On 3rd September 2013, VIF welcomed Amb Glenn White, the Australian Ambassador to Nepal for a brief interaction on the latest political developments in Nepal. Having spent the last four months in Nepal, Amb White gave a succinct assessment of the ground situation in Nepal. Discussions also took place on how India and Australia can contribute to strengthening democracy and democratic values in the Himalayan state. Both sides emphasised the need for peace, stability and progress in Nepal, which was important for the entire region.

Reports indicate that with the change of government in Pakistan and the exchange of visits by special envoys, the Government of India is prepared to resume the composite/comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, interrupted since January this year as a sequel to the beheading of Indian soldiers by the Pakistani army on the LOC in J&K. The possibility that discussions on Sir Creek and Tulbul Navigation may take place even before the proposed meeting of the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers in September in New York on the margins of the UNGA meeting has been aired in the media.

Part- I: Fall of Gilgit India has fought many conventional wars since independence; it has also been involved in fighting insurgency and proxy wars during this period. Many heroes that these wars produced have become household names. However, these wars also produced heroes who remain unsung; whose stories of bravery and gallantry are not so well known. One such story is recounted here. Click here to read full Paper

On 28 April 2013, VIF welcomed Gen. (retd) Shankar Roychowdhury PVSM, AVSM former Chief of the Indian Army, Amb. Satish Chandra, former Deputy National Security Advisor in the Chair, Shri DC Nath, President Patriots Forum and Shri Vikramjeet Banerjee, advocate Supreme Court of India, as key speakers for a highly engaging discussion on ‘Political Assertion of Radical Forces in Bangladesh: Impact and Implications for India’. Shri Ajit Doval KC, Director VIF, welcomed the distinguished audience and speakers, and pitched critical questions which needed to be addressed.