Fragile West Asia
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will benefit both countries. Pakistan has long been a security partner for Riyadh, even extending a “nuclear umbrella” after it went nuclear. The timing and context of the defence deal, coming in the backdrop of the Israeli aggressions over Iran and Qatar, make it altogether strategic, apart from providing security for the Saudi Kingdom. With the Pakistan agreement, Saudi Arabia is sending a clear signal to Washington and Tel Aviv that it is diversifying its security alliances. For Pakistan, which desperately needs Saudi financial assistance, closer defence ties—at a time when Gulf monarchies are rattled by Israel’s unchecked militarism—are an opportunity to present itself as a security provider. India must prepare for rapid changes in West Asia’s security order. For now, the Saudi-Pak pact is less a geopolitical earthquake than a reminder that in West Asia, alignments are fluid and interests are transactional. India must, therefore, remain alert.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Fix Caranzalem lane issues
In December 2024, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) announced the renovation of the two-decade-old Caranzalem garden. The work, costing Rs 2 crore, has commenced with the laying of pavers and construction of a public toilet. Installation of CCTV cameras and new play equipment is underway. It is heartening that this garden is being spruced up for the second or third time since its inception. While the CCP authorities are on the job, they need to glance to the left of the garden and see a highly dilapidated lane that leads up to a hotel. This horrible, busy lane hosts craters and potholes and links Caranzalem-Taleigao and beyond to Dona Paula-Bambolim. The lane has borne the brunt of constant traffic, with all types of vehicles, including trucks and water tankers, plying regularly. It has been frequently dug up for laying sewerage, gas, and utilities pipelines and was twice given band-aid treatments, but nothing has worked. To catch the eye of the authorities, the lane has proudly featured in newspapers and letters. A month ago, a tender was floated, but for some reason, no contractor submitted their quotes. This less than 500-metre-long neglected lane (and a side lane connected to the main road) is partly under the Taleigao Panchayat and partly under the CCP. It would be appreciated if the lane is repaired and tarred. With a go-getting cabinet minister, an MLA, a mayor, and with a strong say in the panchayat, they could easily get the work done and gain the admiration and support of the residents and the public.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Salute to women in blue
Though our Women in Blue (Pink) fought valiantly till the end of the 3rd ODI match against the World Champion team, Australia—who set a stiff target of 413 in New Delhi—they narrowly failed to achieve the target and create a new world record in the chase. Still, hats off to our batting queen Smriti Mandhana, who notched up a back-to-back century against the mighty team, and to the valuable knocks of captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, who fought till the end to win the series. If only our WIB had held on to all the catches, even the half-chances, things could have favoured our team in winning the series. Anyway, the fighting spirit of our WIB should be a real boost—especially on the eve of the forthcoming Women’s ODI World Cup Tournament to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Incidentally, our vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, is playing just like our King Kohli—both of whom wear Jersey No. 18. We are confident that she would take a leaf out of Kohli’s book, especially while chasing huge targets, to win matches for our nation. We wish our WIB team the best during the forthcoming World Cup matches and hope they lift the long-eluding World Cup trophy.
Vinay Mahadevan, Chennai
Prioritise child health
According to reports, nearly 88 lakh children in India are diagnosed with congenital heart diseases each year—a figure that highlights the growing concern over paediatric cardiovascular health. Alarmingly, less than 50% of these children receive timely treatment, pointing to significant gaps in healthcare access and delivery. Early screening, especially during infancy, has been proven to greatly improve treatment outcomes, yet it is not widely practised across the nation. This oversight poses a serious risk to both the quality of life and survival rates of affected children. The implementation of a standardised screening protocol at birth, combined with a nationwide awareness initiative, could have a transformative impact on paediatric care in India. Immediate action is required to address these preventable health crises and ensure better outcomes for future generations.
Vijaykumar H K, Raichur
