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SUMMARY:5th West Asia Conference - India’s Approach to West Asia: Trends\, Challenges and Possibilities
DESCRIPTION:Live Streaming : DAY TWO\n \n\n\n\nLive Streaming : DAY ONE\n \n\n\n Executive Summary The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)\, New Delhi\, organised its 5th biennial West Asia Conference on March 29-30\, 2022\, in virtual mode. Speakers from India and abroad participated in the Conference and shared their perspectives on the changing contours of India’s growing engagement with the West Asian region\, response of the countries of the region towards India’s policy\, geopolitics and security situation in West Asia\, challenges for the Indian community in the Gulf during Covid-19 pandemic\, issues of energy security\, and strategic and security cooperation between India and the region.  The West Asian region continues to remain in a state of flux even after a decade of the Arab unrest. The situation in Syria\, Yemen and Libya remains fluid. A number of terrorist organisations and non-state actors continue to challenge the security and stability in West Asia. The recent Houthi attacks on the critical infrastructures in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are a major cause of insecurity in the Gulf region. The uncertainty over the ongoing Vienna talks to revive the Iranian nuclear deal\, Israel’s growing engagement with the Arab countries after the signing of the Abraham Accords and perceived weakening of US presence in the region are some of the key geopolitical dynamics which will have severe implications for the region.  In such critical circumstances\, India faces a number of challenges to engage with the countries of the region. India shares historical relations with West Asia; and has huge economic\, energy\, political\, security and strategic stakes in the region. In recent years India has strengthened defence\, security and strategic ties with a number of countries in the region. India’s security relations with the Gulf countries go beyond energy and diaspora security and there is an interest from both sides in expanding defence relations. While\, during the last decade\, the Arab unrest brought considerable challenges to India’s policy in the region\, India has persevered in its engagements\, successfully navigating the turbulence in the Arab world. While the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the nine million strong Indian community in the Gulf\, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the Gulf leaders appealing to them to look after the Indians who are affected by the pandemic. Finally\, it was suggested by the participants that\, amid the changing regional and great-power geopolitics\, India needs to enhance its engagement as a reliable partner for the key regional actors in West Asia.  Rapporteurs’ Report Rapporteurs’ Report [PDF] Concept Note The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) has been organising its biennial West Asia Conference (WAC) since 2014. Over the years\, this flagship event has dealt with a number of critical issues facing West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region including the paradigmatic shifts in the region’s geopolitics\, the growing impact of ideological and socio-political movements\, and the global\, regional and intra-regional responses to the regional developments. The Conference has been an important platform for academics\, analysts\, policymakers and government officials to discuss issues of mutual concern and explore newer avenues for cooperation. Invitees\, both institutions and individuals\, stretching the vast expanse of WANA as well as other parts of the world\, participate in the Conference to discuss issues in a free and frank manner.  India’s relations with WANA go back to historic times with artefacts found in archaeological sites of Indus Valley\, Harappa and Mesopotamian and the Sumerian civilisation underscoring trade and cultural ties in ancient times. Geographic proximity and maritime connectivity played a significant role in establishing mercantile contacts between the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Subcontinent. Although post-Independence India’s relations with the region were inhibited by ideological considerations\, the post-Cold War recalibration in India’s foreign policy opened avenues for reconnecting with the WANA region. In order to deepen cooperation and engagement with the neighbourhood\, India has adopted the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Engagement with the WANA region is a key component of the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the government has taken a proactive approach towards its neighbourhood. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi\, since 2014\, India’s relations with WANA have witnessed a qualitative transformation leading to strengthening of bilateral relations with the regional countries. The change has been visible not only in the frequency of political and diplomatic engagements but also in growing cooperation in newer fields including business\, investments\, security and defence. Recent cooperation between India and the countries of the West Asian region to fight the COVID-19 pandemic underlines the strong bonds of friendship. Further\, India’s ‘Think West’ policy focuses on its western neighbourhood with renewed emphasis to accelerate the pace of engagement with these countries. This has been an important pillar in India’s foreign policy in the recent years. The WANA region\, especially the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States\, is significant for India for a variety of factors\, most importantly for its energy security and as host to millions of Indians who live and earn their livelihood there. There is also a mutuality of interest in maritime security as well as in fighting international terrorism and religious radicalism. Indian interest is also connected to peace and stability in the region because of the natural linkages between South and West Asia regions. India’s bilateral trade with the region is around US$ 200 billion. India imports more than 60 percent of its energy requirements from the region. There are about nine million Indians living in the region whose safety and security is a concern for New Delhi. Any challenge to regional security situation or weakening of the economies in WANA will have a direct impact on the economy and security of India. As a result India has developed strategic partnerships with regional countries\, especially with the United Arab Emirates\, Israel\, Saudi Arabia\, Iran\, Qatar and Oman without ignoring other important regional countries including Egypt\, Turkey\, Jordan\, Syria\, Iraq\, Bahrain and the Palestinian territories. India favours peace and stability in the region and seeks partnerships with all like-minded countries towards economic prosperity for the people of India and the WANA countries. Towards this end India has not hesitated in participating in multilateral fora including most recently\, engaging in a dialogue in October 2021 with the foreign ministers of the UAE\, Israel and the United States with the objective of harnessing the collective resources and expertise for developing economic cooperation. Despite the growing engagement\, India must deal apace with the challenges of existing regional tensions\, social polarisation\, deteriorating humanitarian situation\, terrorism and religious radicalism in the region. Even after a decade of the Arab unrest\, the impact of the regional upheaval on the politics\, security and economy of the region continues to remain high. India has persevered in its engagements\, successfully navigating the turbulence in the Arab world. Against this backdrop\, the MP-IDSA is organising the 5th West Asia Conference on the theme “India’s Approach to West Asia: Trends\, Challenges and Possibilities.” The following key questions\, along with many others\, would be discussed during the conference:What are the changing components of India’s growing engagement with the WANA countries?  How have the WANA countries responded to India’s regional policy and what are the expectations in New Delhi? With renewed focus on West Asia\, what would be the possible new political\, security and economic challenges and opportunities for India in the region? \n\nParticipants\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmb Sujan R. Chinoy\, Director General\, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi.\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmb. Dr. Ezzat Saad El Sayed\, Director\, Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs\, Cairo\, Egypt\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmb Talmiz Ahmad\,\nFormer Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia\, UAE and Oman\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmb. Dore Gold\,\nPresident\, Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs\, Jerusalem\, Israel\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProf. Gulshan Dietl (Retd.)\nSchool of International Studies\, JNU\, New Delhi\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Andrey Kortunov\,\nDirector General\, Russian International Affairs Council\, Moscow\, Russia\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProf. Mehmet Seyfettin Erol\,\nPresident\, Ankara Centre for Crisis and Policy Studies\, Ankara\, Turkey\n\n\n\n\n\n \nMr. Goor Tsalalyachin\,\nExecutive Director\, The Abba Eban Institute for International Diplomacy\, Reichman University\, Herziliya\, Israel\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Md. Muddassir Quamar\, Ph.D.\nAssociate Fellow\, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi.\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Meena Singh Roy\, Senior Fellow and Head\, West Asia and Eurasia\, Tillotoma Foundation\, and Distinguished Fellow\, Middle East Institute\, New Delhi\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProf. S. Irudaya Rajan\,\nChairman\, International Institute of Migration and Development\, Thiruvananthapuram\, India\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. H. Arokkiaraj\, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development\, Tamil Nadu.\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. N. Janardhan\, Senior Research Fellow\, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy\, Abu Dhabi\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. P K Pradhan\, Associate Fellow and Coordinator\, West Asia Centre\, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Abdulla Al Abbasi\, Research Fellow\, Bahrain Centre for Strategic\, International  and Energy Studies (Derasat)\, Manama\, Bahrain\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Vrushal T. Ghoble\, Centre for West Asian Studies (CWAS)\, School of International Studies (SIS)\, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)\, New Delhi.\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProf. Shamir Hasan (Retd.)\, Centre of West Asian Studies\, Aligarh Muslim University\, India.\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Joseph Kechichian\,\nSenior Fellow\, King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies\, Riyadh\, Saudi Arabia\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Hasan Alhasan\, Research Fellow for Middle East Policy\, The International Institute for Strategic Studies\, London\, UK\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Mandana Tisheyar\,\nAssistant Professor\,\nAllameh Tabataba’i University\, Tehran\, Iran\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProf. P. R. Kumaraswamy\, School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi\, India\n\n\n\n\n\n \nMaj. Gen. (Dr.) Bipin Bakshi\, AVSM\, VSM\, (Retd.)\, Deputy Director General\, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProgramme\n\n\nProgramme Schedule [PDF]\n\n\n\n\nConference Coordinator: \nDr. Prasanta Kumar Pradhan\nAssociate Fellow\, IDSA\npk.prasanta@gmail.com
