‘Bangladesh Migrants - A Threat to India’ authored by P K Mishra, Senior Fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation, was released at the VIF on 13 May 2014, by Shri Prakash Singh, IPS (Retd) and former Director General, BSF and a member of the advisory board of VIF. Lt General (Retd) Ravi Sawhney, chaired the session.
Afghanistan 2014: Forward to the Past? This is not a recent book, comparatively speaking; it was published in 2001, but remains topical. It covers the rise of the Taliban in the mid- to late-1990’s, and examines the main actors in the rise of this force. It is important to understand the phenomenon of the Taliban because it covers the activity and support of the force that is making a serious bid to return to power in Afghanistan once the western draw-down is complete.
An interaction was held with Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal-ur-Rehman group) on 17 December 2013. The Maulana shared his perspectives on several issues related to Indo-Pak relations and the emerging situation in Afghanistan. The interaction was chaired by Mr Ajit Doval, KC, Director VIF and attended by members of the VIF faculty. Maulana Mahmood A Madani, Executive Member of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind was also present on the occasion.
Myanmar military’s ethos can be traced back to the country’s national struggle for freedom with its founding fathers being of socialist persuasion rather than professional soldiers (Burma Independence Army; founded by a group of nationalists known as Thirty Comrades). Click here to read full Paper
A Wake Up Call for India and the World
Tibet: Perspectives and Prospects, a publication of Vivekananda International Foundation, was launched on 6th November 2013, by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Shri Ajit Doval KC, Director VIF, Ambassador P P Shukla, Joint Director VIF and Editor of the book, Shri Vijay Kranti, noted Tibet expert, and Vikas Arya, the publisher of the book.
VIF organized a round table discussion focusing on Afghanistan on 11th October 2013. Participants in the discussion included Mr. Ajit Doval, KC, Director VIF, Gen. (retd) N. C. Vij, Lt. Gen. (retd) Ravi Sawhney, Amb G. Parthasarathy, Amb Satish Chandra, Amb Prabhat P Shukla, Amb Arvind Gupta, Amb Vivek Katju, Amb T.C. Rangachari, Maj. Gen. (retd) S. Thapliyal, Brig. (Retd) Ravi Bhonsle, Brig. (Retd) Vinod Anand, and Mr. Sushant Sareen.
Lt. Gen Ravi Sawhney, Distinguished Fellow and Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, VIF, were invited by the Afghan Institute of Strategic Studies to attend the prestigious Second Herat Security Dialogue on 5-6, October, 2013. Around 80 foreign delegates from countries of the region and beyond and a similar number of Afghan delegates participated in the conference. The Dialogue was organized with the cooperation of the Afghan government and the local authorities at the historic 3000 year fort, Ikhtiyaruddin Citadel. Notable among the absentees were the US and Pakistani delegations.
On 23rd August 2013, VIF invited the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, H.E Mr. Tariq A. Karim for an interaction on the present state and future prospects of India-Bangladesh relations. Ambassador Karim began his talk by first briefing the distinguished gathering on the major developments in the past that have strengthened relations between the two countries. According to Amb Karim, for Bangladesh, India remains the most important neighbour and strategic partner.
On 3rd September 2013, VIF welcomed Amb Glenn White, the Australian Ambassador to Nepal for a brief interaction on the latest political developments in Nepal. Having spent the last four months in Nepal, Amb White gave a succinct assessment of the ground situation in Nepal. Discussions also took place on how India and Australia can contribute to strengthening democracy and democratic values in the Himalayan state. Both sides emphasised the need for peace, stability and progress in Nepal, which was important for the entire region.