Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Question For Experts

Samarjit Chowdhury asked : India is working intensively to restructure Afganistan. Is it not the right time for India to build army bases in Afganistan for strong foothold in the central Asia? This can help India in different ways such as Challenging Chinese OBOR concept, Keeping Pakistan engage at its western border to reduce army deployment and capturing future market of central asia by roadways through Afganistan and helping security to war torn Afganistan . As Russian and Chinese interest in Afganistan is increasing day by day, is it not the right time for India to get the control before US leaves Afganistan ?

Replied by VIF : Yes India and Afghanistan are working for economic development and reconstruction in Afghanistan as well extending support to the Afghan National Defence and Security forces . They are engaged in several bilateral initiatives under the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council. The Joint Working Group on Development Cooperation one of the four Joint Working Groups under this strategic cooperation forum held its the last meeting recently held in Kabul on August 9, 2018. The bilateral projects include capacity building, infrastructure, education, healthcare, good-governance, human resource development. India is engaged in several developmental proj..

Keshav Agrawal asked : Why is India not trying to benefit from US-China trade conflict. US businesses are looking to change their supply chain from China to elsewhere. India needs to show that bureaucratic hurdles are no more there. Better infrastructure and efficient systems can attract huge investments in India and the same time weaken China.

Replied by VIF :The Government of India has put in place a investor-friendly policy given its importance for economic growth and development. It has opened up most sectors for 100% FDI except for a limited list. At present India has investments worth $15059 mn having facilitated 518 investment proposals and there are $ 923180 mn investments in the pipeline. As is widely known PM Modi has been urging foreign investments into India, especially during his overseas travel and has accordingly initiated an enabling environment for the same. Thus greater attention has been accorded to establishing transparent policies, rule of law and providing a level playing field for all..

Anil Ram asked : What is Samvad initiative? What is its significance?

Replied by VIF : Samvad is derived from the Sanskrit word "Samvadam" meaning dialogue. It is a joint effort of two of the oldest, living, tolerant, non-conflicting civilisations and philosophies - Hinduism and Buddhism - conceived as an attempt, through a process of dialogue, to shift the paradigm of global discourse on two critical issues : those of the Conflicts, from Conflict Resolution to Conflict Avoidance; and, that of the Environment, from Environmental Regulations to Environmental Consciousness. Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Modi, this is a landmark initiative of the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, and the Japan Foundation, Tokyo, in ..

Xavier Rozario asked : Why are we Indians are becoming more and more intolerant towards each other? There is so much hatred on religious, caste, social and such lines. Mob lynching is increasing, moral policing is increasing, rapes are increasing, communal hatred is increasing. Even small kids as young as 5-6 years now know how to hate their peers from other religions or communities! It pains me a lot to see these degenration !

Replied by VIF : Indians are essentially tolerant people and are used to living in coexistence. The Indian pluralistic society has in general provided a base for all to understand and appreciate our diversities as well as our individual distinctiveness. But there are certain sections that has at times indulged in creating divisions within people and society at large. The problem mentioned indeed, is actually a global phenomenon. Societies at large are becoming polarized and identity politics are assuming larger spaces than ever before. Several incidents of mindless attacks including on hapless innocent citizens including children does reveal a picture of growing hatred..

Suresh Baldaniya asked :My question is on hybrid warfare. Does China posses the capability and will power to pose hybrid threat against India? If yes, then what kind of operational preparedness is needed to deal with that threat? If the answer is no, then do we still expect threats in terms of information and psychological warfare from China in the near future ?

Replied by VIF :

Warfare is, has it has ever been, a professional exercise of mind and spirit involving many strategic, operational and tactical innovations. It requires the political and military leadership to adopt appropriate mixes of many methods of warfare - regular conventional, irregular guerrilla, sub-conventional insurgent, overt and covert special operations, instigation of civil rebellion and psychological warfare – and as dictated by constantly changing situations, blend the mix to right proportions. Many times, these modes of warfare are bolstered by unarmed actions such as economic, institutional, diplomatic and political and sabotage and subversion. ..

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