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/5th-west-asia-conference-indias-approach-to-west-asia-trends-challenges-and-possibilities
CATEGORIES:Previous West Asia Conference,CONFERENCES,West Asia Conference
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SUMMARY:4th West Asia Conference - Ten Years of Political & Economic Transformation in West Asia:  Challenges\, Lessons & Future Trends
DESCRIPTION:Event Report Download Event Report [PDF] Concept Note The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses has been organising its biennial West Asia Conference since 2014. Over the years\, this flagship conference has dealt with a number of critical issues facing West Asia and North Africa (WANA) — such as the paradigmatic shifts in the region’s geopolitical landscape; the growing impact of ideological and socio-political movements on regional and international security and stability; the global\, regional and intra-regional responses to the ongoing multi-vector convulsions in the social\, political\, environmental\, demographic\, trade\, energy and economic domains\, etc. The forum has also discussed the concerns and challenges facing countries\, and organisations\, as well as the prospects of various initiatives and proposals for improved security\, stability and development of the region. The Institute’s West Asia Conference provides an important platform for academics\, policymakers\, semi-government and government officials from participating countries to discuss issues of mutual concern and explore avenues of cooperation. Countries and organisations stretching the vast expanse of WANA participate in the Conference to discuss issues in a free and frank manner. In addition\, participants from other regions and institutions concerned with peace and development in West Asia\, such as from the United States\, Europe\, Russia\, China\, Japan\, Korea\, and Africa\, are regular invitees who make the deliberations comprehensive and productive. As popular protests removed four longstanding regimes across WANA earlier this decade\, the ensuing geopolitical situation grew more complex. The process of transition from authoritarianism to participatory politics has been painful and inconclusive. As a result\, thousands of people have been killed\, millions internally displaced\, while others have become refugees in neighbouring countries in need of humanitarian assistance. Tunisia is probably the only partial success story with elections held to elect representatives and government. The latest wave of popular protests in Algeria\, Sudan\, Egypt\, Lebanon and Iraq are reflective of the fact that the basic aspirations of the youth remain unaddressed. The fact that protests have continued unabated in the face of the severe crackdown by the regimes shows that the fervour for democracy is here to stay. Further\, the situation in Syria\, Libya and Yemen continues to deteriorate with growing sectarian\, ethnic and tribal divisions. The efforts of the UN and other international actors have been ineffective\, as parties to the conflict have remained adamant in their approach. Taking advantage of the continuing chaos\, several terrorist and extremist elements have emerged and entrenched themselves in a number of countries. Al-Qaeda\, its affiliates and a numerous other local terrorist and militia groups continue to present huge challenges for regional and global peace and security. Despite setbacks in WANA\, the ISIS and Al-Qaeda are now focusing their attention on South Asia. The regional geopolitical situation in WANA continues to remain fluid and unexpected. The signing of the Iranian nuclear deal called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)\, in July 2015 was believed to be a new opening in the region. But President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the JCPOA has brought back the animosity and heightened tensions in the Gulf. The attacks on the oil tankers and installations inside Saudi Arabia raise fears of escalation. The crisis within the GCC continues to affect regional geopolitics. The boycott of Qatar by Saudi Arabia\, the UAE\, Bahrain and Egypt has led to Qatar coming closer to Iran and Turkey. This is a reflection of change in the existing balance of power in the Gulf region. The emergence of a strong Iran-Turkey-Qatar relationship alters the existing geopolitics and regional security architecture. A power struggle among the key regional players is further complicating the regional security situation. The continuing political instability and armed conflict have severely impacted the economic development in the WANA region. The economic prospects for this region have been grim in recent years. The region has one of the world’s highest unemployment rates as well as the world’s slowest GDP per capita growth rate. The drastic fall in oil prices by around 60 per cent in 2014 had a severe impact on the economies of the oil exporting countries. The economy of the WANA region witnessed stagnation as a result of low oil prices\, prolonged political instability\, terrorist attacks\, spread of violent armed conflicts and civil wars. In 2010\, before the outbreak of the protests\, the World Bank had projected a growth rate of 4.4 per cent for the WANA region. The years of political instability\, conflicts and violence that followed deeply affected economic growth. In 2015\, the World Bank estimated that GDP growth for the region would be around 2.8 per cent. The region’s economic growth now is almost half of what it was before the unrest began in 2011. The World Bank now predicts that the economies of the WANA region would continue at a pace of 1.5 to 3.5 per cent during 2019-2021. Amid the continuing instability and violence\, the issue of energy security has been a key concern for the oil importing countries in Asia\, such as India\, China\, Japan and South Korea. Production and supply of oil has been affected as a result of the conflicts\, leading to revenue losses to the oil producing countries. The emergence of non-OPEC oil suppliers\, such as the US\, also has the potential to affect the present status quo in the oil market. This will certainly affect the oil-based economies of the Gulf region. From India’s perspective the West Asian region is of great importance. India’s bilateral trade with the region is around US$ 200 billion and India imports more than 60 per cent of its energy requirements from the region. There are about nine million Indians living in the region whose safety and security is a concern for New Delhi. Any challenge to regional security or weakening of the economies in WANA will have a direct impact on the economy and security of India. To secure its economic and strategic interests\, India has pursued extremely active diplomacy since 2014. One of the most significant foreign policy initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the importance accorded to further strengthening India’s relationship with its ‘extended neighbourhood’\, particularly in West Asia. Though the region has been going through political and economic turbulence\, India has maintained momentum in its engagements with WANA. There have been substantive improvements in political\, economic\, security and defence relations. India has deepened engagements with a large number of countries of the region on the issue of countering terrorism. The invitation by the OIC to India to participate as the “Guest of Honour” to address the inaugural plenary held in Abu Dhabi in March 2019 is a reflection of growing acceptance of India’s rising international profile\, growing economy and its views and positions\, especially on the issues of terrorism and extremism\, among the countries of the region. The fact that the efforts by countries inimical to India to internationalise issues internal to India including those pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir\, have not received any traction in the region\, is a reflection of strengthening relations and India’s growing engagement with the countries of the region. Further\, India’s principled positions on regional issues have enabled her to articulate her views in a balanced manner while maintaining good relations with all countries. The WANA region has attracted intervention from several regional and extra-regional players in the face of political instability\, socio-economic uncertainty and escalating violence. This further complicates the already complex situation. These crises and challenges necessitate meticulous monitoring\, in-depth analyses and more frequent exchanges among scholars and policy-makers to find ways for lasting regional peace\, stability and security. In that direction\, this conference intends to spur in-depth and open dialogue among scholars and policy-makers from India\, the WANA region and beyond\, in order to analyse the problems and challenges\, draw the right lessons and gain informed solutions for enduring peace and prosperity in the region and further enhance India’s engagement. The following key questions\, among many others\, would be discussed during the conference:What are the key political\, security and economic challenges the region is facing since the beginning of the protests in 2011 and what are the important lessons to be drawn? What are the key links between regional instability and economic development in West Asia? How have been political turbulence and armed conflicts impacting the regional economic development and energy politics? How have the economic and social indicators such as unemployment\, access to education\, social inequality\, ethnic and sectarian divide affected the future course of regional politics and economy?What are the key economic stakes of the important extra-regional powers such as the US\, Russia\, Europe\, China and India? How is India adapting to the new regional security and economic realities in the West Asian region? What could be a possible roadmap for India’s engagement in future to secure its strategic and economic interests?  Registration Registration fees would be Rs 2000/- which will cover the costs of two lunches\, conference papers etc. Please send cheque in name of MP-IDSA\, New Delhi “to the following address along with your details as Name\, Address\, Educational qualification\, Institutional affiliation etc. 1. Assistant Director (Admin)The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses1\, Development Enclave\, (near USI)Rao Tula Ram MargNew Delhi 110 010 Account Holder: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)A/C No: 10596550223Name of Bank: State Bank of India (SBI)Branch Address: JNU\, Old Campus\, New Delhi – 110067\, INDIASwift code: SBININBB548 Account Holder: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)A/C No: 535602010004746Name of Bank: Union Bank of India (UBI)Branch Address: Vasant Vihar Branch\, New Delhi – 110057\, INDIASwift code: UBIN0534463  Programme ProgrammeDownload [PDF] \n\n\nParticipants Profile\n\n\n\n\n\nAmbassador    Sujan R. Chinoy\n Director General\nManohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi \nAmbassador Sujan R. Chinoy is the    Director General of Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and    Analyses (Manohar Parrikar IDSA)\, New Delhi. A career diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service from 1981-2018\, he was India’s Ambassador to Japan and Mexico. \n      A specialist with over 25 years of    experience on China\, East Asia and the Asia-Pacific\, he served in Indian    Missions in Hong Kong\, Beijing\, Riyadh\, Shanghai and Sydney. He also served    as India’s representative to the First Committee at the United Nations in New    York. At Headquarters\, he served as Director (China) as well as Head of the    Expert Group of Diplomatic & Military Officials tasked with CBMs and    boundary-related issues with China. \n      He also served on the Americas Desk    and as Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations). On deputation for four    years with the National Security Council Secretariat under the Prime    Minister’s Office\, he worked on internal and external national security    policy and anchored strategic dialogues with key interlocutors around the    world. \n      He is fluent in English and Chinese    (Mandarin)\, and conversant in French\, Spanish\, German\, Japanese\, Arabic\, Urdu    and French-Creole. He schooled at the Rajkumar College (Rajkot)\, read English    Literature at the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara and gained his    Master of Business Administration from Gujarat University. He has an advanced    Diploma in Chinese (Mandarin) from the New Asia Yale-in-China Chinese    Language Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMr. Fouad Siniora\n Former Prime Minister of Lebanon  \nFouad Siniora is the former Prime Minister of Lebanon (2005-2009) and former head of the Parliamentary Future Block. He has been a member of Lebanese Parliament for around a decade (2009-2018). Fouad Siniora’s government was constitutionally responsible for the presidency of the Republic until President Michel Sleiman took over office on May 25\, 2008.  \nFouad Siniora was born on April 14\, 1943 in Saida/Sidon (45 km south of Beirut) in a Sunni family. He graduated with Master in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut. In 1970s\, he worked with the Citibank and also taught at his alma mater and at the Lebanese University. He joined the Audit Committee of the Lebanese Central Bank in 1977. Later in 1982\, he was he was recruited by the Lebanese-Saudi businessman Rafiq Hariri to manage and further expand his economic empire. At the end of the Lebanese civil war\, Hariri became the Prime Minister and appointed Siniora as his Finance Minister (1992-1998\, 2000-2004). Fouad Siniora was commissioned by President Émile Lahoud on June 30\, 2005 to form the government. It was the first government to be formed after the Syrians left and the first to involve Hezbollah. On July 27\, 2006\, Siniora presented his 7-point plan to end the devastating Lebanese-Israeli conflict. This resulted in a resolution of the UN Security Council on August 12\, 2006\, which led to a permanent ceasefire. Apart from politics and finance\, Fouad Siniora is known for his ardent interest in Arabic literature and poetry. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProf. Nabil Fahmy\nFormer Foreign Minister of Egypt\nFounding Dean of the School of Global    Affairs and Public Policy \nFounding    Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy\, Nabil Fahmy is a    career diplomat (1976-2011) and the former Foreign Minister of Egypt (July    2013 – June 2014) during which he steered the course of Egypt’s diplomacy    during a time of immense challenge. While Foreign Minister\, he formulated a    strategy to reorient Egypt’s Foreign Policy\, ensuring that Egypt had numerous    foreign policy options both regionally and globally. \n      During    his distinguished diplomatic career covering three decades\, Fahmy served as ambassador    to the United States (1999-2008) and Japan (1997-1999) as well as held    numerous government and international positions. His work has focused on    international and regional security\, disarmament and non-proliferation\,    conflict resolution and Arab-Israeli diplomacy. He was also the Chairman of    the United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters\, and the Vice    Chairman of the United Nations General Assembly’s first committee dealing    with disarmament and international security. He was also a member of the Egyptian    Delegation to the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference; the Review Conferences of the    Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; the Committee on    Principles in the United Nations Conference on Promoting International    Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and many other    multilateral events. \n      Nabil    Fahmy also founded the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) at    The American University in Cairo (AUC) in 2009. Its programs are    internationally and domestically accredited. And the school has become an    invaluable Middle East voice of stellar caliber on topical issues of Public    Affairs\, Law\, Journalism\, as well as studies on the Middle East\, Refugees\,    and Gender and American Studies. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr.    Sanjaya Baru\nDistinguished Fellow\nManohar Parrikar IDSA  \nDr. Sanjaya Baru is former Media    Advisor to Prime Minister and currently Distinguished Fellow\, Manohar    Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis\, New Delhi. He has been    editor of India’s major financial newspapers\, The Economic Times\, Financial Express and Business Standard. \n      He was Media Advisor to Prime    Minister Manmohan Singh and Director for Geo-economics and Strategy\, International    Institute of Strategic Studies\, London. He was professor of economics at    University of Hyderabad\, Indian Council for Research on International    Economic Relations and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy\, Singapore. \n      He was Secretary-General\,    Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. He was member of    India’s National Security Advisory Board in 1999-2001 and member of the    Governing Board of the Centre for Policy Research. \n      He is Founder Trustee\, Forum for    National Security Studies\, India. He was also member India-ASEAN Eminent    Persons Group in 2010. His publications (Books) include The Strategic Consequences of India’s Economic Rise\, India and the    World: Essays on Geo-economics and Foreign Policy\, The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan    Singh and 1991: How PV Narasimha    Rao Made History and The Bombay Plan: A Blueprint for Economic    Resurgence (2018). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr.    Mohammad Hassan Khani\nAssociate Professor of International Relations Imam Sadiq University (ISU)\, Tehran \nDr.    Mohammad Hassan KHANI is an Associate Professor of International Relations at    Imam Sadiq University (ISU) in Tehran. He received his PhD from Department of    Peace Studies from Bradford University\, England. During his academic career    he has acted as Head of Department\, Deputy Dean of Faculty\, and    Director-General of Research Affairs at ISU. \n      He    has also been teaching as a guest-lecturer at other Iranian universities    including Tehran University and School of International Relations. In 2016\,    he joined the Global Challenges Fellowship Program as a Senior Fellow hosted    by Institute for Advanced Study at Central European University in Budapest    and Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin. He is Member of Editorial Board    of Central Asia Review Quarterly and also Member of Editorial Board of Political Knowledge Quarterly. \n      He    is a founding member of Iranian Political Science Association and also a    member of Iranian International Relations Association. His research interests    include areas such as Theories of International Relations\, Iranian Politics    & Foreign Policy\, International Organizations\, Regional Integration and    Regionalism\, Middle East\, and Central Asia. \n      He    is the author of numerous books\, chapters in books\, and academic papers in    Persian and English. His views and analyses on regional and international    affairs have been reflected in the form of articles\, and interviews with: Washington    Post\, Los Angeles Times\, Reuters\, NPR\, ABC News\, CNN\, BBC\, World\,    Russia Today\, China Central TV\, Press TV\, Sahar TV\, Al-Aalam\, Japan Times\, Al-Ahram\, As-Safir\, Hurriyet\, and many    Iranian academic journals\, weekly magazines & daily newspapers. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi\nPresident of the Emirates Policy Center\nAbu Dhabi\, the United    Arab Emirates  \nDr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi is the President of the Emirates Policy Center    (EPC)\, which she founded in Abu Dhabi\, the United Arab Emirates in September    2013. \n      The EPC undertakes the    task of studying and foreseeing future regional and international    geopolitical projects and their impact on the Gulf region based on the    region’s self-perception of its concerns and interests. The center also    focuses on exploring current and future issues that have an impact on the    security of the UAE and the region as a whole. The EPC provides strategic    analysis and policy papers on these issues that serve the UAE and Gulf    governments. The center is considered now as one of the most renowned think    tanks in the region. Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate\, which is organized annually    by the EPC\, has also become one of the key platforms for dialogue in the    world to discuss regional and international security. \n      In recognition of her    role as a leader of one of the most important think tanks in the Arab world    and the great respect she enjoys as part of the distinguished elite\, not in    the UAE only\, but also in the Gulf region as a whole\, Dr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi    was appointed in 2015 as member of the Consultative Commission of the    Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). She was also chosen    among 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World by Arabian Business magazine in its July 2018 issue\, as she is the    first woman to lead a think tank in the Arab world. \n      Before she founded the    EPC\, Dr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi was a professor of political science at the United    Arab Emirates University. She has also held several posts\, such as the    General Coordinator of the Gulf Development Forum\, has served as member of    the Executive Committee of the Arab Association for Political Science\, has    been member in the board of trustees in the Center for Arab Unity Studies\,    the Arab Thought Foundation\, and in the Arab Anti-Corruption Organization.    Dr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi has published a number of research papers on Gulf    Security\, US-GCC relations\, and War on Terrorism. She holds a PhD in    political science from Cairo University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProfessor Girijesh Pant\nNational Fellow of Indian    Council of Social Science Research\nSymbiosis International University Pune \nProf. Girijesh Pant is presently National Fellow of    Indian Council of Social Science Research at Symbiosis International    University\, Pune.  \n      Former Dean of School of International Studies at    Jawaharlal Nehru University\, India\, Prof. Pant has also served as Vice    Chancellor at Doon University Uttarakhand and GGD University at Bilaspur. He    is also associated with higher academic bodies like University Grant Commission    as member of Accreditation Advisory Council\, ICSSR project evaluation    committee and Indian Council of World Affairs. \n      He has recently been appointed as Member Academic    Committee of School of International and Area Studies\, Tsinghua University\,    China. His academic interest includes Development Studies with focus on    India\, West Asia\, Political Economy of Gulf Countries\, Political Economy of International    Energy\, India Energy Security\, India’s Energy Relations and India’s Economic    Relations with GCC countries. \n      Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by Venkateshwara    University\, Tirupati\, he has been Sr. Fulbright Visiting Scholar\, University    of Illinois\, USA. Traveled widely and participated and contributed papers in    number of national and International conferences\, journals and books\, he is    presently working on energy transition with reference to India. