On October 3, 2013, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a Round Table Discussion with the Australian Associate Secretary and Chief Operating Officer in the Ministry of Defence Mr Brendan Sargeant. In his welcoming remarks, Mr Prabhat P Shukla, Joint Director, VIF, pointed out that the two countries were among each other’s top 10 trading partners and the Indian Ocean was drawing the two nations closer. Besides, the burgeoning Indian diaspora and the common interest in cricket were also key factors in fostering people to people relations between the two countries, he said.

On 11th September 2013, VIF welcomed the Syrian Ambassador to India, H.E. Dr. Riyad Kamel Abbas for an interaction session. The interaction focused on various issues of mutual concern, including the ground situation in Syria, the issue of growing Islamic radicalism, and cross-border terrorism. The candid talk was followed by a session of Q&A. Shri Ajit Doval, KC, Director VIF, thanked Ambassador Abbas for the informative talk. The Director and the Ambassador agreed to exchange ideas and research on radicalism and extremism.

On August 14, 2013, VIF welcomed the High Commissioner of Canada to India, H.E. Mr Stewart Beck. Mr Ajit Doval, KC, Director, VIF, commenced the interactive session by briefing Amb Beck about the objectives and achievements of the Foundation as also a brief backgrounder about the relationship between the two countries.

Fountainhead of Jihad is one among the more important books on the nature of Jihad and Islamic extremism in recent times. There have been several in this genre, as interest quickens around the world on this subject. In the South Asian context, it is also important in order to try and understand what might follow the withdrawal of foreign forces in Afghanistan. This book is about the Haqqani network, and the title of the book is based on the magazine of the network called Manba al-Jihad which means exactly what the title of the book says.