ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Asian News International (ANI)
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ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash gets eminent people from different walks of life to talk about issues that impact you and society at large. Join Smita Prakash as she brings important voices from the field of politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. Dive in for a great listening experience brought to you by India’s largest news agency.

  1. EP-402 | India Silent on Iran War: Strategy or Compromise? | Ex-Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran

    1D AGO

    EP-402 | India Silent on Iran War: Strategy or Compromise? | Ex-Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran

    Pankaj Saran is a former diplomat with over 40 years of experience in foreign policy, strategy, and national security. He has served as India’s Ambassador to Russia and Bangladesh, Deputy National Security Adviser, and worked in the Prime Minister’s Office under Dr Manmohan Singh. He has also been posted at the Indian Mission in Washington, D.C. He is currently the Convenor of NatStrat, a Delhi-based independent centre for research on strategic and security issues. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Saran explains why India’s silence on the Iran war is being seen as aligning with the US and Israel. He says Pakistan is not a mediator, but a messenger in the conflict. He also talks about how Pakistan built close ties with the Trump administration, and whether India missed a chance to play a bigger role in stopping the war. The conversation also touches on the film Dhurandhar and why India chose not to retaliate after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:53 – West Asia War Overview 05:47 – Decision-Making in War 09:18 – India’s Stand on Iran War 12:16 – LPG Supply Crisis 17:52 – Gulf Nations Under Attack 19:55 – Warfare Strategies 27:41 – Pakistan as Mediator in Iran War 36:26 – Should India Mediate Iran War? 38:44 – Iran’s Global Position 42:26 – China & Russia's stand 58:38 – India’s Strategic Silence 1:04:45 – Can India Build AI Without U.S.? 1:08:57 – Did India Misread Iran Situation? 1:11:29 – 2008 Mumbai Attacks 1:22:45 – Dhurandhar Movie

    1h 27m
  2. EP-401 | Manickam Tagore on Tamil Nadu Polls, Vijay, Stalin, Modi, Rahul & Freebies

    5D AGO

    EP-401 | Manickam Tagore on Tamil Nadu Polls, Vijay, Stalin, Modi, Rahul & Freebies

    Manickam Tagore is an Indian National Congress MP representing the Virudhunagar constituency in Tamil Nadu. He serves as Whip of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha and is the All India Congress Committee in-charge of Andhra Pradesh. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the Opposition’s strategy in Parliament, the DMK–Congress alliance, actor Vijay, freebies politics, Congress’ organisational challenges, and the BJP’s presence in Tamil Nadu. *Timestamps* 00:00 - Introduction 00:22 - Lok Sabha Suspension Revoked 04:25 - DMK–Congress Alliance 08:16 - National Parties in Tamil Nadu 16:28 - Modi vs Rahul Popularity 21:27 - Power Sharing with DMK 26:08 - The Vijay Challenge 35:58 - Tamil Nadu Media 37:21 - Alliance Dynamics in Tamil Nadu 40:24 - Politics of Freebies 46:57 - Rahul as Congress Face 49:42 - Why Rahul Gets Angry 53:50 - Digital Marketing by Political Parties 55:42 - Ravneet Singh Bittu 1:04:28 - Congress Cadre 1:14:23 - Caste Politics in Tamil Nadu

    1h 21m
  3. EP-400 | S Gurumurthy on Tamil Nadu Polls, Vijay, Modi, Rahul, DMK, Sanatana & More

    MAR 24

    EP-400 | S Gurumurthy on Tamil Nadu Polls, Vijay, Modi, Rahul, DMK, Sanatana & More

    Swaminathan Gurumurthy is the editor of the Tamil political weekly Thuglak. An auditor by training and an ideologue by conviction, he has spent decades at the intersection of economics, politics and civilisational debate. From his investigations into corporate power in the 1980s involving Reliance Industries to his critique of globalisation and role in shaping the intellectual ecosystem of the RSS, he has remained an influential and outspoken voice in India’s public life. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the DMK-Congress alliance, actor Vijay, Sanatana Dharma, Tamil Nadu politics and RSS. Gurumurthy outlines the structural and ideological challenges the BJP faces in Tamil Nadu, shaped by decades of Dravidian politics and alliance-driven electoral dynamics. He also speaks candidly about Ramnath Goenka, Dhirubhai Ambani, Indira Gandhi-era politics and his clashes with corporate power in India. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 02:14 - Dravidian Politics 14:43 - DMK-Congress Alliance 21:25 - Can Vijay Challenge DMK? 25:42 - Tamil Nadu’s Cultural Ethos 33:56 - Electoral Shifts in Tamil Nadu 40:43 - BJP’s Challenge in Tamil Nadu 48:05 - Tamil Cultural Media 51:46 - Anti-Hindu Politics in Tamil Nadu 55:58 - Story Behind ‘Guru’ Movie 58:51 - Ties with Ramnath Goenka 1:08:20 - Dhirubhai Ambani Investigations 1:10:35 - Advisory Role in Corporate Family Disputes 1:17:12 - Political Engagement Across Parties 1:24:28 - Congress’s Leadership Crisis 1:32:58 - West Asia Conflict 1:39:33 - BJP’s Outreach to Minorities 1:49:03 - Views on the Gandhi Family 1:54:21 - BJP-RSS Coordination