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nSaeid Khatibzadeh\nVice President for Research    and Director General\nInstitute for Political and International Studies    (IPIS) \nSaeid Khatibzadeh is    currently Vice President for Research and Director General of the Institute    for Political and International Studies (IPIS). \n      He has worked as Senior Adviser to the Deputy    Foreign Minister and President of the IPIS (2018-2019)\, Acting Director    General of IPIS (2017-2018)\, Head of the IPIS Regional Office in Berlin    (2013-2017)\, Director of Publication Department of IPIS (2011-2013) and IPIS Resident    Representative in Canada (2007-2011). \n      He has been also Editor of the Iranian Journal of    International Affairs (2002-2006) and has published and conducted numerous    articles and research projects in both Persian and English. He has joined the    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran in 1999. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nPetr Kortunov\nProgram    Assistant\nRussian    International Affairs Council \nPetr Kortunov is program assistant at    the Russian International Affairs Council. His academic interests lie in the    Middle Eastern region\, particularly Iran’s international standing and both    peaceful and weapon use of nuclear power in the region. \n      Born 1994\, he obtained a bachelor’s    degree at the MGIMO University in International Law\, specializing in    financial law. He earned his Master’s degree in International Financial Law    at the MGIMO University and also obtained a Master’s degree in International    Commercial Law at the University of Reading. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmbassador Niraj Srivastava\nFormer Indian Ambassador Denmark\, Uganda \nNiraj Srivastava is a former    Indian diplomat who has been Ambassador of India to several countries    including Denmark and Uganda. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1983. \n      Srivastava was educated in India and abroad. He    spent a sabbatical year at Oxford University\, U.K.\, where he studied    international relations\, international law\, and international trade and    finance. He graduated with honors in 1988. \n      During his career spanning about 33 years\,    Srivastava has served in Indian missions in several countries around the    world\, including Syria\, the United States\, Libya\, Saudi Arabia\, Canada\,    Uganda\, and Denmark. He has also held several positions in the Ministry of    Foreign Affairs in New Delhi. \n      Srivastava took another sabbatical year during    2001-02 at Georgetown University\, Washington D.C.\, where he taught a course    on international politics of South Asia to Sophomores. He was Associate    Faculty at Georgetown. \n      Srivastava retired from the Indian Foreign Service    in November 2015. He now lives in New Delhi and\, among other things\, writes    on issues relating to international affairs. He also appears frequently on    television programs. He has written extensively on the war in Syria and US    policy in the Middle East. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProfessor Dlawer Ala’Aldeen\nFounding President\nMiddle East Research Institute (MERI) \nProfessor Dlawer Ala’Aldeen is the Founding    President of the Middle East Research Institute (MERI\, www.meri-k.org)\, based    in Erbil\, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He is a former Minister of Higher    Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Regional Government    (2009-2012) and Professor of Medicine in Nottingham University\, UK. \n      Ala’Aldeen has long been engaged in    capacity-building and nation-building projects in Iraq\, and published    extensively on the political and security dynamics\, governance systems and democratization    in the Middle East. \n      His most recent books include\, Nation-Building and the System of Governance in    Kurdistan Region (2013); and State-Building:    A Roadmap for the Rule-of-Law and Institutionalization in Kurdistan Region (2018). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nProfessor Efraim Inbar\nPresident\nJerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies \nProf. Efraim Inbar is President of the Jerusalem    Institute for Strategic Studies (JISS). He was Professor in Political Studies    at Bar-Ilan University and the founding Director of the Begin-Sadat (BESA)    Center for Strategic Studies. \n      Prof. Inbar’s area of specialization is Middle    Eastern strategic issues with a special interest in the politics and strategy    of Israeli national security. He has written five books and over 100    scholarly articles. \n      Prof. Inbar holds a B.A. in Political Science and    English literature from the Hebrew University and a M.A and Ph.D. from the    University of Chicago. He served as visiting professor at Johns Hopkins    University\, Georgetown University\, Boston University\, as visiting scholar at    the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars\, and the (London)    International Institute for Strategic Studies. \n      A paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)\,    Professor Inbar later served on the IDF Academic Committee of the History    Department. He also served as President of the Israel Association of    International Studies. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Randa Slim\nSenior Fellow and Director\nProgram on Conflict    Resolution\nMiddle East Institute\, Washington DC \nRanda Slim is a Senior Fellow and Director of the    Program on Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues at the Middle East    Institute in Washington DC\, and is a non-resident fellow at the Foreign    Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced    International Studies (SAIS). She works and publishes on regional and    international issues of the Middle East with an emphasis on Lebanon\, Syria    and Iraq. \n      A former vice president of the International    Institute for Sustained Dialogue\, Slim has also been a senior program advisor    at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund\, a guest scholar at the United States    Institute of Peace\, a program director at Resolve\, and a program officer at    the Kettering Foundation. \n      A former member of the Dartmouth Conference    US-Russian regional conflicts taskforce\, she was a member of the US-Russia    mediator team in the Inter-Tajik Dialogue (1992-2000) and worked on conflict    management activities in Tajikistan and the Ferghana Valley (2000-2006). \n      Currently\, she organizes the Middle East Dialogue\, a    regional track 1.5 initiative focusing on political and security dynamics in    the Middle East. She also co-moderates the US-Russia Middle East working    group. Slim has also worked on the UN-mediated negotiations in Yemen as a    consultant with the office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen. \n      She holds a B.S. and M.A. from the American    University of Beirut and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Wail Al Batrekhi\nMinister    Counsellor\nDeputy    Head of Mission\nEmbassy    of the State of the Palestine\nNew    Delhi  \nDr Wail Al Batrekhi is Minister    Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission in the Embassy of the State of    Palestine to India since 2016. \n      He has been the head of the media    department in the Regional and International Organization in Foreign Ministry    of the state of Palestine. He was Diplomat (Counsellor) in Embassy of the    State of Palestine-Republic of Hungary in 2008-11. \n      He was Member of the    international committee of World Festival for Youth and Student in    (Cuba-1997\, Algeria-2001\, Caracas- 2005) and has been Vice President of world    federation of democratic youth representing Palestine and Middle East North    Africa region (1997-2007). \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmbassador    V. P. Haran\nFormer Indian Ambassador to Syria \nFormer ambassador of India to    Syrian and Bhutan\, V.P. Haran is currently Independent Director at the    Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. He was Ambassador to Syria from    January 2009 to December 2012\, the most critical time that ushered in    political tumult and upheaval in that country’s recent history. Thereafter\,    he became Indian Ambassador to Bhutan from January 2013 to July 2014. \n      V.P. Haran joined the Indian    Foreign Service in 1980. He was posted in Moscow\, Afghanistan\, Sri Lanka and    Belgium from 1980 to 2000. He was Deputy Permanent Representative of India to    the World Trade Organization from 2000-03. He has been Joint Secretary [Administration]\,    MEA\, Delhi (2006-09). \n      He also worked for six years in    TELCO and is presently at Tata Motors\, Jamshedpur in their Accounts and    Finance Department. He writes extensively\, participates in seminars and gives    lectures on foreign policy issues\, particularly on Syria\, West Asia\, along    with India’s neighborhood as well as the country’s trade policy. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmbassador  Talmiz Ahmad\nFormer Indian Ambassador\nSaudi Arabia\, Oman and the UAE \nTalmiz    Ahmad is the former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia (2000-03; 2010-11)\,    Oman (2003-04) and the UAE (2007-10). After retirement from Foreign Service\,    he had a stint of four years in the corporate sector in Dubai. \n      He    is now a full-time academic and holds the Ram Sathe Chair for International    Studies in Symbiosis International University\, Pune.  \n      He    has authored three books including West    Asian Politics: Reform in the Arab World (2005); Children of Abraham at War (2010)\, and The Islamist Challenge in West Asia after the Arab Spring (2013). \n      He    writes regularly in the West Asian and Indian media on West Asian and Indian    Ocean politics and economics\, political Islam and energy security issues. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr    Al Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Hilal Al Saddi \nStrategic Director Staff\,\nNational Defence College\,\nSultanate of Oman \nHis Excellency Dr Al Sheikh    Abdullah Saleh Hilal Al Saddi is the Strategic Director-Staff of the    Strategic Director Staff\, Oman. He has been the Sultanate of Oman’s    ambassador to People’s Republic of China from 2007 till early 2020. He has    also been the Dean of Oman’s diplomatic corps from 2013-20 and has been the    Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors to China from January 2013-December    2019. \n      With diplomatic experience of    over 30 years\, Dr Al Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Hilal Al Saddi earned his    doctorate degree in International Relations from Shanghai International    Studies University in June 2012. He obtained his Master’s Degree from    American University of Boston in France in 1995.