What is missingThe Army Chief’s remarks on “improving India-China ties” acknowledge the positive diplomatic efforts at play. However, I am compelled to critically address a concerning trend: our defence leadership’s increasing reliance on headline-worthy, cinematic statements that play well on news cycles but contribute little to coherent, long-term security strategy. The public is left with filmy dialogues wrapped as policy, while the required democratic processes, critical debate, and transparency are largely absent.In reality, India’s approach of creating diplomatic dialogues and catchy narratives is rapidly being outpaced by the strategic evolution of its neighbours. The cyclical pattern in India’s discourse is troubling: every time an incident occurs, promises are renewed with great zeal and, equally, quickly fade away. The headlines are replaced by routine denial or new slogans, with little to show by way of stable, institutional security architecture. Our public narrative seems to oscillate between reassurance and outrage, with a lack of substantive follow-through. It is time our policymakers and defence leadership embraced continuity, expertise, and realism above all else. Otherwise, India risks being seen as reactive, rather than proactive, on the world stage.Aditya Das,Bhowali, UttarakhandThe sentenceThe decision by the International Crimes Tribunal to sentence former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death appears blatantly prejudiced. Traditionally, ICTs include international judges or prosecutors to ensure impartiality. But the tribunal formed by the caretaker government under Muhammad Yunus had Bangladeshi judges, many reportedly aligned with the BNP. While Ms. Hasina must acknowledge her heavy-handed response to the protests, the growing influence of a radical politics and the violence faced by minorities after her ouster raise concerns. The verdict has not only undermined the credibility of the Yunus administration but also dealt a setback to Bangladesh’s democratic process.M. Jeyaram,Sholavandan, Tamil NaduState of the Congress partyThe Congress party has been aligning with regional parties repeatedly over the past few decades for immediate political gains. In the process, it has lost its originality with an inclusive agenda catering to wider sections of the society. Its credibility as a national party — as an alternative to the BJP — has also been compromised, with it playing the role of a junior partner to regional parties for survival. It is facing an existential crisis. It is high time the party chalks out an independent journey of its own with clear-cut policies. It may take time to get the dividends, but at least the discerning public would see a ray of hope for bipolar politics at the national level.V. Subramanian,ChennaiPublished - November 19, 2025 12:24 am IST