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Assassination of General Soleimani and geo-political tensions in the Gulf
Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Al Quds Forces in an American strike at Baghdad airport in the early hours of 3rd January sent shock waves in the region. Iran declared 3 days mourning and flags are being flown at half....

January 09, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , US , West Asia , Article , Quds Force , IRGC , Soleimani , Mashad , Kitaib-Hizbullah , oil price
The Soleimani Assassination : Taking it from There
Lt General S A Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM (Bar), VSM (Bar) (Retd.), Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

Since he kept a comparatively low profile as the commander of a strategic force designed to act clandestinely not many realized that Qasem Soleimani was virtually Number 2 in Iran’s effective hierarchy. That is why people are surprised by the asses....

January 07, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , Kata'ib Hezbollah , Quds Force , Solemani , IRGC , Iraqi militias
West Asia and North Africa Roundup 2019
Dr Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

A Year of Protests
In 2019, protests emerged in Algeria against the decision of the 82-year-old incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to contest in the presidential election for a fifth term which was originally scheduled on 18 April ....

January 06, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Syria , West Asia , Libya , Yemen , Israel-Palestine Conflict , Election Review
As the Killing of Top Iran General marks a Tipping Point in the Crisis in the Middle East, Who has the Most to Fear
Col Rajeev Agarwal Article

In the early hours of 03 January, Iran's most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport in a precision strike carried out by the US. The attack, based on specific intelligence, was carried out....

January 06, 2020 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , India , Iran , Trump , Kata'ib Hezbollah , Quds Force , Nancy Pelosy , Ali Khameini
Role of Civilizational Dialogue in Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation
Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Since the latter half of 20th century radicalisation and acts of terrorism have become a global challenge. Non-state actors often supported by “Evil” states cause an incalculable damage on the civilised and peace-loving societies. Political ends ....

December 17, 2019 International Relations and Diplomacy , Featured , West Asia , Article , Radicalisation , Countering Terrorism , ME Security Forum
West Asia Round-up - November 2019
Dr Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Overview
Efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions between Iran on the one side and the US and Saudi Arabia on the other. Oman’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi had met Secretary Pompeo in Washington and....

December 06, 2019 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Iran protests , Iraq demonstrations , Gaza strikes , West Bank settlement
West Asia Round-Up: October 2019
Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Abstract
Arab Spring 2.0 is in full view. The Middle East continued to reverberate with protests and demonstrations against regimes in several countries leading to the exit or resignations of the leaders in Lebanon and Iraq in the same....

November 13, 2019 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Arab Spring 2.0 , leadership crisis in Arabia , Turkey’s attack on Kurds
The Arab Spring 2.0 in Full Swing
Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

The cinders of the Arab Spring of 2010-11 have been reignited after smouldering for a while given the mixed outcomes and unfulfilled promises and expectations. The countries starting with Tunisia, that underwent the revolutions, witnessed minor chang....

November 11, 2019 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , Turmoil of protests in West Asia , Popular angst against regimes in Arab world , External meddling in Levant , Arab Spring 2.0
Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia
Dr Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

On 28 and 29 October 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Saudi Arabia and met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud and the crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman. The Indian Prime Minister also met with Saudi Environment, Water and....

November 08, 2019 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , India , India-Saudi Arabia relations , Strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia , Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia
Iraq Protests and the Problem of Ethno-Sectarian Balancing
Dr Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Iraq has been witnessing widespread protests that began in Baghdad on 1 October 2019 and spread throughout the state to express frustration about the deteriorating economic situation, corruption, unemployment, poverty, poor quality of services etc. T....

October 25, 2019 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Iraqi peoples’ woes , governance failures in Iraq
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