    1h 59m
  4. EP-399 | “U.S. Entered the Iran War Unprepared” Biden Era Top Gulf Official Daniel Benaim

    MAR 20

    EP-399 | “U.S. Entered the Iran War Unprepared” Biden Era Top Gulf Official Daniel Benaim

    Daniel Benaim served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the U.S. State Department. He previously advised President Joe Biden on West Asia policy and has worked at the White House and the U.S. Senate. He also wrote speeches for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other senior U.S. officials. He closely follows developments in West Asia and U.S. foreign policy. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Daniel says that the U.S. miscalculated the Iran war and wasn’t fully prepared. He explains how Iran may be “winning without winning”, and why Gulf countries feel let down by the conflict. He also talks about Iran’s use of the Strait of Hormuz as a key lever, and why India’s approach to the crisis appears measured and pragmatic. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:52 – Who’s Winning Iran War? 05:36 – Future of Iranian Regime 08:32 – Will U.S. Deploy Troops to Iran? 11:28 – Strait of Hormuz Blockade 14:51 – Future of Alliances in West Asia 19:57 – Will Gulf Nations Attack Iran? 23:00 – Russia & China on Iran War 24:10 – Trump Delays Beijing Visit 25:21 – Did Trump Miscalculate Iran? 30:46 – Biden or Clinton: Response to Iran War 32:35 – Will Iran Surrender? 34:28 – Trump Opening New War Fronts? 37:30 – If Iran Survives, Who Wins? 40:38 – Saudi-Pakistan Ties 44:17 – Do Americans Support Iran War? 49:46 – Iran’s Missile Capacity 52:41 – Did Biden Give $6 Billion to Iran? 55:48 – Iran’s Nuclear Program 58:21 – India’s Stand on Iran War 1:00:39 – Will India Pick a Side in Iran War? 1:04:27 – What Does Saudi Want from Pakistan? 1:06:56 – Who Can Mediate Iran War? 1:08:39 – Will Iranian Regime Survive? 1:10:47 – Who is Face of the Democrats? 1:12:29 – Evolving India-U.S. Ties

    1h 16m
  5. EP-398 | Iran War: 10 Lessons India Must Learn Now | Lt Gen Raj Shukla

    MAR 17

    EP-398 | Iran War: 10 Lessons India Must Learn Now | Lt Gen Raj Shukla

    What lessons can India learn from the Iran war? How have drones proved to be a game-changer in modern warfare? How is Iran using ‘Shahed’ drones to carry out attacks on Israel and Gulf nations? How can Artificial Intelligence be integrated into defence systems? What impact could this conflict have on the global defence industry? How are Gulf nations looking at their security today? In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd.), former General Officer Commanding of the Army Training Command and a noted military strategist, answers these questions and explains the changing nature of modern warfare. 00:00 – Coming Up 00:30 – Global Impact of Iran War 04:18 – U.S. Operation Against Maduro 07:14 – U.S. Objectives in Iran 10:53 – U.S. Military Strength 15:20 – Iran’s Counterattack 21:16 – Implications of Iran War 22:27 – Iran’s Shahed Drones 32:07 – U.S.–Israel Tech Alliance 41:34 – India’s Role in Global Tensions 46:45 – China’s High-Tech Warfare 50:14 – India’s Defence System 58:49 – Attack on IRIS Dena 1:00:31 – India’s Strategic Partners 1:10:12 – Iran’s Strikes on the Gulf 1:13:28 – Private Sector in National Security

    1h 17m
  6. EP-397 | Iran War, LPG Crisis, Strait of Hormuz Threat & India’s Interests | Kanwal Sibal | ANI Podcast

    MAR 12

    EP-397 | Iran War, LPG Crisis, Strait of Hormuz Threat & India’s Interests | Kanwal Sibal | ANI Podcast

