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2019: A Year of Missed Opportunities for Afghanistan
January 13 , 2020 Dr Yatharth Kachiar, Research Associate, VIF
Article Views: 1250
The year 2019 ended for Afghanistan on a more chaotic and disappointing note because of two major reasons: a) failure in achieving any major breakthrough in the ongoing peace process with the Taliban, specifically in relation to the ceasefire and intra-Afghan dialogue; b) lack of success in conducting a credible and undisputed Presidential election.
Tags : Afghanistan , Ceasefire , Intra-Afghan dialogue , Peace talks , Presidential election , US-Iran escalation , Neighbourhood Studies
US and Iran in an Uneasy Calm
January 10 , 2020 Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF
Commentary Views: 1214
President Trump has the uncanny habit of surprising the world by his unique and often contentious tweets on foreign policy issues. But this time it pleased many. “All is Well” tweeted President Trump after 20 odd Iranian missiles apparently targeted the major US bases in Al Asad and Erbil on Wednesday to take revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, whose popularity and absolute importance was witnessed in his death. Iranian leader called these a “Slap on their (US) face”.
Tags : Arab Spring , Javad Jarief , JCPOA , missiles attack , Soleimani , Trump , unconditional talks , West Asia , US , International Relations and Diplomacy
व्यावहारिक देशभक्ति: स्वामी विवेकानंद की 157वीं जयंती पर उनकी स्मृति
January 10 , 2020 Dr. Arpita Mitra, Research Fellow, VIF
Article Views: 1739
दिसंबर 1892 में स्वामी विवेकानंद तत्कालीन त्रावणकोर रियासत की राजधानी त्रिवेंद्रम की यात्रा कर रहे थे। यह यात्रा कन्याकुमारी की उनकी उस यात्रा से ठीक पहले हुई थी, जिसमें 1892 के क्रिसमस के दौरान “अंतिम भारतीय चट्टान”1 पर बैठकर वह ध्यानमग्न हुए और उन्हें भविष्य में वैभव की ओर जाता भारत दिखा। उन्होंने देश की दशा सुधारने के लिए आवश्यक कार्यों का रास्ता भी देख लिया। त्रिवेंद्रम में वह महाराजा त्रावणकोर के भतीजे और उनके उत्तराधिकारी राजकुमार के शिक्षक प्रो. सुंदररामा अय्यर के अतिथि थे। स्वामीजी नौ दिन तक प्रो.
Tags : birth anniversary; 12 January , call to the youth , Hindi , National Youth Day , patriotism , service to the nation , serving the poor , स्वामी विवेकानंद की 157वीं जयंती , Historical and Civilisational Studies
Practical Patriotism: Remembering Swami Vivekananda on his 157th birth anniversary
January 10 , 2020 Dr. Arpita Mitra, Research Fellow, VIF
Commentary Views: 1630
In December 1892, Swami Vivekananda was visiting Trivandrum, the capital of the then Princely State of Travancore. This was right before his visit to Kanyakumari, where, during the Christmas of 1892, sitting on “the last bit of Indian rock” 1, he meditated and meditated and saw clearly the future India resplendent in all her glory, as also he saw the immediate course of action to be taken to uplift the condition of the country. In Trivandrum, he was the guest of Prof. Sundararama Iyer, the tutor to the First Prince, the nephew of the Maharaja of Travancore.
Tags : birth anniversary; 12 January , call to the youth , National Youth Day , patriotism , service to the nation , serving the poor , Swami Vivekananda , Historical and Civilisational Studies
Right to Information Act: Its use and misuse
January 10 , 2020 Rajesh Singh
Article Views: 1340
Chief Justice of India SA Bobde cautioned last month against the abuse of the Right to Information Act, setting off a chain of indignant reactions from a variety of activists. “There is paralysis and fear about this Act”, he stated, adding that “people are not taking decisions” because they apprehend the slash of the RTI sword on their necks. That the Chief Justice had only made an oral observation does not take away from the significance of the remark, more so when he also said that guidelines ought to be laid down on the use of this enabling legislation.
Tags : Article 19 , CIC , CJI , misuse of RTI , RTI , Governance and Political Studies
Assassination of General Soleimani and geo-political tensions in the Gulf
January 9 , 2020 Amb D P Srivastava, Distinguished Fellow, VIF
Article Views: 1314
Assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Al Quds Forces in an American strike at Baghdad airport in the early hours of 3rd January sent shock waves in the region. Iran declared 3 days mourning and flags are being flown at half-mast. He was a symbol of Iranian resistance in Iran-Iraq war. His body was taken to Ahwaz, the border town occupied by Iraqi forces during Iran-Iraq war. It was taken thereafter to Mashad, Tehran and Qom and buried in his native place in Kerman. The last journey describes his association with defense of the revolution and the country.
Tags : IRGC , Kitaib-Hizbullah , Mashad , oil price , Quds Force , Soleimani , West Asia , US , International Relations and Diplomacy
All Quiet in Kashmir?
January 9 , 2020 Bashir Assad
Commentary Views: 1128
Kashmir is relatively calm since the last couple of months. No street protests, no encounters between the militants and the security forces. Last encounter was reported on November 26 between the militants and the forces in Pulwama district of South Kashmir in which two militants were killed. Though ceasefire violation continue unabated on the Line of Control (LoC), the hinterland, however, is calm if not peaceful.
Tags : National Security and Strategic Studies , Article 370 , Communications , FATF , infiltration , Intelligence , ISI , Pakistan , Jammu & Kashmir
VIF News Digest
Defense, National Security and Terrorism, VIF Alerts
February 11, 2020
VIF News Digest: National Security - Defence Studies & Terrorism, 16 January - 31 January 2020

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Neighbourhood News
February 24, 2020
VIF Neighborhood News Digest: February 24, 2020

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The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) is a New Delhi-based think tank set up with the collaborative efforts of India's leading security experts, diplomats, industrialists and philanthropists under the aegis of the Vivekananda Kendra. The VIF’s objective is to become a centre of excellence to kick start innovative ideas and thoughts that can lead to a stronger, secure and prosperous India playing its destined role in global affairs.

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