Programme
November 05, 2008 (Day one)

08:30 hrs : Registration

09:00-09:30 hrs : Inaugural Session

• Keynote Address by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Hamid Ansari
• Special Address by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee (as marked for delivery)

09:30-10:00 hrs : Tea

10:00-13:00 : First Session:The Changing Political Context in India’s Neighbourhood

Chair: N. S. Sisodia
(Paper presenters 15 minutes, Discussant 10 minutes)

• Haroun Mir: Conflict in Afghanistan in the Context of Regional countries
• Babar Sattar: The War on Terror:Challenge and Opportunity for Regional Cooperation
• Aditya Adhikari: Nepal’s Recent Transition : Implications
• Than Than Htay: Political Situation in Myanmar
• Alok Bansal: Discussant

13:00-14:00 hrs Lunch

Second Session: 14:00-17:00 hrs
Identifying the Challenges

Chair: IP Khosla
(Paper presenters 15 minutes, Discussant 10 minutes)

• Ataur Rahman: Common Challenges facing South Asia: Perspective from Bangladesh
• Waliullah Rahmani: The New Great Game: The Contest for Afghanistan
• Hari P Bhattarai: Nepal: Challenges Ahead
• Khin Nilar Soe: Discussant

November 06, 2008 (Day Two)

10:00-13:00 hrs : First Session
Meeting the Challenges

Chair: P R Chari
(Paper presenters 15 minutes, Discussant 10 minutes)

• Mafuz Anam: Changing Political Context in South Asia: Implications for Regional Cooperation and Security
• S D Muni: India and Regional Peace and Cooperation
• Susil Sirivardana: Pro-poor Strategy so far from Centre-stage?: Diagnosing Roadblocks and How to erode them
• Aly Shameem: Alternate Approaches to Security
• Vishal Chandra: Discussant

13:00-14:00 hrs Lunch

14:00-15:30hrs : Second Session
Regional Security and Cooperation in the Changing Context

Chair: Rajiv Kumar
(Paper presenters 15 minutes, Discussant 10 minutes)

• Ganesh Wignaraja: Regional Cooperation in South Asia: Effects of Looking East
• S A Ahmed: Regional cooperation and Human Security
• Saman Kelegama: Regional Economic Cooperation in South Asia: Challenges and Prospects
• I. N. Mukherjee: Expert Discussant

15:30-16:00 hrs : Tea

16:00-17:00hrs : Valedictory Session

Chair: S.D. Muni

Address by N. Ravi, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India