WASHINGTON: In the annals of Indian diplomacy, the summer of 1998 is considered one of the toughest periods for its mandarins as they worked overtime to blunt the global smackdown of its nuclear tests. A similar period is upon New Delhi now as the United States and its allies bear down on India for what the country sees as an objective stand based on its self-interest in the showdown between Moscow and Washington.
From the US commerce secretary Gina Raimundo saying on Wednesday it will be "deeply disappointing" if New Delhi works out a discounted energy deal with Moscow, to President Joe Biden himself characterising India's stand "somewhat shaky", to sundry officials lecturing New Delhi to be on the "right side of history", it has been a season of sermons that many Indian analysts see as insufferable.
