This week on Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Anand Vardhan are joined by Bashir Ali Abbas, Research Associate at Council for Strategic and Defence Research (CSDR) and Amit Kumar, executive editor of East Mojo. 

The discussion begins with the recently announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Bashir Ai Abbas highlights the inconsistency in US policy, pointing to a deeper lack of clarity. He adds, “Across this war, Trump has been very hesitant, very reluctant, oscillating between positions. There has been no clear outlining of strategic objectives that the US would be able to achieve in Iran.”

On Pakistan’s role, Abbas says, “What Pakistan really is today is the geographic site for these negotiations — while also being a trusted American ally, but more importantly, an ally of Donald Trump.”

Responding to Abbas’ remarks, Anand says that a country does not need a strong diplomatic profile to act as a mediator, noting that many nations have played such roles at different points in history. He adds that Pakistan’s leverage is uneven across regions, and the key question is what it gains in return.

The discussion then shifts from international diplomacy to the deteriorating situation in Manipur. Amit Kumar debunks the “normalcy” narrative peddled by media and government: “Manipur is not limping back to normalcy because everything that is a prerequisite for normalcy does not exist. The free movement of people is not even a reality.”

Kumar lambasts the facade, pointing to the ongoing drone strikes from Myanmar, inter-faction killings over smuggling, and a deputy CM sworn in online due to fears over her safety. He asks: “What does normalcy look like when... the person being sworn in as Deputy CM has to do it online because she doesn't think it's safe?”

All this and more.