… the recent decisions of abrogation of Article 370 along with Article 35A, and bifurcation of the State … are indeed historic and will help the State and its people, chart out for itself/themselves a new future of peace, progress and integration with the rest of the country, breaking away from the shackles of terrorism … The next six months are going to be crucial ….
Counter-terrorism practices cannot be effective in the absence of firm and clear anti-terrorism law. In the last several decades, India has developed wide-ranging counter-terrorism practices and mechanism. Yet, it has neither a comprehensive anti-terrorism law nor a definition of terrorism. Plethora of separate legislations are being used in counter-terrorism practices. The concept of federal crime is also missing. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) set-up in 2008 to investigate into terrorism cases.
… 5G and Huawei is not a technical issue, it is a complex strategic issue. Huawei is already inside India’s backbone network. Its network equipment are part of India’s armed forces’ classified networks. But by banning Huawei India’s security concerns are not eliminated. India should look at what the other countries specially the Europeans are doing …
VIF organized a one day capsule for 14 India’s Defence Attaches designates who have been assigned to various Indian Embassies abroad. It was also the first time that spouses of the Defence Attaches (DAs) also attended the capsule. This was much appreciated by the VIF faculty and the visiting speakers as the spouses of attaches would also represent India in many ways especially so in the cultural arena besides supporting their husbands in performance of their onerous duties.
On 13 June 2019, Ambassador PS Raghavan, Chairman, National Security Advisor Board (NSAB) delivered a monthly Vimarsha lecture on ‘New templates for India’s National Security Management’ at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF). Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, in his welcome address highlighted the relevance of security for the effective conceptualisation of the ‘New India’ campaign. National Security is a challenging task to conceptualise, but a vital one for the national security management of a country.
The VIF, the Policy Perspectives Foundation (PPF) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organised the workshop when a number of leading experts from across the country came together to deliberate on topics such as earthquake risk reduction, safety of the built environment, earthquake response, earthquake mitigation, and public-private partnership in promoting earthquake preparedness. Minister of State for Urban Development Shri Hardeep Puri delivered a Special Address at the workshop.
… continuing Pakistani support to the militants groups, terrorism in the Kashmir Valley is unlikely vanish anytime soon … however the support system to anti-India activities in the Valley is being continuously degraded … welfare and developmental policies of the Government of India are not enough to bring the youth of Kashmir back into the mainstream... There is need for every sector and institution - be it government, civil bodies, religious institutions and the local political leaders - to act in unison.
Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM (Bar), VSM (Bar), former General Officer Commanding of Srinagar based 15 Corps and former Military Secretary was invited to disseminate his knowledge on Jammu and Kashmir in the March edition of the Vimarsha lecture series held at the VIF. A highly decorated and experienced officer of the Indian Army, Lt Gen Hasnain enjoys great popularity in the Indian media for his knowledge of the mind and strategy of terrorist groups.
India has to be militarily powerful to be a meaningful player in international politics. As the world’s fifth largest economy, it must be a secure nation to deter her enemies. India’s Poet Laureate Dr. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, in his poem quoted above, has correctly observed that only the powerful possess the ability to pardon someone and that no one cares for the weak or toothless.
... ensuring peace, safety and security of its people and properties and upholding the rule of law is one of the most important responsibilities of the state ... this makes internal security a complex phenomenon in India’s comprehensive national security ... analyses of the recent trend in budgetary allocations and its utility in the evolving internal security threat matrix of the 21st century is necessary ...