Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

The Spectre of Afghanistan: Security in Central Asia by Kirill Nourzhanov and Amin Saikal; London, I.B.TAURIS Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2021, pp. 249.

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are three Central Asian countries that share geographical boundaries and cross-border ethnic linkages with Afghanistan. As a result, the developments in Afghanistan have directly impacted these countries. Although the majority of the population in Central Asia is Muslim, they have quite varied religious perspectives due to the long shadow cast by the Soviet Union’s communist regime. On the other hand, the Taliban administration in Kabul in the 1990s intended to establish an Islamic caliphate, which was unacceptable to its Central Asian neighbours.

June 20, 2022 Books/Book Review

VIF- Prospect Foundation Seminar on ‘Strategic and Economic Implications of Ukraine War on Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific’

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized a joint webinar with the Prospect Foundation on 27 May 2022 on Strategic and Economic Implications of Ukraine War on Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific’. After initial remarks by Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF and Dr I. Chung, President of Prospect Foundation, presentations were made by Dr Cheng-yi Lin, Research Fellow, Academia Sinica, Dr Arthur Ding, Professor Emeritus, National Chengchi University, Amb Ashok Kantha, Distinguished Fellow VIF, and Prof. Srikant Kondapalli, Distinguished Fellow VIF.

June 16, 2022 Event Report

Quad Plus Dialogue

A timely meeting of the long-running Quad Plus Dialogue was convened virtually on 15 June 2022. This iteration of the dialogue was hosted by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Japan. As the designated think-tank representing India, VIF participated as a key dialogue partner. Participating think-tanks representing the other Quad partners included the Heritage Foundation, USA and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Australia.

June 16, 2022 Event Report

Celebration of Africa Day 2022 Over a Book Discussion | ‘The Harambee Factor: India - Africa Economic and Development Partnership by Ambassador Gurjit Singh’

Every year on May 25, the world celebrates Africa Day. On May 25 1963, 30 independent African leaders signed the founding charter of the OAU (Organization of African Unity). In 2002, to give more impetus to the organisation, many new areas were added, and it was transformed into African Union (AU). From that perspective, this year is unique as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of AU. This year, VIF decided to celebrate the event along with the rest of the world.

June 15, 2022 Event Report

Evolving Security Dynamic in West Asia and India’s Challenges

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

West Asia continues to churn festered by several hot spots including Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq as Arab Spring 2.0 straddles the region forcing socio-economic reforms. The Middle East Process remains defunct as the Israel-Palestine conflict remains at the brink. The region also continues to suffer from the geopolitical, geo-economic, and geo-religious contestations among major powers like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, and Iran. Qatar has emerged as new `Go To` country.

June 15, 2022 Books/Book Review

Interaction with H.E. Mr. Denis Evgenyevich Alipov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India

Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted an Interaction with H.E. Mr. Denis Evgenyevich Alipov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India on June 9, 2022 following a hybrid format. The participants who were physically present for the discussions included Amb D. P. Srivastava, Amb. Ashok Sajjanhar, Lt. Gen Ravi Sawhney Amb Anil Trigunayat, Prof Sujit Dutta, Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Air marshal Rajesh Kumar, Commodore Gopal Suri and Dr. Nanadan Unnikrishnan. General N. C.

June 13, 2022 Event Report

Visit of Second Batch Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme of ICCR to Vivekananda International Foundation

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) organized the visit of the second batch of Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme from 20th May to 29th May 2022 with delegates from Peru, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ghana, and Brunei. The delegates visited the Vivekananda International Foundation on May 23rd 2022 for a roundtable discussion/lecture on different aspects and dimensions of Indian democracy.

June 13, 2022 Event Report

Evolving security dynamic in West Asia and India’s challenges

Huma Siddiqui

As the controversy over the disrespect to Islam and the Holy Prophet by some errant individuals of the Indian ruling party raged across West Asia , I was happy to see the book edited by veteran diplomat and West Asia expert Ambassador Anil Trigunayat underscoring the critical importance of the WANA region for India and the world . Amb Trigunayat has spent nearly two thirds of his diplomatic career dealing with the Middle East and Africa and is currently leading the West Asia Experts Group at the Vivekananda International Foundation.

June 11, 2022 Books/Book Review

Interaction with Ambassador of Algeria to India

The Vivekananda International Foundation organised a discussion on "Algeria’s Foreign Policy in West Asian and North African region and India-Algeria relations" on 7 June 2022. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF delivered his opening remarks and briefed about India’s engagement with Algeria. The key speaker in the discussion was Amb. Abderrehmane Benguerrah, Ambassador of Algeria to India. The members attending and contributing were Amb. Anil Trigunayat (Coordinator); Prof. SujitDutta and Brig. Vinod Anand.

June 10, 2022 Event Report

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: April 2022

Naval Jagota

In the month of April 2022 Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized six expert group interactions with most of them being hybrid. All the interactions covered the relevant and engaging topics in the world and the region i.e. Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Pakistan’s political scene, with their ramifications to the various groupings, regions and to India specifically. This edition contains views on issues affecting USA, Europe, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Asia and their impact on India.

June 03, 2022 VIF Report