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Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi’s Visit to China
August 25, 2020 Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

The recently concluded 2nd Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue has drawn considerable media attention. The Joint Press Statement issued has come a long way from the statement issued in November 2018, when Prime Minister Im....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Commentary , Pakistan , China , CPEC , J & K , Taliban , Imran Khan , Qureshi , Uighur
India’s Goods & Services Tax and the Neighbourhood
August 24, 2020 Pratim Ranjan Bose Commentary

In July 2017, when the Narendra Modi government introduced goods and services tax (GST), there was strong apprehension among some smaller neighbours that it would act as a barrier to shore up their exports to India. The apprehensions were baseless as....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Commentary , GST , Myanmar , SAARC , FTA , LDCs , trade framework
Indian Navy Takes Lead to Build Indigenisation-Innovation Architecture
August 20, 2020 Dr Vijay Sakhuja Commentary

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy put out plans for the twinning of Indigenisation-Innovation, and announced setting up of the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO).1 This initiative is in pursuance of the draft Defence....

Keywords : National Security and Strategic Studies , Defence , Commentary , Atmanirbhar Bharat; Indian Navy; Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO); Directorate of Indigenisation;Draft Defence Acquisition Policy 2020 (DAP 20);Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA);Maker Village , Kochi; Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM);Raksha Shakti University (RSU);Maritime Innovation Forum (MIF); Security and Scientific Technical Research Agency(SASTRA);Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS);Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs
Turkey’s stand-off with Greece and Cyprus in the Mediterranean
August 18, 2020 Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

The EU Council issued a statement on 14th August reaffirming its ‘full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus’.1 The statement reiterated that ‘sovereign rights of EU member states must be respected’.2 It stressed that ‘Imm....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , Turkey , Kemal Ataturk , EU , Erdogan , Greece , France , Cyprus , Mediteranian , Ottoman Empire
The Fallacy of One China Policy
August 18, 2020 Abanti Bhattacharya Commentary

“We support the One China policy. However, we expect you to also have a One India policy.” These were the words of the late External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj spoken to the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi in June 2014. With rising Chines....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Commentary , Tibet , Xinjiang , One China , One India , Taiwan Relations Act , Uighur unrest
White Mutiny or a Grey Revolution in Belarus -Only time will Tell
August 17, 2020 Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

Who wants to give up power anyway? History of the long serving leaders abdicating before the time is ripe has rare entries even if the writing on the wall was rather clear. In last decade it has happened to several North African leaders as a consequ....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Europe , Russia , Commentary , Russia , Eurasia , Election Commission , EU , COVID-19 , Belarus , Lukashenko
US Election 2020: Kamala Harris is the Democratic Party's Vice-presidential candidate
August 17, 2020 Dr Himani Pant Commentary

Joe Biden has chosen his former critic and rival for Democratic presidential nomination, Kamala Devi Harris, as his running mate for the upcoming Presidential election in November. In his tweet announcing the decision, Biden called Harris “a fearle....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , US , Commentary , International Relations , Joe Biden , US Presidential Election 2020 , Kamala Harris , Vice Presidential Candidate , Democrats , Republicans , US Domestic Politics
India and Bangladesh: The Rock Solid Neighbours
August 17, 2020 Dr Sreeradha Datta Commentary

The latest iteration by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen that ‘Bangladesh's relations with India is rock-solid and historic while Bangladesh has economic ties with China. We must not compare,’ and ‘Our victory means India's victory�....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Bangladesh , Commentary , India , Asia , Bangladesh , bilateral
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya: How the Hindus of Nepal Celebrated the Occasion?
August 14, 2020 Prof Hari Bansh Jha Commentary

On August 5, 2020, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple will be 235 feet wide, 300 feet long and 161 feet high with five domes. It w....

Keywords : Governance and Political Studies , Historical and Civilisational Studies , Commentary , Janakpur , Lord Ram , Ram Rajya , Hindus of Nepal , Sita Ram , Bhoomi Pujan , Silver bricks from Nepal
Swami Vivekananda’s Influence on Indian Freedom Fighters
August 14, 2020 Dr Arpita Mitra Commentary

Swami Vivekananda’s true place in Indian history, his contribution in the making of modern India has not been duly assessed by Indian historians. It is impossible to fully assess the extent of his impact on the course of national or even world even....

Keywords : Historical and Civilisational Studies , Commentary , Swami Vivekananda , Independence Day , freedom struggle , Indian National Movement , freedom fighters , Indian nationalists , Mahatma Gandhi , revolutionaries , Hemchandra Ghosh , Aurobindo Ghose , Sri Auribindo
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