MTO - All Editorials Snapshot: 14-October-2025

The Hindu Editorials snapshot

Editorial 1

Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project – Aligning Security with Ecology

The renewed push for the 1.8-GW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River comes at a strategically charged moment following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The project, touted as a symbol of India’s hydro-political assertion, is being fast-tracked by the Ministries of Power and Home Affairs citing national security interests. However, environmental and social concerns surrounding it remain under-addressed. The Chenab is already densely dammed — with Dulhasti, Baglihar, and Salal forming a “bumper-to-bumper” hydropower corridor — raising fears of compounded sedimentation, slope instability, and reservoir-related risks. The Sawalkote dam, though labelled “run-of-river,” will hold over 50,000 crore litres of water, making it quasi-storage in nature. With costs escalating by ₹9,000 crore and rehabilitation budgets estimated at just 0.6% despite impacts on 1,500 families and 847 hectares of forests, the project’s governance framework appears fragile.

Editorial 2

Talking to Taliban – Balancing Security Interests with Principles

India recently hosted Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in his first visit since the Taliban took power in 2021, signalling a potential reset in bilateral ties. Permitted by a UN travel ban waiver, Muttaqi met India’s External Affairs Minister and National Security Adviser, discussing upgraded diplomatic exchanges, development projects, and trade cooperation. This engagement is driven by India’s strategic need to protect its investments, personnel, and regional interests, especially given strained Taliban-Pakistan relations. The Taliban assured India that Afghan territory would not be used for anti-India activities, marking a departure from past hostility. However, controversies over raising the Taliban flag in Delhi and excluding women journalists from events overshadowed the visit. India’s silence on the Taliban’s restrictive policies towards women, minorities, and political inclusivity raises concerns about compromising values for strategic gains. Engaging the Taliban may be necessary for security, but India must clarify the limits of this relationship to avoid risking its reputation while safeguarding regional stability.

The Indian Express Editorials snapshot

Editorial 3

Lessons from the Economics Nobel – Guiding Innovation for Growth

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics recognised Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for explaining how innovation drives long-term economic growth when supported by open, adaptive societies. Their research demonstrates that while innovation can enhance prosperity, it does not automatically guarantee progress — it thrives only when complemented by scientific understanding, competition, and institutions that encourage new ideas. Mokyr’s work highlights that technological progress spurs growth when societies understand and apply scientific principles, as seen since the Industrial Revolution. Aghion and Howitt introduced the concept of “creative destruction,” describing how new technologies replace outdated ones, driving progress but also causing economic disruption. Their findings show the need to balance innovation’s benefits with support for those displaced by change. The laureates collectively emphasise that growth is not inevitable — it requires constant nurturing, openness to ideas, and policies that guide innovation responsibly, ensuring it strengthens human welfare and inclusivity.

Editorial 4

Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict – Why India is Watching Closely

The recent armed clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces along the Durand Line have reignited old tensions between the two neighbours, escalating into airstrikes and territorial seizures. The conflict, which occurred during Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, underscores the fragile relationship between Islamabad and Kabul — one that New Delhi monitors closely for its regional security implications. Pakistan had initially celebrated the Taliban’s 2021 return as a strategic opportunity, but unresolved disputes over the Durand Line and Taliban backing for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have soured relations. Kabul accuses Islamabad of interference, while Pakistan blames Afghanistan for hosting militants. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military-intelligence establishment continues to marginalise peaceful groups like the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, deepening domestic alienation. The wider violence, fuelled by groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, reflects how religious radicalism has corroded the country’s polity. For India, instability in Pakistan and conflict along its western borders threaten regional peace and complicate security planning. A durable peace requires Pakistan to curb militancy and move away from using extremist proxies as tools of foreign policy.

Top Vocabulary Picks from Today’s Editorials

Word	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Fallout	Negative result or consequence	Aftermath, repercussion	Benefit, reward
Retaliating	Responding to an attack with a counter-attack	Countering, striking back	Forgiving, yielding
Underpinnings	Basic foundations or principles	Basis, framework	Surface, exterior
Jubilation	Great joy and happiness	Elation, celebration	Grief, sorrow
Chimaera	Illusion or unrealistic dream	Fantasy, illusion	Reality, truth