Articles

Afghan Lives Matter: Part 1- Role of Pakistan and her Emerging Dilemma

(This article is Part 1 of two parts’ series; second part will be on the Taliban role and what to expect from them and what does one make of the chorus of voices one sees in favour of Taliban and why any such outreach will take us nowhere.) ....

July 30, 2021 Neighbourhood Studies , Afghanistan , Article , Pakistan , Afghanistan , Taliban , Imran Khan , Deep State , President Ghani , Spin Boldak , Abdul Ghani Baradar , Doha deal

Uzbek President’s Call for Connectivity, Cooperation, Dialogue and Trust in Central Asia-South Asia Region: Pakistan’s Obduracy is the Obstacle

Amb Skand Ranjan Tayal Article

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan hosted an important conference ‘Regional Connectivity Between Central Asia and South Asia – Challenges and Opportunities’ in Tashkent on 15-16 July 2021. The conference was proposed by the Uzbek Presi....

July 20, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Article , Pakistan , Central Asia , South Asia , Taliban , Connectivity , S Jaishankar , President Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Why are Central Asian Republics wooing Pakistan?

Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Research Associate , VIF Article

The emerging regional security threats post-US withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to an active engagement between Pakistan and Central Asian republics (CARs). The US and NATO forces were scheduled to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 11 September 202....

July 15, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Pakistan , Article , Pakistan , China , Russia , Kyrgyzstan , INSTC , Chabahar Port , Iran , Kazakhstan , US Withdrawal , CPEC , Taliban , Turkey , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , CSTO , Afghanistan. Uzbekistan , Trans-Afghan Railway , Transit Trade Agreement

Pakistan remains under the scrutiny of FATF

Aakriti Vinayak, Research Associate, VIF Commentary

Amidst the changing regional and geopolitical dynamics, Pakistan remains mired in complexities and uncertainties. It continues to remain under the scrutiny of the terror-financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and is under immense press....

July 07, 2021 Neighbourhood Studies , Pakistan , Commentary , Pakistan , FATF , Terrorism , Terror Financing , Grey List

Appalling state of Press Freedom in Pakistan

Aakriti Vinayak, Research Associate, VIF Article

A strained relationship exists between the media and state in Pakistan. Pakistan has gradually and systematically strengthened a tyrannical grip over freedom of expression¹. More sophisticated and complex methods of silencing dissenting v....

July 03, 2021 Neighbourhood Studies , Pakistan , Article , Pakistan , Imran Khan , military , Neighbourhood studies , Press Freedom , Censorship , Human Rights

Political Initiatives and Peace Building in J & K: The external and Internal Dimensions

Lt General S A Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM (Bar), VSM (Bar), Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

India’s political community and leadership has always been bold in experimentation, especially when it comes to J&K. Instances come to mind of past events such as the decision to conduct elections in 1996 when the externally sponsored campaign of t....

June 28, 2021 Jammu & Kashmir , National Security and Strategic Studies , Article , Pakistan , J&K , Article 370 , APHC , All party Meet , DDC elections , Hearts and Minds

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: May 2021

Naval Jagota , Senior Fellow, VIF

In May 2021 six experts group discussions were organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation through webinar on events and topics affecting India’s interests worldwide. The diversity of the expertise of each of the members of the expert gro....

June 18, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Pakistan , US , China , Indo-Pacific , Europe , West Asia

Comments on the IISS paper of May 2021 titled: “Nuclear Deterrence and Stability in South Asia: Perceptions and Realities”¹

Amb Satish Chandra, Vice Chairman, VIF Article

The recent IISS paper titled “Nuclear Deterrence and Stability in South Asia: Perceptions and Realities” is something of a letdown. Though it contains some nuggets of value such as the assessment that, given the China factor, the conventional arm....

June 02, 2021 International Relations and Diplomacy , Neighbourhood Studies , China , Pakistan , Article , India , Pakistan , China , UK , nuclear deterrence

West Asia Round Up-April 2021

Abstract:

Iran and US continued to indirectly discuss full compliance and Washington’s lifting of sanctions and return to JCPOA (Iran Nuclear deal) at Vienna with the assistance and mediation of E3 (France, Germany, UK) + China and ....

May 19, 2021 Pakistan , Iran , Saudi Arabia , Yemen , Turkey , Armenian Genocide , Jordan , West Asia Round Up , Palestine-US , Israel-US