Act on our list, we will relax our curbs: India
In the wake of worldwide approval to General Musharraf’s speech last week, India has formulated a two-pronged strategy on dealing with Pakistan, which will separately address a return to the diplomatic normalisation with Islamabad as well as a military de-escalation from the border. [ full story]

India-Pak face off: full coverage

Keeping the heat on, FBI chief on his way
Around the time US Secretary of State Colin Powell was suggesting on Friday that Pakistan could show ‘‘some action’’ on the list of 20 terrorists wanted by India, the talking point in official circles was Federal Bureau of Investigation chief Robert Muller’s visit to New Delhi as early as Monday. [ full story ]

To push its case, Hurriyat plans appeal to Pak militants
Threatened with marginalisation and the slipping of an opportunity arising from whatever political initiative is floated in the Valley,the Hurriyat Conference is trying to persuade the Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council—an umbrella organization for militant groups—to declare a ceasefire. [ full story ]

The Powell touchdown
If US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s purpose in touring the subcontinent was to ferry messages across the heavily militarised border between India and Pakistan, his visit must be termed a success.

Burden of the past
Pragmatism weighed with the BJP when it dropped 41 sitting legislators in Uttar Pradesh while announcing candidates for 309 seats in the state.

Welcome to Moscowashington
In the changed world, there’s no one you can play against the other. No refuge in alliances, no security in numbers. This is a world whose mind is made up on the big issues, it has a map of the world, the new power equation in mind and, frankly, no one can take on this new world order, writes Shekhar Gupta.

Rational Expectations/ The Unaccountables

Lights are on but the fuse is fragile
The flickering fortunes during the Test series against the visiting English team suddenly seem like a dark alley left far behind for the Indian cricket team. And, on the eve of the one-day series it seems like an illuminated path ahead.