Articles

Neighbourhood News Digest - 13 June 2025

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Central Bank Collects 1.5 Billion Afghanis in Worn-Out Notes- Tolo News

Despite the growing challenge that worn-out banknotes pose to daily financial transactions, the Central Bank of Afghanistan has an....

June 13, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , ASEAN , Maldives , Iran , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Bhutan , Human Rights , Drugs , IMF. , Maldives Inland Revenue Authority , MIRA , GDP Forecast , Good Governance Committee , GGC

Eurasian Responses to the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack and Operation Sindoor: An Assessment

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

The terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians, including one Nepalese national, sent shockwaves through South Asia and beyond. The terror attack bore the hallmarks of cross-bo....

June 13, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Central Asian Republics , Lashkar-e-Taiba , India-Pakistan relations , Cross-border terrorism , Operation Sindoor , Pahalgam Terrorist Attack , Zero Tolerance Policy , Counter-terrorism cooperation , Strategic partners , De-escalation , Geopolitical cooperation

SMART-FTA: A New Trade Architecture for India’s Future

Dr Amiya Chandra Article

India’s global trade strategy is at a crossroads. This article presents a fresh, future-ready framework — SMART- FTA (Free Trade Area) — that reimagines free trade not as a diplomatic checkbox, but as a dynamic, data-governed system. ....

June 13, 2025 Economic Studies , Article , SMART-FTA , Future of Indian Trade , India’s Free Trade Agreements , Trade deficit management , Non-Tariff Barriers , Sectoral FTAs , Digital trade enforcement

Neighbourhood News Digest - 12 June 2025

Afghanistan

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most mine-contaminated countries, Says HALO Trust-The Khaama Press

Afghanistan remains heavily contaminated with landmines, putting 6.4 million people at risk, mostly childr....

June 12, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , Pakistan , Maldives , Iran , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Bhutan , World Bank , Remittances , UN , UAE , ILO , Budget , Drugs , Darakht-e-Danesh , SIV Holders , GDP Forecast , International Labour Organization , Sagaing Region

Evolution of Environmental Agendas

Purnima M Gupta Commentary

On 5th June, the world celebrated the Environment Day. The actions by nations and the global community towards the conservation of nature show the collective concern for the planet. However, the steps taken in this direction are far from adequate. Th....

June 12, 2025 National Security and Strategic Studies , Climate Change , Commentary , Climate Change , Net zero , LIFE , UNEP , COP 29 , Environmental Agendas , Environment Day , COP 30

Navigating India-EU Cooperation: Security Implications of Energy Dependencies

The evolving dynamics of global energy security underscore the criticality of strategic cooperation between India and the European Union (EU). India, the largest democracy, and the EU, the largest cluster of democracies, are two major global actors w....

June 11, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , India , European Union , Geopolitics , India-EU Cooperation , Russia-Ukraine War , Gaza Conflict , Energy Dependencies , Security Implications

Neighbourhood News Digest - 11 June 2025

Afghanistan

India, Central Asia Reaffirm Support for Peace in Afghanistan- Tolo News

India and five Central Asian countries in a joint statement, emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan are vital and essential. The ....

June 11, 2025 VIF Neighbourhood News Digest , India , Pakistan , Maldives , Central Asia , Myanmar , Afghanistan , Defence budget , Bhutan , Taxation , Budget , Wagah Border , Excise Tax Bill 2025 , Third United Nations Oceans Conference , Myanmar-Nepal Ties

Welcome Remarks by the Director on the VIF Closed-Door Discussion on the Geostrategic Aftermath of Op Sindoor 09 June 2025

Dear friends, It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to today’s conference on geostrategic aftermath of OP Sindoor. The discussion is structured around three key dimensions, the military aspects, diplomatic engagement and strategic communi....

June 11, 2025 Welcome remarks , Aatmanirbhar Bahrat , Arvind Gupta , OP Sindoor

Basics of Indian Philosophy

Professor Dr. (Ms.) Shashiprabha Kumar, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

“This introductory book on Indian philosophy is thoughtfully crafted for beginners and inquisitive readers interested in exploring the core concepts and varied traditions of this rich intellectual heritage. It is not aimed at advanced scholars or r....

June 11, 2025 Historical and Civilisational Studies , Book Published , Vedas , Environmental Awareness , Indian philosophy , Vedic Feminism

New Delhi’s Diplomatic Campaign on Operation Sindoor: A Korean Perspective

Wongi Choe Commentary

Recently a group of politicians from New Delhi visited Seoul as a part of the Indian government’s global outreach with regard to its military as well as diplomatic responses to the brutal terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, a popular resort a....

June 11, 2025 International Relations and Diplomacy , Commentary , Pakistan , South Korea , China , Pahalgam , OP Sindoor , Indian Parliamentary delegation