On 29 March 2023, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised an interaction with a visiting delegation of 18 Members of Parliament (MP) from Nepal. Brig Vinod Anand, Senior Fellow & Research Coordinator VIF gave the introductory remarks, followed by short presentations by Brig Rahul Bhonsle and Dr Nihar Nayak.
The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a Round-Table Discussion on “Evolving Myanmar Crisis and Implications for India” on 01 February 2023. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, gave the opening remarks, followed by brief presentations by Amb Rajiv Bhatia and Amb Gautam Mukhopadhaya. Before the presentations, a brief introduction to the current developments in Myanmar was given by Cchavi Vasisht. 01 February 2023 marked the completion of two years of military rule in Myanmar, and within these two years, the country witnessed intensified conflict and displacement.
Afghanistan is a country that has seen more devastation than prosperity, especially in the last 20 years. The resurgence of the Taliban and its cat-and-mouse game with the West has brought the once lively nation on the brink of starvation and decline. And it’s not just the story of the present times. Even in the early nineteenth century—be it the three Anglo-Afghan wars, or the skirmish between Afghanistan and Pakistan surrounding the Durand Line—the nation has seen much more bloodshed than any other country in Asia.
A VIF delegation led Dr. Arvind Gupta, comprising of Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney and Dr Sreeradha Datta visited Colombo during 10-14 January. VIF’s think tank partner, the Pathfinder Foundation hosted the delegation and organized many of the interactions and meetings. The delegation met a cross section of officials, political leaders and dignitaries and subject experts too.
On 16 December 2022, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a talk on “Power trading between India and Nepal”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, gave the introductory remarks, followed by a presentation by Mr Lal Krishna KC, Sr. Advisor to the Energy Committee at the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), Mr Kunal Kayal, Treasurer at NICCI and Neha Agarwal, Director of Arunachal Pradesh Power Trading Company.
On 19 December 2022, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a talk on “Assessment of the Nepal Elections”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, gave the introductory remarks, followed by a presentation by Shri Jay Nishaant. Dr Gupta welcomed Shri Jay Nishaant, Lt General R K Sawhney, Dr Sreeradha Datta, Brig Vinod Anand, Rishi Gupta, Aakriti Vinayak and Cchavi Vasisht, Anil Kumar and Aarushi Gupta.
India has always been proud to have Gurkha/Nepalese as soldiers in Indian Defence Forces and has made every effort to ensure that they are looked after and cared for in their twilight years even when these pensioners reside in Nepal. The GOI has made every effort to ensure that these pensioners, their families and dependents are looked after in the best possible manner. To ensure these measures, various branches of the Defence Wing are working in sync to fulfil the aspirations of our Nepal Domiciled Gorkha Ex-servicemen community.
The online bilateral dialogue held on 11 Oct 2022 was co- chaired by Dr Arvind Gupta, Director Vivekananda International Foundation, India and former Amb. Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman Pathfinder Foundation, Sri Lanka. The dialogue was attended by speaker Amb Ashok Kantha, Admiral Satish Soni (retd), Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney (retd), former Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, and Rear Admiral Dimuthu Gunawardena (retd) and scholars and practitioners from both sides. These are some of the salient points brought out by the Chairs, speakers and ensuing discussion.
… al-Zawahiri’s killing could be the beginning of a new road instead of its end, depending on how the Taliban evolves from here ... Taliban is caught between devil and deep-sea ... There is enormous pressures from international community ... Will Taliban reconstruct Afghanistan or spread jihad and harbour the global Al Qaeda groups?
Vivekananda International Foundation organized a Special Strategic Discussion on the topic “Assassination attempt on Imran Khan and its Implications onIndia” on 9th November 2022. The event was attended by Shri S Gurumurthy, Chairman, VIF, Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, Lt General R K Sawhney, Mr. Tilak Devasher, Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, Amb. Ajay Bisaria, Amb. Satish Chandra, Mr. Raghvendra Singh, Shalini Chawla, Brig Rahul Bhonsle, Mr. Rana Banerji and Mr. Sushant Sareen.