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmbassador Ranjan Mathai\nFormer Foreign Secretary of India \nRanjan Mathai joined the Indian    Foreign Service in 1974. He served in Indian Embassies in Vienna\, Colombo\,    Washington\, Tehran and Brussels (1976-1994); and held several key positions    in the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India\, including as    Joint Secretary\, heading the Division responsible for India’s relations with    Bangladesh\, Myanmar\, Sri Lanka\, and the Maldives (1995-1998). \n      Mr. Mathai was Ambassador of    India in Israel\, Qatar\, and France (1998- 2011). He was the Foreign Secretary    of India for 2 years from August 2011 to July 2013. \n      After his retirement he was    appointed High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom (December 2013 to    December 2015). Mr. Mathai is an Independent Director on the Board of HDFC    Standard Life Ltd. Mr. Mathai completed his education with an M.A. in    Political Science from the University of Poona (Pune) in 1974. He is an    alumnus of the National Defense College in Delhi (27th Course\,    1987). \n      He is an analyst and commentator    on international affairs and energy and resource security. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr.    Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Salamah\nDirector General\nPrince Saud Al Faisal Institute    for Diplomatic Studies\nKingdom of Saudi Arabia \nDr. Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin    Abdullah Al-Salamah is currently the Director General of Prince Saud Al    Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies. \n      He was the Director General of    Finance of Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu & Economic Advisor for H.H.    the Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. He also served as    the delegated Deputy of the Royal Commission. He has also been General    Supervisor for Royal Commission of college and instates for Jubail and Yanbu. \n      Dr. Salamah obtained Ph.D. from    the renowned Durham University\, United Kingdom in 1994. His doctoral thesis    is Industry Development and Petrochemical Sector in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia\,    the role of the governmental policies – the Saudi Arabian Basic Industries    Corporation (SABIC) as a study case. He received the Bachelors in    Administration Science from King Saud University\, and completed Masters in    Economics at the Western Illinois University\, United States of America. \n      Dr. Salamah has had a rich and    diverse experience spanning 35 years at the Institute for Diplomatic Studies\,    Royal Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Saudi Arabia. His areas of    expertise include strategic planning\, management of industrial cities that    specialize in petrochemicals\, hydrocarbons\, oil and gas\, economic management\,    corporate management\, educational development\, project management\, budgeting\,    planning and scheduling. Dr. Salamah has published many research papers and    studies in internationally reputed journals. He has also presented key    researches at various conferences\, seminars and discussion panels across the    globe. He is a member of Saudi Economy Society\, British Society for Middle    East Studies and Southern Economic Association in the United States of    America\, Member of Alinma Saudi Government Sukuk ETF Fund 2020. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAmbassador    Navdeep Suri \nDistinguished Fellow &    Director\nCentre for New Economic Diplomacy\nObserver Research Foundation\, New    Delhi \nNavdeep Suri is Distinguished    Fellow and Director\, Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer    Research Foundation. He has recently completed a distinguished 36-year career    in the Indian Foreign Service\, having served in India’s diplomatic missions    in Cairo\, Damascus\, Washington\, Dar es Salaam and London and as India’s    Consul General in Johannesburg. He has also headed the West Africa and Public    Diplomacy departments at the Ministry of External Affairs. He was India’s    High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Egypt and the UAE. \n      In a rare gesture\, the President    of UAE conferred on him the Order of Zayed II\, the country’s second-highest civilian    award. His innovative use of social media in public diplomacy in 2010 also received    extensive recognition and two prestigious awards. \n      Proficient in Arabic and French\,    he has a Masters in Economics and has written on India’s Africa policy\, on public    diplomacy and on the IT outsourcing industry. His English translations of his    grandfather Nanak Singh’s classic Punjabi novels have been published by    Penguin as ‘The Watchmaker’ and by    Harper Collins as ‘A Life Incomplete’    and ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor Ashwini K. Mohapatra Dean\, School of International Studies (SIS)\,\nChairperson\, Centre for West Asia Studies\,\nJawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi \nProfessor  Mohapatra is currently the dean of the School of International Studies (SIS) at JNU. In addition\, he is also the chairperson of Centre for West Asia Studies. His area of interest lies in West Asian affairs\, Peace and Conflict Studies\, and Mediterranean Affairs. Over the span of 20 years in SIS (JNU)\, he has taught numerous students and delivered keynote lectures and addresses in various international platforms. He has been a visiting Professor at the Chou University (Tokyo) in June 2009 and a European Union Visitor to Brussels\, in September 2009. Additionally\, in June-July 2008\, he was a visiting fellow at the Maison Des Sciences De L’Homme (MSH)\, Paris. His other visits abroad include civilian peace-keeping training at the Austrian Peace Research Centre\, Stadtschlaining\, Austria and Institute of International Studies\, Geneva\, participation in the Conflict Resolution Programme in Uppsala University\, Sweden\, and at the Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO)\, Norway\, State Guest of the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey. \nProf Mohapatra has participated in numerous conference\, seminars and published several peer-reviewed articles in reputed journals. He has authored and co-authored books and contributed chapters in several books. A few of his notable publication includes Turkey’s Transition to Liberal Democracy and Its Issue of EU Membership (published in India Quarterly Journal)\, Democratization in the Arab World: Relevance of Turkish Model (International Studies Journal)\, Bridge to Anatolia: An Overview of Indo-Turkish Relations published in The Turkish Yearbook of International Relations (Ankara)\, Arab and Turkish Responses to Globalisation (India Quarterly Journal)\, Radical Islam: Ideology behind Global Terrorism (India Quarterly Journal)\, Turkey’s Search for Regional Role in Central Asia (International Studies Journal)\, among others. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfessor P. R. Kumaraswamy Professor\,\nCentre  for West Asian Studies\,\nSchool  of International Studies\nJawaharlal  Nehru University\,\nNew  Delhi (India) \nProfessor P. R. Kumaraswamy teaches  contemporary Middle East at Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi since 1999.  During 1992-1999 he was a research fellow at the Harry S Truman Research  Institute for the Advancement of Peace\, Jerusalem. His publications include Squaring the Circle: Mahatma Gandhi and the Jewish National Home (New Delhi: for ICWA\, 2018); India’s  Israel Policy (Columbia University Press\, 2010); Historical Dictionary of the Arab Israeli Conflict (Scarecrow  Press\, 2015); India’s Saudi Arabia  Policy: Bridge to the Future (Palgrave Macmillan\, 2019\, co-author); and Handbook of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Palgrave Macmillan\, 2020\, edited)\, \n  Prof. Kumaraswamy is the honorary  Director of Middle East Institute\, New Delhi (www.mei.org.in) and edits Persian Gulf: India’s Relations with the  Region (Palgrave Macmillan) and Contemporary  Review of the Middle East (Sage).\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Sami Alfaraj\nPresident\,\nThe Kuwait Centre for Strategic Studies\,\n(Kuwait) \nDr. Sami Alfaraj heads the Kuwait Centre for  Strategic Studies\, which he established in 1998 as an independent think tank. A  former army officer and a strategic planning and crisis management consultant\,  he has received his education in Kuwait\, Cambridge\, Oxford universities\, as  well as at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy. \nIn January 2018\, the Kuwaiti Government adopted  the vision “A New Kuwait’ (which was drafted by him) as the official state  strategy for the early part of the 21st Century.\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmbassador Sanjiv Arora\nFormer  Secretary\,\nMinistry  of External Affairs\,(India) \nAmbassador Sanjiv Arora joined the Indian Foreign  Service in 1984 and served in various capacities in New Delhi and abroad during  his career spanning 35 years before his superannuation on 31 July\, 2019.  \nBefore joining his last posting at the senior most  level as Secretary (Consular\, Passport & Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs)  in Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi in Feb’19\, Mr Sanjiv Arora  served as Ambassador of India to Lebanon from Dec’16–Feb’19. Earlier\, he was  Ambassador to Qatar from Aug’12–Oct’16 and Consul General in Houston\, Texas\,  USA from Nov’08–July’12\, where his responsibilities covered Texas and eight  other States.  \nAmbassador Arora has served at HQS at every level.  He dealt with India-Sri Lanka relations in MEA during 1991-94 and also worked  as Counsellor (Political & Press) in High Commission of India in Colombo in  1999–2000. \nMr Arora is among the few IFS officers to have  been deputed to Ministry of Finance where he served as Director during  2003–2004 and dealt with Development Cooperation and other issues. Before  joining the IFS\, Mr Arora worked in the corporate sector and also in the  Reserve Bank of India. \nAs Head of United Nations-Political Division in  MEA from 2005-2008\, Mr Arora was actively involved in India’s foreign policy at  the UN\, dealing with a wide range of issues including counter terrorism;  peacekeeping; UN reform; political issues in UNGA and UNSC\, etc. He was  involved in the initiative leading to   UNGA’s unanimous adoption of India’s resolution for observance of  Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday (2 October) as the International Day of Non-Violence.  He functioned as the nodal officer for the participation of India’s official  and non-official delegations to UNGA Sessions from 2005-08. He was also in  charge of issues related to the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth. \nDuring his distinguished career\, Ambassador Arora  has proactively practiced diplomacy in its various forms and manifestations\,  including political; security; economic & commercial; energy; multilateral;  consular & diaspora; cultural; media; public diplomacy\, etc. In particular\,  Ambassador Arora specialises in Middle Eastern affairs; business & energy  issues; multilateral diplomacy; the people-centric area of consular &  global diaspora\, including mobility & migration; and public diplomacy.\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nBrig. Ashish Chhibbar\nSenior    Fellow\nManohar    Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses \nBrig Ashish Chhibbar joined Manohar Parrikar IDSA as Senior Fellow in July 2018. An    alumni of National Defence Academy and Defence Services Staff College\, he has    had varied command and staff tenures in all terrains and operational areas. \nThe officer has done his ME from Indian Institute of Science\,    Bangalore and PhD in Strategic Decision Making from Chaudhary Charan Singh    University. \nHis current interests are in disruptive cyber technologies of    Blockchain\, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analysis. