VIF interaction with US Congressional Staff Delegation

A Congressional Staff Delegation from the United States, comprising Kevin Fitzpatrick, Director, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, Mr. Jeremy Haldeman, Staff Director on Oversight and Investigations and Mr. Ed Stein, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia visited Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) for a closed door interaction on India-Afghanistan/Pakistan and regional affairs on June 8, 2011. The VIF team which interacted with the Congressional delegation was led by Mr. Ajit Doval KC, Director. Among others who interacted with the delegation included Mr. CD Sahay, Lt Gen (retd.) RK Sawhney, Mr. Sushant Sareen, and Brig (retd.) Vinod Ananad.

Spearheading the discussion, Mr. Ajit Doval underlined the political use of terrorism by Islamabad. Cross linkages between various terrorist groups in Pakistan and Islamabad’s complex relationship with these terrorist groups were highlighted. The Director pointed to Pakistan’s use of negative leverages such as use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, NATO supply line, nuclear weapons etc. as few examples of negative leverages. Islamabad has used these leverages effectively over the years in furtherance of her strategic and political objectives. Expressing his apprehensions about post-withdrawal dispensation in Afghanistan, General Sawhney said that allowing undue space to Pakistan could result in annulling the achievements of past ten years. He felt that the Afghanistan National Army is still a few years away from the time that it can be entrusted to undertake independent security operations.