Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

The '2 plus 2' Indo-US Dialogue; a Fillip to Indo-US Security Cooperation

October 28, 2020 Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF Commentary

India and the US concluded the 3rd edition of the ‘2+2’ ministerial dialogue in New Delhi on 27 October 2020. Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar from the Indian side and Defence Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary o....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , US , Commentary , China , Indo-Pacific , QUAD , Make in India , defence cooperation , BECA , Indo-US dialogue , multipolar Asia

Pakistan’s Democratic Opening?

October 23, 2020 Dr Yatharth Kachiar Commentary

Pakistan’s opposition parties under the banner of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) have unleashed a direct attack on Imran Khan Government and its military backers. After two rallies in Gujranwala and Karachi by PDM, Pakistan’s hybrid regime is....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Pakistan , Commentary , Pakistan , democracy , Army , Nawaz Sharif , Imran Khan , Opposition , Karachi , Human Rights , PTI

India favours gradual evolution of the Quad

October 22, 2020 Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF Commentary

The 2nd ministerial meeting of the Quad group of countries hosted by Japan in Tokyo on 6th October 2020 was significant. The Foreign Ministers of India, Australia and the US Secretary of State flew specially to Tokyo for a face-to-face meeting, ignor....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , China , QUAD , Japan , NATO , 2+2 Dialogue , LAC

Need for a Vigorous Africa Strategy

October 20, 2020 Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

Africa enchants most people. But our relations and contacts with Africa have been umbilical to say the least. Africa is close to us and very important too is a given. Has it acquired salience remained debatable for quite some time despite the best i....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Africa , Commentary , India , China , East Africa , PM Modi , Covid 19 , Asia Africa Growth Corridor , AfCFTA , debt traps , IAFS

Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway Line: A New Milestone in Nepal-India Relations

October 07, 2020 Prof Hari Bansh Jha Commentary

People in Nepal and India were shocked when Nepal’s only Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway that connected Janakpur, the holy city of Nepal with Jaynagar, the border town in Bihar, India was closed almost a decade ago. But those people are in rejoicing mood....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Nepal , Commentary , Ayodhya , COVID-19 , Goddess Sita Janakpur , Jaynagar , Developmental Partnership , religious tourism

United Nations at 75

October 03, 2020 Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech to the 75th UNGA session mentioned that the form and structure of the UN reflect the world of 1945. These are inadequate to face the challenges of the 21st century. He also highlighted India’s contribution....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , India , Pakistan , China , Turkey , COVID-19 , Multilateralism , UNGA , France , reforms , UAE , UN Secretary General

Gandhi’s Ideas of Education and the New Education Policy

September 30, 2020 Rup Narayan Das Commentary

It is worth a while on the eve of Gandhi’s birth anniversary to recall his ideas of education and how they are reflected in India’s New Education Policy (NEP). In the times of artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning, seemingly perh....

Keywords : Governance and Political Studies , Commentary , ethics , New Education Policy , Gandhi , character building

The Palestinian Predicament

September 29, 2020 Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

The normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain earlier this month has changed the regional dynamic as more Arab countries may follow the lead. This has a direct impact on the Palestinian psyche and support system as ....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , Arab Spring , Gaza , Arab League , OIC , UAE , PLO , Abraham Accords , Hamas , Israel. Jerusalem

What does a Seat in the UN's Commission on Women mean for Afghan Women?

September 29, 2020 Dr Anwesha Ghosh Commentary

For the first time, Afghanistan has secured a seat in the UN Commission on Status of Women (CSW) for a four year term.¹ India was the other country to have secured a seat for the 2012-2025 term. The CSW is a pivotal international intergov....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Afghanistan , Commentary , US-Taliban peace talks , Adela Raz , Afghan women , CSW , Fawzia Koofi , Roya Rahmani