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Meena Singh Roy\nResearch Fellow\nManohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies    and Analyses  \nDr Meena Singh Roy is Research Fellow and coordinator of West Asia    Centre at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses    (Manohar Parrikar IDSA). Her areas of specialization are Central Asia and West Asia. Prior    to joining Manohar Parrikar IDSA\, she was a senior research scholar in the Department of    African Studies\, Delhi University. She was associated with the Institute of    Commonwealth Studies\, School of Oriental and African Studies and London    School of Economics for her research work. In 2014\, she was a visiting    Research Fellow with the German Institute of Global and Area Studies’ (GIGA)    Institute of Asian Studies. \n      Dr. Roy has published several peer-reviewed articles and papers    focused on West Asia and Central Asia. She has also been involved in net    assessment reports and strategic gaming on West Asia and Central Asia. \n      She has published a    monograph titled The    Shanghai Cooperation Organization: India Seeking New Role in the Eurasian    Regional Mechanism (2014)\, edited books titled International and Regional Security Dynamics: Indian    and Iranian Perspectives (July 2009) and Emerging    Trends in West Asia: Regional and Global Implications (2014)\,and completed the joint Delhi Policy Group-IDSA Task Force report on West    Asia in Transition in 2015. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr.    Adil Rasheed\nResearch    Fellow\nManohar    Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and    Analyses \nDr.    Adil Rasheed is Research Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence    Studies and Analyses (Manohar Parrikar IDSA) and is author of the book ISIS: Race to Armageddon (2015).  \n      He    was earlier Researcher at the UAE’s premier think tank Emirates Center for    Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) (2006-14)\, and was Senior Research    Fellow at the United Service Institute in New Delhi from 2014-16. \n      Notable among his peer    reviewed papers on counter-radicalization are “Jihadist    Radicalisation in India: Internal Challenges\, External Threats” and “Countering the Threat of Radicalisation: Theories\,    Programmes and Challenges” published in IDSA’s Journal of Defence Studies. \n      Dr    Adil Rasheed regularly writes commentaries and articles on geopolitical issues in leading    newspapers\, magazines\, journals and news portals in India and abroad. His book ‘Countering    the Jihadist Narrative’ is nearing publication. His next project would    study the corresponding trends in Political Islam in Middle East and South    Asia. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nDr. Prasanta Kumar    Pradhan \nAssociate Fellow\nManohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses  \nDr. Prasanta Kumar Pradhan is an Associate Fellow at the Manohar    Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (Manohar Parrikar IDSA)\, New Delhi. He    holds a doctorate degree from the School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal    Nehru University\, New Delhi. Since joining IDSA in 2008\, he has been    researching on foreign policy\, security and strategic issues in West Asia\,    and India’s relationship with West Asia and the wider Arab world. He is also    working on the implications of Arab uprisings for the region and India. \nDr. Pradhan is the author of the book Arab Spring and    Sectarian Faultlines in West Asia: Bahrain\, Yemen and Syria (Pentagon    Press\, New Delhi\, 2017) and the monograph India’s Relationship with    the Gulf Cooperation Council: Need to Look beyond Business (IDSA\,    New Delhi\, 2014). He is also the editor of the book Geopolitical    Shifts in West Asia: Trends and Implications (Pentagon Press\, New    Delhi\, 2016). \n        Dr. Pradhan has    published several research articles in reputed journals and has contributed    chapters to several edited volumes on security and strategic issues in West    Asia and India’s bilateral relations with the region. His current research    project is titled “The GCC in Crisis: Implications for the Region and India”. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nMd. Muddassir Quamar\nAssociate Fellow\nManohar Parrikar Institute    for Defence Studies and Analyses  \nMd. Muddassir Quamar is Associate Fellow in    the Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses\, New Delhi. He holds a Ph.D.    in Middle East studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University. His doctoral thesis    examined social developments in Saudi Arabia between 1991 and 2010 within a    conceptual framework of Islamic modernism. Dr. Quamar’s areas of interest    include Politics & Societies in the Gulf\, Middle East Strategic Affairs\,    and Political Islam. His research papers have appeared in leading    international journals such as Contemporary Arab Affairs\, Digest of    Middle East Studies\, Journal of Arabian Studies and Journal of South Asian    and Middle Eastern Studies. He has co-edited an anthology titled Contemporary    Persian Gulf: Essays in Honour of Gulshan Dietl\, Prakash C. Jain and Girijesh    Pant\, contributed chapters to edited volumes and regularly contributes    opinion articles on strategic developments in Middle East and India-Gulf    relations. Dr. Quamar has been a visiting fellow in King Faisal Center for    Research and Islamic Studies\, Riyadh\, and serves as Associate Editor of Contemporary    Review of the Middle East (Sage\, India) and Book Review Editor of Strategic    Analysis. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nConference  Coordinators:  \n  Dr. Meena Singh Roy\n  Coordinator\, West Asia Centre\, IDSAmsinghroy@gmail.com \nDr. Prasanta  Kumar Pradhan\nAssociate  Fellow\, IDSApk.prasanta@gmail.com
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/4th-west-asia-conference-ten-years-of-political-economic-transformation-in-west-asia-challenges-lessons-future-trends
CATEGORIES:Previous West Asia Conference,CONFERENCES,West Asia Conference
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SUMMARY:3rd West Asia Conference - Changing Security Paradigm in West Asia: Regional and International Responses
DESCRIPTION:Watch Videos\nPhotographs\nPRESS RELEASE: West Asia should not “outsource security”\, says M.J. Akbar\, September 05\, 2018\nRapporteur’s Report\n\n\n\n Concept Note The states of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) continue to grapple with dramatic changes taking place in the domestic and regional environment. Security has emerged as a significant concern. The political upheavals\, civil strife\, sectarian violence\, and terrorism in the area have implications for the regional and global order. As the region grapples with myriad socio-economic problems\, many extra-regional players and non-state actors\, and a few regional ones\, are attempting to carve out their own areas of influence. These developments across WANA demand constant monitoring\, careful analyses and more frequent exchanges among the members of the strategic community to chart a course towards enduring regional and global security.The breakdown of the central authority in states such as Syria\, Iraq\, Yemen and Libya followed by tumultuous civil wars underscores the volatility that post-‘Arab Spring’ West Asian states suffer from. Further\, the transnational nature of ‘third generation’ Islamist terrorism\, its regional potency and global reach underline the fragility WANA endures. The 2003 United States attack on Iraq and the security vacuum it created in the country were filled by sectarian militias that took advantage of the 2011 uprising in the neighbouring countries and expanded their activities\, especially taking control of territories in Syria and Iraq. Islamist terrorism has become a potent and destructive regional threat that stands against all global\, regional and local players. The terrorists\, in their most gory manifestation\, have regrouped as the Islamic State (IS) or Da’esh\, which in 2014-15 threatened to reorient regional boundaries and established a khilafah in the Levant. Though militarily defeated\, the ISIS remains a potent threat. Its ability to continue inspiring lone-wolf attacks and attract youth from across the globe continues to be a major security threat for all countries. More importantly\, the ISIS has metamorphosed into a ‘cyber-Caliphate’ through which it inspired lone-wolf attacks in Europe\, the United States and other parts of the world The present state of regional disarray has led to a new power dynamic\, whereby the role of the United States as the predominant force for security and stability is being challenged by a combination of other powers — a renascent Russia\, a resurgent Iran\, and economically influential China. The reluctance of the Obama administration to fight regional wars and its indecisiveness in dealing with emergent situations\, especially in Syria and Iraq\, created a void. The Trump administration has promised to change the American policy but a clear picture remains elusive. Russia and Iran have backed the Syrian regime which has reassured and strengthened its position\, but has undermined the role of many regional players\, especially the Gulf monarchies led by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Likewise\, it has made Israel uncomfortable due to its extreme sensitivity of Iranian rise and its national security. This has created a complex web of alignments and realignments between regional\, international and non-state actors\, including fissures among the Gulf Cooperation Council States. For one\, Turkey under Erdogan has locked horns with the United States over the latter’s policy to continue supporting Syrian Kurds and is seen to be courting Russia. Similarly\, the concern over growing Iranian influence in the region has brought Arab Gulf states and Israel closer without any formal acknowledgement. Egypt\, while continuing to face internal disturbances\, has engaged with both the United States and Russia to contain the effects of the Libyan crisis from spilling over to the whole of Maghreb. The impact of terrorism and the refugee crisis in Europe\, both originating from WANA\, and the response by European society and leadership to these threats\, open newer dynamics in global and regional politics and threatens to revive older fault lines between Turkey and Europe. With civil wars in Iraq\, Syria\, Yemen\, and Libya emerging major theatres of conflict\, the entire region has been adversely affected by the regional tumult. The Russian involvement in Syria and ability to alter the power dynamics back in favour of the regime has made it a de facto regional player. Regional heavyweights in Iran\, Israel\, Saudi Arabia\, Turkey and Egypt have been playing major roles in conflicts in more than one country. While the entry of Russia is notable\, the rise of the Kurds and a resurgent Kurdish nationalism\, especially in Iraq and Syria and its impact on regional politics is significant. