• One of the last executive orders Vladimir Putin was about the signing of the US-Russia civilian nuclear agreement. Russia and the United States hope to fully cooperate in the field of nuclear energy, maintaining adequate stocks of nuclear fuel and facilitating the exchange of high-end nuclear reactor technology between them. The deal is significant, given the testy relationship between the two countries. What gives it added significance is that the outgoing Russian president deemed the deal important enough to go through as fast as possible.

The deal demolishes the “US hegemony” argument of the Left vis-à-vis the Indo-US nuclear deal. Russia, by signing this deal, has not in any way become America’s poodle. Russia under Putin has undergone a profound change in attitude and living standards, after remaining demoralised for a decade after the end of the Cold War. Given these factors, a deal that would subvert the notion of a rising Russia is unthinkable.

After Jaipur

• The editorial ‘Not just pink stone’ rightly enthused over Jaipur’s unbreakable spirit. There is no alternative but to pick up the pieces and move on. However, more needs to be said about what measures the authorities should adopt in preventing a recurrence of terrorist attacks. Even if the investigations fail to identify the individuals who carried out the Jaipur blasts, if their nationality or nationalities can at least be ascertained, India must exact its revenge without compassion. Unless the terrorist nation is down on its knees, there will be no let up in innocent deaths across India.

— John Jacobs

Kuala Lumpur

• India is succumbing to terror on two counts: first, the unwilllingness of our policy-makers to make a distinction between an undeclared war and a law and order problem. The public pronouncements of “inquiry” into such attacks by the prime minister or home minister gives the impression that the aggressor could be prosecuted and punished like a common criminal. The second factor responsible for our suffering is our misplaced ideal of peace and harmony. It is time to send a strong message to the aggressors that Indians can strike back to protect these ideals.

— Amit Pradhan

Baroda

• The Mumbai/Bombay agitation seems frivolous when seen against the backdrop of Jaipur. As long as Indians remain internally weak, terror will strike at will. We need to garner all our resources to stop these cowardly acts, keeping aside the rhetoric of parochialism. It is also time the Centre stopped its empty lecturing and ordered the police and the military to go after terrorist outfits without fearing the consequences. If terror begets terror, so be it. At least, this one-way terrorism will end.

— Roda D. Hakim

Baroda