policy Goals

By Mohamed Zeeshan
Despite the use of language that would please the US, Jaishankar’s speech reflected a worldview that sounded similar to China's.

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