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq is weighing its chances about pushing for larger autonomy while Syrian Kurds have received significant United States backing in carving out a de facto autonomous region of Rojava in northern Syria. Kurdish militias have proved to be a major force in fighting the ISIS and in return are looking to claim stakes for the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria. This has unnerved Turkey which is struggling with a resurgent PKK (Kurdish: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan) at home and hence has intervened militarily in northern Syria to prevent Syrian Kurds from achieving Iraq like autonomy. Iran and Saudi Arabia are locked in rivalry. Iran has significantly enhanced its footprints through allies and powerful non-state actors such as Hezbollah\, Hamas\, Ansarallah (Houthi militia in Yemen) and Shia militias in Iraq and Syria. On the other hand\, Saudi Arabia has been vocal in condemning Iran for regional turmoil. The formation of the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT)\, an intergovernmental counter-terrorist alliance of 41 Sunni countries led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia\, is a significant development with possibly far-reaching implications. Among some independent observers\, this Sunni grouping of militaries is viewed to be as much a front against terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda\, as it is against the growing Shiite ascendance in the region\, led by Iran. The mainly geopolitical rivalry has been punctuated by deeply entrenched sectarian animosity\, through proxies in Syria\, Iraq and Yemen. Though the Trump administration is yet to unveil any comprehensive foreign policy\, its focus on the Middle East peace process and the choice of Saudi Arabia and Israel for President Trump’s first foreign trip gives indications about its priorities. It would nevertheless require a significant effort to be able to deliver even a partial resolution. But the fact that the Trump administration is focusing on the issue underlines the significance it attaches to it. In the given circumstances\, one does not see any major breakthrough in the foreseeable future. However\, global efforts towards resumption of the talks might yield some results. A lot will also depend on the Russian moves and its ability to sustain its current level of involvement in a complex region without getting drained and entangled in the convoluted regional conflicts. Amidst these developments\, the role of militaries and their relations with various regimes has been crucial in determining the stability and integrity of several states and is an important facet of regional security that necessitates deeper analyses and insight. Similarly\, the role of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations\, UNHCR\, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)\, the Arab League\, the International Red Cross\, etc. goes largely unnoticed. The conflict-ridden areas of WANA from Syria\, Iraq\, and Libya to Yemen have put a strain on these organizations in working constructively for conflict resolution and crisis mitigating therein. India has expressed its concerns about recent developments taking place in the region. The spread of IS remains a major worry with some Indian youths having joined the IS. The execution of some Indian citizens by the ISIS in Iraq is also a matter of concern for India. It has huge stakes in the region because of its energy dependence\, increasing trade and commerce\, as also the safety of around 8.5 million Indian expatriates and workers. With the large Indian expatriate population in the GCC alone\, deep human links exist between the two sides. The sovereign wealth funds of these countries are already investing in India’s infrastructure sector. Trade relations and security partnerships particularly in counter terrorism are other facets of cooperation between India and several states of the region. However\, there is ample scope for strengthening ties and taking relations to higher levels\, even as India walks a diplomatic tightrope in a highly fractious regional setting. Predominantly\, India has links with the Gulf but rising security concerns have created a situation where it cannot remain indifferent. Hence\, India has intensified its engagements with the region and has kept a neutral stance on complex regional issues while being sensitive to threats emanating from terrorism. In the light of the foregoing\, IDSA proposes to organise the Third West Asia Conference in September 2018 to deliberate upon the above mentioned issues and emerging trends. An important reason for organising this international conference is to get the views of experts\, officials and researchers from the region\, which is also a part of the Institute’s outreach activity with the think tanks based in the WANA region. The conference proposes to discuss\, and analyse the emergent security dynamics in the region\, the responses of the regional and international players\, and its implication for global politics. The challenges likely to be faced by India due to the plausible political\, economic\, and security scenarios in the region\, and India’s priorities and lessons for its foreign policy will be discussed during the conference along with the likely future trends and prospects for the region\, security challenges\, and their possible solutions. Some of the questions to be addressed in the three-day conference include the following:What are the emergent security dynamics in the West Asia & North Africa region and what are their regional and global implications?What are the challenges emerging from major security threats\, namely Islamist terrorism and its future\, and the raging civil wars and conflicts and their possible resolution?What has been the role of militaries in regime security and how does this impact the regional and international responses? How have regional and international players and organisations responded to the changing regional security dynamics?What are India’s stakes\, what has been its response\, and what are the lessons to be learnt in formulating its policy towards the region?  Session Themes Day – I September 5\, 201810:00– 11:00hrs Inaugural and KeynoteThe first session will reflect on the theme of the conference. 11:15 – 12:00hrs  Session I: Changing Regional Dynamics in West Asia and North Africa: An Overview  The session will closely examine the changing security paradigm in West Asia and North Africa and discuss the developments in regional dynamics and its future implications. The session will outline the framework for deliberations over the next two days. 12:00 – 13:30hrs Sessions II:  The Challenges of Transnational Terrorism: Origin\, Developments and Prognosis  The most significant security threat engulfing the region and threatening the whole world is the rise of terrorism. It has not only destabilised the region but has spread its tentacles to the whole world with serious security implications America\, Europe\, Asia and the Pacific. The sessions will reflect on the phenomenon of radicalisation\, extremism and the rise of global terrorism. 13:30-14:30hrs Lunch Session III – Confrontation and Conflicts in West Asia: Role of Regional Powers Confrontation and conflicts in many parts of the region has caused serious instability\, loss of lives\, and humanitarian crisis.  Regional and international efforts towards finding a solution have been ineffective. The session will reflect on role of the regional powers and deliberate on the causes\, courses\, and possible resolutions of these conflicts. Divided into two parts\, the session will discuss the roles of regional players including Iran\, Saudi Arabia\, Israel\, Turkey and Egypt. 14:30 -16:00hrs Part – A: Iran\, Saudi Arabia and Egypt 16:15 – 17:45hrs Part –B: Israel\, Turkey and Others Day – II September 6\, 201810:00-11:30hrs. Session IV: Role of Big Powers: United States\, Russia and Europe As international players seek to expand their influence and extend their interests\, they inadvertently step on the sovereignty of others. The WANA region has been a victim of extra-regional involvement and global power dynamics. It continues to suffer from the problem as extra-regional players jostle to preserve and extend their spheres of influence\, in the process worsening the security situation. This session will examine the emerging United States approach to the West Asian region\, Russia’s re-entry in the region\, and European perception and its role 11:45-13:30hrs Session V:  Emerging Socio-Economic Challenges This session seeks to closely examine the implication of fall of oil prices and development of new economic policies by the producing countries. The regional countries are confronted with major socio-economic challenges. To address these new challenges\, each country is responding by introducing their distinct visions and plans for the future. The session will attempt to explore whether in this context\, West Asia is moving towards a ‘new social contract’? 13:30-14:30 Lunch 14:30 -16:00hrs Session VI: India and WANA: Building Partnerships and Managing Challenges India has significant stakes in the region. Despite maintaining a safe-distance from the crises\, it has been directly affected because of the security threats emanating from the region. This has made it impossible for it to maintain a “hands-off” policy\, reflected currently in New Delhi’s intensification of engagements with regional powers. The session will consider India’s stakes in the region\, policy choices and the lessons learnt from the evolving situation and its future. 16:00-17:50hrs Session VII: Panel Discussion: Security and Stability in WANA: The Way Forward The final session will round up the takeaways from the conference\, providing policy recommendations for future.  Programme Schedule Programme ScheduleTentative ProgrammeDay – I: September 5\, 201809:30 – 10:00Registration10:00 – 11:00Inaugural SessionWelcome Remarks: Maj Gen Alok Deb\, SM\, VSM (Retired)\, Deputy Director General\, IDSAKeynote Address: Shri M. J. Akbar\, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs\, Government of India.Vote of Thanks: Dr. Meena Singh Roy\, Research Fellow\, Coordinator West Asia Centre\, IDSA11:00 – 11:15 Tea Break11:15 – 12:30Session I- Changing Regional Dynamics in West Asia and North AfricaChair: Ambassador Swashpawan Singh\, Former Secretary to the Vice President of India and Member EC\, IDSASpeakers: Ambassador Talmiz Ahmed\, Former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia\, Oman and the UAE\, Regional Geopolitical DynamicsH. E. Amine Gemayel\, Former President of Lebanon\, Transnational Terrorism and its FutureDr. Seyed Kazem Sajjadpour\, President\, Institute for Political and International Studies\, Tehran\, Iran and the Region12:30 – 13:30 Sessions II- Challenges of Transnational Terrorism: Origin\, Developments and PrognosisChair: Ambassador Rajiv Sikri\, Former Secretary (East)\, MEA\, IndiaSpeakers: Prof. Mohammed Benhammou\, President\, Moroccan Centre for Strategic Studies (CMES)\, Rabat\, New Security Challenges in North Africa and Sahel Region: A Moroccan ApproachDr. Abdelhamid Abdeljaber\, Lecturer\, Department of Political Science\, Rutgers University\, US\, United Nations and the Question of Palestine: The Sustained Conflict and Security in the Middle EastDr. Nada M. Ibrahim Al-jubouri\, Former Member of Parliament\, Iraq\, Iraq after ISIS13:30 – 14:30Lunch14:30 – 15:30Session III – Confrontation and Conflicts in West Asia: Role of Regional Powers (Part A)Chair: Dr. Arvind Gupta\, Director General\, Vivekananda International Foundation\, IndiaSpeakers: Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian\, Former Diplomat and Visiting Research Scholar\, Princeton University\, Conflict between Iran and Saudi and the Way ForwardDr. Awadh Al-Badi\, King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies\, Riyadh\, Troubled West Asia: A Saudi PerspectiveDr. Badra Gaaloul\, President International Center for Strategic\, Security and Military Studies\, Tunisia\, Immigration of Da’aesh Elements/Fighters after their Defeat in Iraq and Syria15:30 – 15:45Tea Break15:45 – 17:30Session IV –   Confrontation and Conflicts in West Asia: Role of Regional Powers (Part B)Chair: Ambassador Sanjay Singh\, Former Secretary (East)\, MEA\, IndiaSpeakers: Prof. Dan Schueftan\, Chairman\, National Security Studies Center and Professor\, School of Political Science\, University of Haifa\, Hopelessness in the Middle EastProf. Mustafa Aydin\, Professor\, Kadir Has University\, Department of International Relations\, Istanbul\, Turkey\, Turkey’s Middle East Policies: Challenges and OpportunitiesDr. Jin Liangxiang\, Shanghai Institute for International Studies\, China\, The Rising of Regional Powers and the Future Middle East OrderDay – II: September 6\, 201810:00 – 12:00 Session V – Role of Big Powers: United States\, Russia\, and EuropeChair: