On August 8, 2013, VIF welcomed the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam for an interaction on various aspects of relations between India and Sri Lanka.
Reports indicate that with the change of government in Pakistan and the exchange of visits by special envoys, the Government of India is prepared to resume the composite/comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, interrupted since January this year as a sequel to the beheading of Indian soldiers by the Pakistani army on the LOC in J&K. The possibility that discussions on Sir Creek and Tulbul Navigation may take place even before the proposed meeting of the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers in September in New York on the margins of the UNGA meeting has been aired in the media.
Vivekananda International Foundation organized a two day seminar on “Pakistan after elections and prospects of relations with India” on August 5-6, 2013. The first day began with a keynote address by Amb K S Bajpai, former Indian Ambassador to the US.
Part- I: Fall of Gilgit India has fought many conventional wars since independence; it has also been involved in fighting insurgency and proxy wars during this period. Many heroes that these wars produced have become household names. However, these wars also produced heroes who remain unsung; whose stories of bravery and gallantry are not so well known. One such story is recounted here. Click here to read full Paper
General State actors in Pakistan have pursued a policy of employing irregulars as instruments to further their political and military objectives ever since the state came into being in 1947. It first used irregulars to invade the then princely state of Jammu & Kashmir soon after India’s partition. Click here to read full Paper
On 28 April 2013, VIF welcomed Gen. (retd) Shankar Roychowdhury PVSM, AVSM former Chief of the Indian Army, Amb. Satish Chandra, former Deputy National Security Advisor in the Chair, Shri DC Nath, President Patriots Forum and Shri Vikramjeet Banerjee, advocate Supreme Court of India, as key speakers for a highly engaging discussion on ‘Political Assertion of Radical Forces in Bangladesh: Impact and Implications for India’. Shri Ajit Doval KC, Director VIF, welcomed the distinguished audience and speakers, and pitched critical questions which needed to be addressed.
On 18 April 2013, Mr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to India interacted with members of the VIF faculty on contemporary developments in Afghanistan. He spoke on the ongoing political, security and economic transition. He gave his perspective on reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. He also covered the interests and its manifestations of its neighbours. The VIF faculty highlighted the Indian interests and objectives in Afghanistan and the developmental efforts which have won popular support.
A delegation led by Ambassador Richard Oslon, US Ambassador to Pakistan visited VIF on 17 April 2013. The delegation interacted with members of the faculty led by Shri Ajit Doval, KC, Director VIF on recent occurrences in Pakistan and the overall security situation in the region. The US ambassador also touched upon some aspects of US perspective on evolving situation Afghanistan.
A five member VIF delegation led by Mr. Ajit Doval and comprising of Amb. PP Shukla, Gen. (Retd.) NC Vij, Lt.Gen. (Retd.) Ravi Sawhney and Brig. (Retd.) Vinod Anand visited Beijing from 13 to 15 March 2013 to participate in a seminar and interact with some of the think tanks of China.
Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a Seminar on “Afghanistan Post 2014- Perspectives from the Region” on 30th Nov 2012, in which experts from RUSI (Royal United Services Institute), CICIR (China Institute of Contemporary International Relations) and VIF took part. Mr Alexander Neill along with Mr Mathew Willis represented the RUSI, while the delegation from CICIR was led by their Vice President Dr. Feng Zhongping along with Dr. Hu Shisheng, Dr. Fu Xiaoqiang, Dr. Wang Shida and Mr. Han Liqun. From the VIF’s side, Joint Director,VIF, Amb. P. P.