Talmiz Ahmad is one of India’s most experienced diplomats, with decades of work across West Asia, the Gulf, and global strategic affairs. A former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, he has watched world politics change from the front row.

In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he says Benjamin Netanyahu misled Donald Trump by promising a quick victory in Iran, only for the war to drag on. He calls Trump an unpredictable leader, argues that U.S.-Israel ties have suffered, discusses Pakistan's role in the peace talks, and explains why the Iran war is India's war because New Delhi's strategic interests lie in the Gulf.

00:00 – Introduction

01:35 – US-Iran Talks

03:51 – Netanyahu's Influence

06:33 – Trump's Shift on Israel

10:26 – Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

14:18 – Hegemon in West Asia

21:25 – Trump Vs Netanyahu

26:59 – Pakistan's Role

33:49 – Netanyahu's War Strategy

37:27 – Gulf's Response to Israel

43:29 – Pakistan's Influence

52:36 – Why West Asia Matters to India

57:27 – New Multipolar World Order

Pathikrit Payne has over 20 years of experience in journalism and policy analysis. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.

Sanjay Bhardwaj is the former Chairperson of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies. He specialises in India's foreign policy towards its neighbours, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and China.

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the guests discuss the Gen Z-led protests in India's neighbouring countries, the rise of the Cockroach Janata Party, and whether Gen Z has the power to influence or even topple a government in India.

00:00 - Introduction

01:40 - Youth in West Bengal & Tamil Nadu

13:55 - Youth Protests Around the World

21:44 - Challenges to Democracy

33:53 - Are India's Youth Angry?

46:04 - Gen Z Protests

1:02:10 - The Sanatan Debate

1:12:40 - Do Neighbours Distrust India?

1:24:33 - India-Bangladesh Relations

1:37:57 - The Aspirations of Today's Youth

From Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to Punjab, political equations are shifting across India. Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi still the defining force in Indian politics? Can Rahul Gandhi transform the Congress into a credible alternative? What role will regional parties play in shaping the next phase of Indian democracy? And is India moving towards a two-coalition political system?

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, senior journalists Neerja Chowdhury, Rasheed Kidwai and Shekhar Iyer join the discussion to analyse the changing political landscape.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:20 – TMC's Collapse

08:05 – Defections in TMC

15:10 – The Fall of Abhishek Banerjee

23:31 – Congress & Regional Parties

31:53 – Congress–TMC Merger?

37:57 – TVK-Congress Alliance

47:33 – Rahul Gandhi vs Modi in 2029?

54:27 – BJP's Core Voters

1:00:23 – Why Voters Relate to Modi

1:08:19 – Modi's Feedback Mechanism

1:14:44 – Rajasthan Congress & Sachin Pilot

1:24:46 – Punjab Assembly Polls 2027

1:31:58 – UP Polls 2027

1:38:48 – Journalists and Politicians