Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

North Korea’s ICBM Launch Worrying – Part II

Response from Japan As an immediate neighbour, Japan was alarmed by North Korea’s missile launch. It was concerned as the missile landed about 125 miles from Japan’s coastline. In the preceding months, North Korea’s ballistic missile launches ....

December 05, 2022 VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy, Article, Komeito, Yoon Suk-yeol, collective self-defence, Mayu, Haguro, NDPG, missile defence system, JDP

Longewala December 1971: If it Was Fought as a Unified Theatre Command Battle

Brig (Dr) Ashok Pathak (Retd.) Article

Longewala- an Opportunity Lost On 4 December 1971 when Indian forces were advancing into erstwhile East Pakistan, the Pakistanis decided to advance into Rajasthan along Axis Ramgarh – Jaisalmerand beyond. It was past midnight when sixty odd sold....

December 02, 2022 VIF Alerts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Neighbourhood Studies, Defence, Bangladesh, Article, Longewala, War for Liberation of Bangladesh, Theatre command

North Korea’s ICBM Launch Worrying – Part I

Prof Rajaram Panda Article

On 18 November 2022, North Korea successfully test-fired a Hwasong-17 (or Hwasongpho-17) intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM), adding further to the already existing tensions and security threats in the Korean Peninsula. This launch was th....

December 01, 2022 VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy, Article, ICBM, UNSC, Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo Jong, Mike Pompeo, Hwasong-17, Tae Yong-ho, Join statement, nuclear test preparations, inter-Korean summit

India and the South Caucasus

Amb Achal Malhotra Article

It is desirable to draw a pen -picture of South Caucasus before discussing India’s policy towards the region and its relations with the individual countries in the region. The collapse of the USSR in 1991 resulted in the emergence of 15 independ....

November 30, 2022 VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy, Article, India, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia

Pakistan: Appointment of New Army Chief

Rana Banerji Article

After much delay and deliberate attempts by former Prime Minister Imran Khan to make the issue controversial, Lt. Gen Syed Asim Munir Shah, Frontier Force Regiment, was appointed Pakistan’s new Army Chief on Nov 24. A lingering `technical issue’ ....

November 29, 2022 VIF Alerts, Neighbourhood Studies, Pakistan, Article, India, Taliban, Imran Khan, PTI, Gen Bajwa, TTP, Shahbaz Sharif, Asim Munir Shah

Welfare Schemes for Girl Child: Need for Convergence between the Centre and the States

Dr Govinda Bhattacharjee Article

Abstract: The ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ Scheme was launched for the protection and education of girl children. Its outcome remains sub-optimal with disproportionate amounts being spent on media advocacy rather than on health and educational requi....

November 29, 2022 VIF Alerts, Governance and Political Studies, Article, Mission Shakti, Media, Gender gap, CSR, BBBP, CAG, girl child, sex ratio at birth (SRB), State Schemes

Ukraine War: When will it End?

Amb K P Fabian Article

As of now, unfortunately, we cannot see any sign of an early end to the unfolding tragedy that started on 24th February 2022 when the Russian invasion began. By now according to estimates made by the Pentagon each side might have sustained about 100....

November 23, 2022 VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy, Russia, Article, India, Nuclear, Oil, G-20, Washington, Crimea bridge, Nord Stream, Zaporizhzhia

Supreme Court’s Observations on Forced Conversions

Rajesh Singh Article

The issue of forced conversions from one religious denomination to another has been brought into fresh focus when the Supreme Court recently observed that such conversions were “dangerous” and that they were “seriously against the interest of t....

November 22, 2022 VIF Alerts, Governance and Political Studies, Article, Dalai Lama, Conversions, Kerala High Court, Niyogi Committee, proselytisation

India-UAE Set to boost ties and Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Col Rajeev Agarwal Article

UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to visit India on 21st November 2022 on a bilateral visit. In an earlier bilateral engagement this year, he and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar co-chaired the 14th In....

November 19, 2022 VIF Alerts, International Relations and Diplomacy, Article, India, Investments, energy, G20, Remittances, UAE, CEPA, COP28