Politics
2025 proved to be ‘year of failures and setbacks’ for India: report
- India sufferred historic military setback against Pakistan.
- New Delhi failed to strike trade deal with Washington.
- Indian rupee touched all-time low of 91.14 against US dollar.
The past year proved to be a “year of crisis” for India, marked by a historic military setback against Pakistan, a weakening currency, and growing economic uncertainty, The Financial Times reported in its 2025 annual review.
Due to failed strategic autonomy, India was compelled to simultaneously maintain relations with the United States (US), China, and Russia, read the report.
The report adds that the US-India trade agreement was postponed several times, while the imposition of American tariffs placed additional economic pressure on New Delhi.
Similarly, the limited implementation of GST reforms also hindered economic growth. It further said that the Indian rupee continued to depreciate against the US dollar during 2025.
Operation Sindoor backfired as Trump taunts
Earlier this year, Pakistan and Indian engaged in a military showdown, the worst between the old foes in decades, which was sparked by an attack on tourists in IIOJK’s Pahalgam area, which New Delhi alleged was backed by Pakistan.
Islamabad denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 men and offered to participate in a neutral probe into the deadly incident.
During the clashes, Pakistan downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.
Pakistan’s historic victory in the four-day skirmishes played a significant role in bringing Islamabad and Washington closer.
In the months since the ceasefire, US President Donald Trump has taunted India through his growing friendship with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
US-India trade deal
Few things have attracted more ink than the US-India trade deal that never happened. In the beginning, after Trump’s election victory, there was much jubilation in New Delhi about getting a friendly administration in the White House.
In February, Modi was one of the first foreign leaders to visit Washington. It seemed then that India would be one of the first countries to sign a trade agreement with Trump, too.
A deal was expected in May, then June, then July . . . and then talks began to stall.
In August, Trump’s reciprocal tariffs kicked in, and by the end of the month, he had announced an additional 25% tariff to punish India for buying Russian oil.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal said that there was a fair expectation that both countries would be able to agree on a lower reciprocal tariff and that India was “positively engaged” with the US on the deal.
Trump and Modi have spoken to each other in the past fortnight, and both sides have put out warm, fuzzy statements.
By August, when it began to look like a trade deal with the US was not going to be a shoo-in, the Modi government decided it was time to focus on domestic growth.
The Indian rupee, which has been on a downward slide, got a bruising this year. It lost 6% in 2025, touching an all-time low of 91.14 against the US dollar.
Ties with China and Bangladesh
Ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have deteriorated since the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled the pro-democracy uprising and sought refuge in India.
On the other hand, India has failed to improve its ties with China despite recalibrating its foreign policy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to China for the first time in seven years and met President Xi Jinping. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to “co-operation based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity”.
Both parties, however, are still wary of each other.
India accuses China for providing support to Pakistan during the recent four-day war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was martyred in US and Israeli strikes, state media confirmed, as another wave of attacks hit the country on Sunday.
Several countries, global bodies and prominent groups responded to the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, urging de-escalation.
Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday denounced the targeting of Iran’s supreme leader in joint strikes by the United States and Israel, saying such actions were a “violation of the norms of international law”.
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said that it was an age-old convention that the heads of state or government should not be targeted.
“Pakistan also expresses concern over the violation of the norms of international law. It is an age-old convention that the heads of state/government should not be targeted.”
Russia
President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei’s killing as a “cynical murder” that violated “all standards of human morality and international law”.
“Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”
China
China said it “strongly condemns” the United States and Israel’s assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling again for a halt to military actions.
The assassination was “a serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, a trampling on the aims and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations”, Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this,” it added, calling for an “immediate halting of military operations”.
Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday “unreservedly” condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“I unreservedly condemn the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This act places the Middle East on the edge of grave and sustained instability. I extend my condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the Iranian people at this profoundly difficult momen,” wrote
Indonesia’s Ulema Muslim Clerical Council
“The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) expressed its deepest condolences for the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as a result of the Israeli-American attack on February 28.