    Kanwal Sibal is a former Foreign Secretary to the Government of India. He has served as India’s Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia, and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC with the personal rank of Ambassador. He was also a member of India’s National Security Advisory Board from 2008 to 2010. With over 41 years of diplomatic experience, he explains geopolitics and foreign affairs from an Indian perspective. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Kanwal Sibal explains how the Israel–U.S. war against Iran could deeply hurt India’s interests in the Gulf. He also discusses why Iran could sink any ship in the Strait of Hormuz and why he believes there is “a huge vacuum in global leadership.” He also discusses what India should do in the conflict, the sinking of the IRIS Dena, the objectives of the U.S. and Israel in the war, and what the future of security in the Gulf could look like. 00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – India’s Stand on the Iran War 07:29 – Sinking of IRIS Dena 18:12 – PM Modi’s Visit to Israel 23:55 – Iran’s Nuclear Program 28:15 – War with a “Civilizational State” 30:12 – India–U.S. Relations 39:42 – Christopher Landau’s Remarks 43:45 – Why India Needs the Gulf 49:41 – Americans as Partners 56:37 – Russia–Ukraine War 1:00:21 – France’s Nuclear Umbrella 1:02:12 – Which Countries Might Go Nuclear Next? 1:07:30 – Importance of the Strait of Hormuz 1:11:45 – Targeting Fuel Depots in Iran 1:15:05 – Gulf Under Attack 1:18:10 – Possible Outcomes of the Iran War 1:21:42 – How the Iran War Could Affect India 1:25:54 – Global Leadership Crisis

    1h 33m
  7. EP-396 | “My Job is to Create a Super Team, Not Superstars” Gautam Gambhir

    MAR 11

    EP-396 | “My Job is to Create a Super Team, Not Superstars” Gautam Gambhir

    Gautam Gambhir is the Head Coach of the Indian cricket team. Under his leadership, the team has won two major ICC tournaments — the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He is the first Indian head coach to win two ICC trophies. Gambhir is also the most successful Indian cricketers in terms of trophies, both as a player and as a coach. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he speaks about the T20 World Cup win, social media toxicity, honesty with players, ending the superstar culture in the team and what’s next for him. 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - T20 World Cup Victory 01:52 - How to Handle Critics 04:18 - Handling Social Media Toxicity 06:35 - Being a Coach 08:23 - Playing in Front of Legends 09:30 - Dhoni’s Post for Gambhir & Team 10:50 - Fans’ Expectations 12:56 - India Tailoring Pitches Allegation 14:07 - India’s Power in World Cricket 15:19 - Money Power in Cricket 16:33 - Hanuman Mandir Visit Controversy 18:59 - Backing Sanju Samson 19:52 - Beyond Individual Performance 21:10 - Superstars in the Team 22:30 - Who Offered Head Coach Role? 27:03 - Freedom in the Dressing Room 29:18 - Expectations from Players 32:06 - Who Does Gambhir Listen To? 33:34 - Gambhir on Ashwin's Remarks 35:25 - Achievements as Head Coach 40:02 - Fitness in the Game 43:43 - Mental Makeup During Test Matches 46:37 - The Role of Family 48:44 - Mood in the Dressing Room After Victory 49:56 - First Meal After Victory 50:20 - Diet Discipline in Cricket 51:32 - Planning for the 2027 World Cup 51:56 - Does IPL Drain Players? 52:47 - What’s Next for Gambhir? 53:12 - Will Gambhir Rejoin Politics?

    54 min
  8. EP-395 | “U.S. win is unclear..." Ex-US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Iran War

    MAR 5

    EP-395 | “U.S. win is unclear..." Ex-US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Iran War

    Jon Finer is an international affairs expert and former Principal Deputy National Security Adviser to Jake Sullivan during the presidency of Joe Biden. Before that, he served in the White House under Barack Obama as a White House Fellow, working in the office of the Chief of Staff and the National Security Council. Finer was a foreign and national correspondent for The Washington Post. He reported from more than 20 countries around the world. He also co-hosts “The Long Game,” a weekly national security podcast with Jake Sullivan. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Jon Finer discusses the U.S.–Israel military action against Iran and its strategic implications. He says Donald Trump is creating ambiguity about the real objective of the conflict. According to him, “A U.S. win is unclear and politically difficult to define.” He adds that China is supporting Iran rhetorically, but not militarily. He also warns that this conflict could accelerate global nuclear proliferation. Finer also speaks about India–U.S. ties and America’s growing closeness with Pakistan. 00:00 – Introduction 01:18 – Regime Change in Iran 04:30 – U.S. Objectives in Iran War 07:36 – Gulf Nations Under Attack 14:18 – China Helping Iran in War? 16:39 – U.S.–Iran Nuclear Talks 18:35 – Trump’s War Powers 23:04 – U.S. Nuclear Umbrella 27:23 – U.S.–Pakistan Relations 33:52 – U.S.–India Ties 37:13 – Serving Under Obama & Biden 41:27 – China’s Limited Global Alliances 47:54 – How U.S. Media Portrays India 52:51 – Jeffrey Sachs’ Claims on Jake Sullivan

    59 min
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ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash gets eminent people from different walks of life to talk about issues that impact you and society at large. Join Smita Prakash as she brings important voices from the field of politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. Dive in for a great listening experience brought to you by India’s largest news agency.

Information

  • Creator
    Asian News International (ANI)
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    402
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Asian News International (ANI)
  • Show Website
    ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

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