Shocking Arrest of Top Indian-Origin US Defence Expert: Trump Drama and Taliban-Pakistan Clash

Indian-origin U.S. strategist Ashley J. Tellis’s arrest on classified data charges sparks global debate on espionage, alliances, and shifting geopolitical loyalties.

New Delhi: In a shocking development that has rattled Washington and New Delhi alike, Indian-origin U.S. defence strategist Ashley J. Tellis, 64, has been arrested for the unauthorized possession of classified U.S. defence documents. Tellis, a respected scholar, Carnegie Endowment fellow, and key negotiator in the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, now faces up to ten years in prison under U.S. law if convicted.

In an exclusive conversation with Ms. Barkha Dutt, veteran journalist Chidanand Rajghatta clarified that while Tellis is accused of mishandling top-secret files and allegedly meeting Chinese officials, no direct espionage charge has yet been filed. Rajghatta noted that Washington insiders often blur the line between research access and classified material, comparing the case to earlier incidents involving U.S. officials like Sandy Berger and General Petraeus.

Former diplomat Ambassador Vivek Katju emphasized that such cases require caution and context, recalling historical parallels like the Robin Raphel investigation. Both guests agreed that the incident has sent shockwaves through global strategic communities, especially given Tellis’s long-standing stance urging India to align more closely with the United States to counter China.

As Ms. Dutt concluded, the arrest underscores how fragile and fast-changing the world of geopolitics has become—where yesterday’s allies can become today’s suspects, and strategic narratives can shift overnight.

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