On 25 Nov 2014, a ten-member Parliamentary delegation from Bangladesh held wide ranging interaction with the VIF faculty on ‘India-Bangladesh relations and the way forward’. The interaction kicked off on a positive note, with former Ambassador Satish Chandra highlighting the upward spiral in India-Bangladesh relations in recent years. He complimented Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking the momentum forward, appreciating, in particular, the extremely supportive stance adopted by her government in tackling terrorism.

A five-member delegation from Nepal Transition to Peace-Institute (NTTP I) visited the VIF on July 24, 2014 for interaction on a variety of issues of mutual interest. The delegation was led by former Speaker of the Nepalese Parliament Mr. Daman Nath Dhungana, Senior Facilitator and Chairman of the Institute and included, among others, distinguished personalities such as Mr. Padma Ratan Tuladhar and Mr. Vidyadhar Mallik, both former ministers. The VIF delegation was led by the Director, Gen (Retd) N C Vij and included Mr. C D Sahay, Lt.Gen (Retd) Ravi Sawhney and others.

A Diligent Field Report on Illegal Migration and its Impact on India’s Unity and Integrity Bangladesh Migrants: A Threat to india by Mr. Pavas Kumar Mishra , retired Additional Director-General of the Border Security Force, is a rare book that provides deep insights into border management across the 4097 Km Indo-Bangladesh border and then goes on to discuss the grave concomitant problems like illegal immigration and cross-border terrorism and their implications for India’s unity and integrity.

Preface Nepal has experienced some catalytic political changes in the recent decades. The Maoist insurgency, the monarchy’s assertion to direct rule, the reinstallation of democratic rule through the second democratic movement and the polarization of the Maoists and the other political forces of the country to restructure the Nepalese state, etc have been some of the significant developments.