Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Pakistan Elections and its fallout

A meeting of the Pakistan Study Group (PSG) was held in hybrid mode on 14 February 2024. The main items on the agenda were—the Results of the Pakistan Elections, Government formation after the Elections and the Probabilities of Coalition between Parties, The Status of PTI-backed Independent Candidates in a Post-Election Scenario, The impact of the election results on Pakistan's Economy, and The Options for the Pakistan Army. The meeting was attended by Lt Gen RK Sawhney (Retd), Mr. Tilak Devasher, Dr. Shalini Chawla, Rahul Bhonsle, Amb. Satish Chandra, Amb.

April 11, 2024 Event Report

Book Discussion on Bangladesh on a New Journey: Moving beyond the Regional Identity

On 08 April, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the book titled, “Bangladesh on a New Journey: Moving beyond the Regional Identity" edited by Prof. Sreeradha Datta and published by Bloomsbury in January 2024. Apart from the author, the Panel for the discussion consisted of Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF (moderator); Lt. General R. K. Sawhney (Retd.); Veena Sikri, Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Amb Pankaj Saran; Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty; Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma; Prof Amena Mohsin; Dipanjan Chaudhury and researchers from the VIF.

April 10, 2024 Event Report

Roundtable Discussion on Current Developments in Nepal and Implications for India

On 15 March 2024, the Vivekananda International Foundation organised a round table discussion on the "Current Developments in Nepal and Implications for India''. Brig Vinod Anand, Senior Fellow, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief presentations by Amb. Ranjit Rae and Dr Nihar Nayak and special remarks by Amb. Kanwal Sibal. In a significant political shift, Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal removed the Nepali Congress (NC), a major coalition partner, from the government.

April 10, 2024 Event Report

Interaction with Dr. Nishan de Mel, the Executive Director of Verité Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka

On 4 March, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized an interaction with Dr. Nishan de Mel, the Executive Director of Verité Research, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Lt. General R. K. Sawhney (Retd.) delivered the opening remarks, followed by a brief observation from Ambassador Ashok Kantha. Dr. Nishan De Mel gave his remarks highlighting the internal dynamics of Sri Lanka and its impact on India-Sri Lanka relations. The presentation was accompanied by discussions, with a special focus on what should be the way forward for India- Sri Lanka relations. Finally, Lt. General R. K.

March 06, 2024 Event Report

Roundtable Discussion on Recently held 12th Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh and Its Implications for India

On 29 January, the Vivekananda International Foundation organized a Round Table Discussion on the “Recently held 12th Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh and Its Implications for India”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief presentations by Prof Sreeradha Datta, Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Amb Pankaj Saran and Dr Anchita Borthakur. The presentations were accompanied by discussions, with a special focus on what should be the way forward for India in Bangladesh, after the latter’s national election.

February 17, 2024 Event Report

Talk by Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Hasan Mahmud M.P. on Bangladesh-India Relations in the last Decade

On 8 February, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a special talk by Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Hasan Mahmud M.P. on "Bangladesh-India Relations in the last Decade". The Foreign Minister was joined by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, H. E. Mr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, chaired the session and made the welcome remarks. The talk was followed by an engaging question and answer session. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic community, scholars, strategic community and the media personals.

February 17, 2024 Event Report

Roundtable Discussion on Indo-Indonesian Geopolitics: Navigating Growth amidst Global Challenges

On 11 December, the VIF in collaboration with Habibie Centre, Indonesia organised a RoundTable Discussion (RTD) on "Indo-Indonesian Geopolitics: Navigating Growth Amidst Global Challenges". Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, welcomed the speakers and gave the introductory remarks followed by Dr Mohammad Hasan Ansori, Executive Director, The Habibie Center. HE Ina Krishnamurti, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, New Delhi and HE Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of the Republic of India, Jakarta gave special remarks on the Indonesia-India relations.

January 11, 2024 Event Report

Pakistan Insights 2023

Tilak Devasher, Consultant, VIF

Pakistan Insights 2023 is the fourth in the ‘Pakistan Insights’ series brought out by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) to deepen understanding of Pakistan. Ideas for the various chapters are based on monthly discussions held in the Pakistan Study Group (PSG) that was set up in February 2018 in the VIF. The previous three editions- Pakistan Insights 2019, Pakistan Insights 2020 and Pakistan Insights 2021-22 received widespread acclaim and it is hoped that this edition, too, would be well received.

January 10, 2024 Books/Book Review

Roundtable Discussion on Ongoing Crisis in Myanmar and Implications for India

On 21 December, the Vivekananda International Foundation organised a Round Table Discussion on the “Ongoing Crisis in Myanmar and Implications for India”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief presentations by Amb Preet Mallik, Amb Rajiv Bhatia, Amb Gautam Mukhopadhya, Brig Rahul Bhonsle and Dr Cchavi Vasisht. The presentations were followed by discussions, with a special focus on what should be India’s way forward.

January 04, 2024 Event Report

Narrative of Despondent Pashtuns: Terrorism, Ethnicity and the Pakistani Military

N Khan

This primary research uses in-depth interviews to investigate the experiences and perceptions of the ethnic Pashtuns of Pakistan’s former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) regarding terrorism, ethnicity and the Pakistani military, especially after the emergence of the Pashtun Tahafuz (Protection) Movement (PTM). Since there is a dearth of literature on the perspectives of the terrorism-affected Pashtuns, this original research focusses on their direct experiences.

December 27, 2023 Issue Brief