“The United States, which is playing a central role in managing the Palestinian conflict through the BoP (Board of Peace), faces a major question: is this strategy truly aimed at a just peace, or is it actually strengthening an unequal security architecture and burying Palestinian independence? Therefore, the MUI urges the Indonesian government to revoke its membership from the BoP.”
North Korea
North Korea condemned the US and Israeli strikes as an “illegal act of aggression”.
The attacks “constitute a thoroughly illegal act of aggression and the most vile form of violation of sovereignty in their nature”, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said, according to state media.
Iranian president
“The martyrdom of the Supreme Leader at the hands of Israel and the criminal America was a great disaster for our country… America and Israel should know that it will bring them nothing but embarrassment.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed it had launched ballistic missile strikes targeting a US aircraft carrier, identifying the vessel as the USS Abraham Lincoln, as part of what it called “Operation True Promise 4.”
In a statement, the IRGC’s public relations office said four ballistic missiles were fired at the carrier, adding that Iran’s military campaign had entered a “new phase.” The group warned that both land and sea would become the “burial place” for what it described as aggressors.
Multiple Waves of Strikes Announced
Earlier, the IRGC said it had launched the seventh and eighth waves of strikes under the same operation, in response to what it termed ongoing aggression by the United States and Israel.
Iran claimed it had carried out precision strikes on military targets in Israeli territory, including areas near Tel Aviv and Haifa. It also alleged that Israeli officials had taken shelter due to heightened security concerns.
Targets Across the Gulf
The IRGC further stated that it had targeted US-operated facilities in West Asia, including the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, as well as installations in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
There has been no immediate confirmation from US or Israeli officials regarding the reported missile strikes or the extent of any damage.
Rising Regional Tensions
The developments mark a sharp escalation in regional tensions following reported military exchanges between Iran, Israel and US forces over the weekend.
Independent verification of the claims remains pending, and international observers have urged restraint amid fears of a broader conflict across the Middle East.
A number of Iranian senior leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have embraced martyrdom in the “unprovoked and unwarranted” airstrikes by Israel and the United States.
As crowds gathered in Tehran, explosions rang out, and the Israeli military announced that it was again striking targets in the heart of the city — as more blasts were heard in Jerusalem, Riyadh, Dubai, Doha and Manama.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian declared Khamenei’s assassination a “declaration of war against Muslims” and warned: “Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime.”
Iranian state media have confirmed the killing of several senior figures:
1. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran
2. Ali Shamkhani, representative of the Supreme Leader in the Supreme Defence Council
3. General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iran’s Armed Forces chief of staff
4. Major General Mohammad Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)
5. Aziz Nasirzadeh, Minister of Defence
6. Gholamreza Rezaian, police intelligence chief of Iran
Separately, the daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter of Ali Khamenei also embraced martyrdom in the US and Israeli airstrikes.
NAACP Image Award host Deon Cole issues Tourette warning after BAFTAs
Late to set-piece party, Liverpool are making up for lost time
World reacts to martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei
Pakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan
Eye-popping rise in one year: Betting on just gold and silver for long-term wealth creation? Think again! – The Times of India
Kansas’ Darryn Peterson misses most of 2nd half with cramping
-
Politics1 week agoPakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan
-
Business1 week ago
Eye-popping rise in one year: Betting on just gold and silver for long-term wealth creation? Think again! – The Times of India
-
Sports1 week agoKansas’ Darryn Peterson misses most of 2nd half with cramping
-
Tech1 week agoThe Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling Won’t Bring Car Prices Back to Earth
-
Entertainment1 week agoViral monkey Punch makes IKEA toy global sensation: Here’s what it costs
-
Tech1 week agoThese Cheap Noise-Cancelling Sony Headphones Are Even Cheaper Right Now
-
Entertainment1 week agoSaturday Sessions: Say She She performs "Under the Sun"
-
Business1 week agoEquinox chairman says ‘health is the new luxury’ as wellness spending soars