On 27 October 2016, the VIF invited Brigadier General Muhammad Sakhawat Hussain ndc, psc (Retd), former Election Commissioner of Bangladesh (2007-2012), for a talk on ‘Electoral Governance in Bangladesh’, followed by an interactive session. With Mr.
Bangladesh, world's third largest Muslim majority nation has, right from its independence, cherished and followed the cardinal democratic values of freedom, equality, justice and religious tolerance. These, in a major way, also played a pivotal role in the nation’s freedom struggle.
The VIF had the privilege to host Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, Hon’ble Minister for Information and President of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh, on 18 Aug 2016 for an interaction on India-Bangladesh relations and the way forward. The interaction covered a broad spectrum of issues: bilateral economic and security cooperation, Bangladesh’s’ internal dynamics, the menace of radicalization, and South Asian regional cooperation, among many other related issues.
In continuation of a long series of seminars and discussions on the future of Afghanistan, held by the VIF from time to time since 2009, a fresh round of discussion on the ‘Developments in Afghanistan: Implications and Options for India’, was held on 11 July 2016.
While many are optimistic about the Maithripala Sirisena government’s ability to make progress on reconciliation, some systemic issues need to be addressed which not only demands political will, but also requires cooperation from diaspora, civil society and all sections of Lankan society. Click here to read full paper
Introduction: In a bid to emulate the European Economic Cooperation (EEC, later EC and then EU), and the promise of success in the ASEAN models, South Asian countries got together in December 1985 to form their own South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Click here to read full paper
A five-member delegation from Nepal, led by Abdul Razzak, Member of Parliament (Nepali Congress Party) and comprising Dr Jagat Bahadur Pathak, Dr C B Pun, Gopi Prasad and Hira KC as members of the delegation, visited the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on 29 Apr 2016 for a discussion on India-Nepal relations in the present context. It may be recalled that bilateral ties between India and Nepal have been on a roller coaster in recent times, especially since the breakout of protests by Madhesi people in the lower regions of Nepal.
At the invitation of Bangladesh Enterprises Institute, a Dhaka based premier think-tank, a VIF delegation headed by Director, Gen. N C Vij, visited Dhaka from April 20-22, 2016. The VIF delegation included Vice Admiral K K Nayar, Lt. Gen. (R) R K Sawhney, Mr. C D Sahay, Amb. Rajiv Sikri and two high level representatives from trade sponsored by CII.
The VIF on 14 April 2016 hosted hon’ble Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Member of Parliament (Sri Lanka) and Chairman of the Committee on Constitution Reforms for an interaction on the Constitution-making process in Sri Lanka, a process that got underway in January 2016 with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe setting up a committee of experts in his office to assist legislators in drafting a new Constitution.
Leading a twelve-member business and trade delegation from Nepal, Mr. Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, the Chief Whip of CPN-UML (the second largest political party in Nepal’s consensus government) visited the Vivekananda International Foundation on 22 Feb 2016 for an interaction on the broader dynamics of Indo-Nepal relations against the backdrop of Nepal’s recent political crisis. The delegation, part of the visiting Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s entourage, comprised, among other elected representatives, Chief whips of other political parties and Mr. Sushil Gyawali and Mr.