A seminar was organized jointly by Vivekananda International Foundation and Patriots’ Forum in the VIF Conference Hall at New Delhi, on 20th April 2013, on the subject ‘ Refugees In Their Own Homeland :Travails Of Kashmiri Pandits ‘.
Implication of the contemporary political environment in India on matters of national security is critically important, considering all the three factors of internal stability, rule of law and the larger geo-politics of the Indian Sub-continent. For a better understanding and assessment of the ground realities, Dr. Sudhir S. Bloeria, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu & Kashmir and Former Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir, delivered a talk on 22 February 2013 in VIF’s monthly series of talks, Vimarsha.
India and China have been pursuing essentially a two pronged strategy in Asia, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. On the one hand, they are engaged in a growing economic partnership with a moderating influence on the strategic competition. On the other hand, they have been relentless in their pursuit of a militarily advantageous position in the region. The equation, however, is not comparable, with India having to account for Pakistan, while China has to contend with a US-Taiwan partnership.
The latest incident across the Line of Control (LoC), and the killing and decapitation of an Indian soldier, highlights yet again the challenge that Pakistan poses to our security and diplomacy. Further, this act cannot be discounted as a local incident as it bears all the hallmarks of having been deliberately planned and executed at a higher level within the Pakistan Army. Two things are clear.
The former Army Chief General (retd) VK Singh, addressed a distinguished gathering at the VIF’s monthly Vimarsha series of talks by eminent persons, held on 24 September, 2012. He enlightened the audience about the broad spectrum of security challenges currently facing India, through a stimulating yet incisive talk, captioned ‘National Security: Challenges and Responses’.
It is axiomatic that military aspects can not be discussed in isolation as many other factors have a direct impact on the given military situation. In the current Af-Pak scenario political and economic compulsions have a direct bearing on the behaviour of many players in the evolving Af-Pak imbroglio. Clausewitz opined that ‘war is a continuation of politics’ which in effect means that war or for that matter any military action can not be separated from political activity. Further, to execute any kind of national or military strategy adequate resources are required.
A talk on ‘Sufism and Indian Islam’ by Hazrat Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Sahab Kichhouchhawi, General Secretary, All India Ulama & Mashikh Board was held at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on 23 Apr 2012. The event, which was organized by the VIF in collaboration with the Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony (GFCH), aimed at understanding and projecting the Sufi legacy in India of tolerance. It was opposed to the more extreme ideologies, which promoted terrorism, thus strengthening India’s social and religious harmony. The evening session, presided by Mr.
The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a seminar ‘Towards Reducing Earthquake Risks of India’ in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on April 12, 2012. Held, by coincidence, against the backdrop of a powerful earthquake which had taken place a day before off the coast of Indonesia leading to a Tsunami warning across 28 littoral states of the India Ocean including India, the conference attracted a large number of people including subject experts.
According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), today India is world’s largest arms importer with country’s spending on defence hovering between 2.3% and 3% of GDP.