Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Neighbourhood Studies

Afghanistan

Russia’s New Silk Road Strategy: Connecting to Pakistan

Even though much awaited President Putin’s visit to Pakistan in the first week of October has been shelved, causing disappointment among the Pakistani establishment, the doors for finding a new understanding between the two on Afghanistan and regio

October 08, 2012 International Relations and Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Studies, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan

When Bastions Become Insecure, Orderly Retreat Becomes Unavoidable

Sushant Sareen

The portents of the Taliban strike against Camp Bastion in Helmand earlier this month are rather depressing and disheartening. Despite the brave face being put on by the NATO commanders, the devastating attack raises serious questions about the viabi

September 28, 2012 Terrorism, National Security and Strategic Studies, Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan

Afghanistan and America’s New Silk Road Strategy

Brig Vinod Anand, Senior Fellow, VIF

The security situation in Afghanistan continues to follow a declining curve. Not only the NATO supply routes through Pakistan have been attacked by the Taliban the logistics coming through Uzbekistan via the Northern Distribution Network have also co

August 13, 2012 Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan

SCO Summit and Afghanistan: Looking for a Regional Solution

Brig Vinod Anand, Senior Fellow, VIF

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s twelfth Summit held at Beijing in first week of June this year deliberated upon Afghanistan at length. Even though Afghanistan has not been either a member or observer of this group President Karzai has been

June 18, 2012 International Relations and Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Studies, Central Asia, Afghanistan

An Insider’s Perspective

Amb Kanwal Sibal

Riaz Mohammed Khan’s book “Afghanistan and Pakistan” adds to the already numerous books available on the shelves on the linked Afghanistan-Pakistan situation. The Taliban-takeover of Afghanistan, the 9/11 terror attack that provoked US military

March 19, 2012 Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan, Pakistan

Trilateral Summit and The Afghan Endgame

Sushant Sareen

Notwithstanding all the tall talk of closer cooperation between them, the third Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan which was held in Islamabad in the third week of February was for all intents and purposes more an exercise in diploma

March 01, 2012 Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan, Pakistan

Peace Efforts Low on Credibility

Amb Kanwal Sibal

The announcement that the Taliban will be opening an office in Qatar should be a cause for some reflection. The US and its allies are politically exhausted and economically drained by the war in Afghanistan. They no longer seek a clear victory; they

January 11, 2012 Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan

Pursue an Activist Policy, Reaching out to All Players

Amb Satish Chandra, Vice Chairman, VIF

The US intent to draw down its forces from Afghanistan beginning July 2011 has been articulated on several occasions since President Barack Obama’s address at West Point on 1 December 2009. In this address he had justified the 30,000 US troop surge

January 02, 2012 International Relations and Diplomacy, Afghanistan

The Darkness in Afghanistan

Amb Kanwal Sibal

The West is describing the current situation in Afghanistan as one of transition. This assumes that the situation is moving from one state of things to another in a planned and controlled manner. It is clear that US and NATO want to reduce their mili

November 16, 2011 International Relations and Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan

Pak The Hurdle on Afghan Issue

Amb Kanwal Sibal

India, on Pakistan’s insistence, was excluded from the International Conference on Afghanistan in Istanbul in January 2010. For the “Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan”, the second such conference

November 10, 2011 International Relations and Diplomacy, Neighbourhood Studies, Afghanistan, Pakistan