That is because we no longer have proper statesmen in the Indian cabinet. The PM is one man leading a cabinet of what are generally inexperienced and/or hawkish men. By contrast, call it what you want; but the BJP government of Vajpayee's time had some VERY VERY seasoned and well educated leadership. They knew where to prod and pull, and save what was essentially a failure of Indian intelligence at Kargil and a general appreciation of the lack of cohesion in Pakistani leadership; they handled international relations pretty well.
By contrast, if not for the booming economy ; the current Indian government just has a PM making sales calls for what is a very limited portfolio of "offerings" that in the end all link to economy. It is not that there isnt more, but simply that the vision being touted is stuck around a (deservedly)hyped economic growth and investment potential.
This current tit for tat on Balochistan is extremely unlike the Indian approach to diplomacy and is either a forewarning to a trump card(which seems unlikely) they intend to play in case Pakistan does not behave or a desperate gamble to see if the opposite voice coupled with the current economic clout of India will create any pressure. The worst bit is that Pakistan is trying to push the Kashmir issue whilst hoping that there is just a fine line between what India will tolerate before it finds a casus belli.. and India is now pushing that line back and closing the gap.
As for the Russian involvement in Iran, I would look at it from a changing power play in the middle east; the US has dominated politics there for the last two decades and the Russians along with the Chinese are out to change that.
Whatever your write up is to be, keep in mind that history repeats itself.. Nations are at the end Languages and beliefs.. the more they are pushed to a corner, the more they unite under it..the toady of today may not be the Toady 50 years from now.