Ambassador Ranjit Gupta\, IFS (Retd)Speakers: Jeffrey S. Payne\, Manager of Academic Affairs\, Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies\, Department of Defense\, Washington\, Changing Dynamics of Maritime Security in the Middle East: an Evaluation of the United States Approach (Skype)Dr. Elena Suponina\, Advisor\, Institute for Strategic Studies\, Moscow\, Russia and the Middle EastDr. Gidon Windecker\, Former Regional Representative to the Gulf States with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung\, Germany\, The EU and the Middle EastProfessor P. R. Kumaraswamy\, School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi\, Great Powers Challenge Modi’s Middle East Strategy12:00 – 13:30 Session VI –  Emerging Socioeconomic ChallengesChair: Professor Girijesh Pant\, Former Dean\, School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New DelhiSpeakers: H. E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa\, Chairman\, Bahrain Center for Strategic\, International & Energy Studies\, Bahrain\, Instability in Iraq and Yemen: Common Roots\, and Potential RemediesDr. Elsayed Abofarha\, Assistant Professor\, Banisuef University\, Cairo\, Egypt\, The Qualitative Transformation of the Terrorism Phenomenon in the Arab Region & the Expiration of Nation State: Egypt’s Role in the ConfrontationDr. P. K. Pradhan\, Associate Fellow\, IDSA\, Protracted Transition in West Asia13:30 –14:30Lunch14:30 – 16:00Session VII – India and WANA: Building Partnerships and Managing ChallengesChair: Dr. B. Bala Bhaskar\, JS (WANA)\, Ministry of External Affairs\, IndiaSpeakers: Dr. Meena Singh Roy\, Research Fellow\, Coordinator West Asia Centre\, IDSA\, Securing India’s Strategic Interests in the Changing Regional Order in West AsiaKhalid Hamad Al Gailani\, Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of Sultanate of Oman\, India-Oman RelationsAmb. Michael Ronen\, Head of India and South East Asia Bureau\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Israel\, India-Israel RelationsDr. Haytham Mouzahem\, Director\, Beirut Center for Middle East Studies\, Beyond ISIS: Will the Terror Survive?16:00– 16:15Tea Break16:15 – 17:30Session VIII – Panel Discussion: Security and Stability in WANA: The Way ForwardChair: Ambassador Talmiz AhmadSpeakers: Ruchita Beri\, Senior Research Associate\, IDSADr. Awadh Al-Badi\, King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies\, RiyadhAmb. Seyed Hossein Mousavian\, Former Diplomat and Visiting Research Scholar\, Princeton UniversityDr. Wael Batterkhi\, Minister Counsellor\, Deputy Head of Mission\, Embassy of the State of Palestine\, New DelhiVote of Thanks: Dr. Md. Muddassir Quamar\, Associate Fellow and Co-Convenor\, Third West Asia Conference\, IDSA\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\nAmbassador Talmiz Ahmad \nTalmiz Ahmad joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974. Early in his career\, he was posted in a number of West Asian countries such as Kuwait\, Iraq and Yemen and later. From 1987-90\, he was Consul General in Jeddah. He also held positions in the Indian missions in New York\, London and Pretoria. He was Joint Secretary for Gulf and Hajj in 1998-2000. \nHe served as Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia twice (2000-03; 2010-11); Oman (2003-04)\, and the UAE (2007-10). He was also Additional Secretary for International Cooperation in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2004-06\, and Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)\, New Delhi\, in 2006-07. In July 2011\, the Saudi Government conferred on him the King Abdul Aziz Medal First Class for his contribution to the promotion of Indo – Saudi relations. \nAfter retirement from Foreign Service in 2011\, he worked in the corporate sector in Dubai for four years. He is now a full-time academic and holds the Ram Sathe Chair in International Studies\, Symbiosis International University\, Pune. \nHe has published three books: Reform in the Arab World: External Influences and Regional Debates (2005)\, Children of Abraham at War: The Clash of Messianic Militarisms (2010) and The Islamist Challenge in West Asia: Doctrinal and Political Competitions after the Arab Spring (2013). He writes regularly in the Indian and West Asian media and lectures on political Islam\, the politics of West Asia and the Indian Ocean\, and energy security issues.\n\n\nH. E. President Amine Gemayel  \nAmine Gemayel served as president of the Lebanese Republic between 1982 and 1988. He obtained a law degree from the French Faculty of Law at Saint Joseph University in 1965. In 1970 he was elected as a member of the National Assembly and served as MP till his election to the presidency. \nApart from his political activities\, President Amine Gemayel established in 1975 the French daily “Le Réveil” and in 1976 La “Maison du Futur” (MdF)\, a think tank with focus on Lebanese and Middle Eastern issues including the Arab Israeli conflict. He still the chairman and ceo of MdF. \nAfter his term in office ended in September 23rd 1988\, he joined the Center for International Affairs (Harvard University) till 1991. He afterward lectured at universities\, research centers and political clubs on various topics tackling problems of contemporary societies. \nFrom 1999 till 2000\, he joined the University of Maryland\, College Park as distinguished visiting professor. Between 2001 and 2004 he joined Jean Monet faculty at Paris XI   University as professor. In 2005 he was elected president for the Kataëb Party. In 2012 he was elected as vice President of the International Centrist Democratic Parties (IDC- CDI). In 2017 he joined the Council of Arabic and International Relations\, based in Kuwait. His publications include “Peace and Unity”\, (Colin and Smythe\, 1986)\, “L’Offense et le Pardon”\, (Gallimard\, 1988)\, “Al-Rihan al-kabir”\, (Dar Annahar\, 1988)\, “Meditations d’espoir”\, (Jean Claude Lattès\, 1990)\, “Rebuilding Lebanon” Published in English\, Arabic and French (Harvard University Press\, 1992)\n\n\nDr. Seyed Kazem Sajjadpour \nDr Seyed Mohammad Kazem Sajjadpour was Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative for the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations. Prior to this\, he was the Director of the Institute for Political and International Studies\, the research branch of Iran’s foreign ministry. Dr Sajjadpour received his PhD in political science from George Washington University and was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard. He has taught at the College of International Relations of Tehran University\, Azad University and Iran’s National Defense University. He was a Professor of International Relations and the Chairman of the Department of Diplomacy and International Organizations of School of International Relations. He acted as Editor in Chief of Iranian Review of Foreign Affairs and was President of Iranian Political Science Association. He has been Advisor to the Minister Foreign Affairs on Strategic Issues\, 2013-2016\, Ambassador of Iran to the United Nation in Geneva\, 2003-2004\, Director General of Institute for Political & International Studies (IPIS)\, 1999-2003.\n\n\nDr. Haytham Mouzahem \nDr. Mouzahem is the Director of Beirut Center for Middle East Studies and Editor in Chief of The Levant News site. He is also an analyst and researcher in Middle East and Islamic affairs and has written six books and several articles and chapters. He worked as a researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies and Research and Documentation in Beirut (1992-1998) he then worked as an editor writer and correspondent for Beirut’s al-Mustaqbal newspaper (1999-2005) before moving to the Emirati al-Bayan newspaper (2005-2006) as editor writer and correspondent. In the Spring of 2006 he joined the Ministry of Presidential Affairs where he worked as a researcher and analyst in the media affairs department until July 2009. In April 2010 he became editor-in-chief of Iraq Today magazine in Beirut and in October of the same year was named managing editor of al-Ittihad news channel. \nHis books include Israel Labor Party (1968-1999) published in Arabic by the Emirates Center for Studies and Strategic Studies in Abu Dhabi in 2001\,  The Evolution of the Marja`iya in Twelver Shi`ism and The Current Shi`a Political Theories: From the Wilayat of the Jurist to the Wilayat of the Nation. He coordinated and participated in the two books on Iran that were published in May 2011 by al-Misbar Center for Studies and Research in Dubai. He also has participated in the translation of a number of books and studies most notably The Syrian-Israeli Negotiations published by the Bahith Center for Studies in Beirut in 2001 and Graham Fuller’s book Iraq in the Next Decade: Will Iraq Survive Until 2002?published by the Emirates Center for Research and Strategic Studies in Abu Dhabi.\n\n\nDr. Abdelhamid Abdeljaber         \nDr.Abdeljaber is a Lecturer in Department of Political Science\, Rutgers University in the United States. He is also the Bureau Chief at the United Nations for Arabic Daily Alquds AlArabi since 2014. He has a PhD in International Relations from City University of New York and a Masters in Political Science and International Relations from New York University. He spent a significant time in his career in the United Nations. Between 1980 and 2006 he worked in various capacities at the United Nations Head Quarter in New York as well as its missions in various countries in the Middle East. As part of his career in the UN\, he was part of several international missions including Former Czechoslovakia (1985)\, Libya(1992-1999)\, Eritrea/Ethiopia (1993)\, Western Sahara (1995)\, Israel/Palestine (1996\, 1998\, 2000)\, South Africa (2001\, 2002)\, Botswana (2002)\, Pakistan /Afghanistan (2001)\, Iraq (1997\, 20003)\, Lebanon (2004)\, China (2004)\, Tunisia (2005)\, Algeria (2006\, Geneva – several missions (1992-2002). He is the author of the book Thalika Al-Yawm Al-Aseeb (That Unforgettable Day) that commemorates the attack on UN Headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003\, in which 22 of his colleagues were killed and he survived miraculously. He regularly writes and comments in the Arabic and English media on Middle Eastern issues.\n\n\nDr. Nada M. Ibrahim Al-Jubouri \nDr. Nada Al-jubouri is a former member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives. She has also served as member in the Foreign Affair Committee\, member of the woman & family Committee. She is a Specialist doctor in Intensive Care and Anaesthesiology and founder member of Iraqi Woman and Future of which she has been a president since 2005.The Iraqi Woman and Future is a non-governmental\, non-profit and independent organization which works on projects with the international and local organizations on issues related to violence against women and gender equality and provides free legal room for widows and victims of violence. She started her medical career with the Iraqi Ministry of Health in 1984. She is member of several Iraqi and international organizations working in the field of women and child welfare.\n\n\nAmbassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian \nSeyed Hossein Mousavian is a former Diplomat and Visiting Research Scholar at Princeton University. He is a Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist at the Program on Science and Global Security. He is a former diplomat who served as Iran’s Ambassador to Germany (1990-1997)\, Head of the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s National Security Council (1997-2005)\, Spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the international community (2003-2005)\, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (2005-2007)\, Vice President of the Center for Strategic Research for International Affairs (2005-2009)\, General Director of Foreign Ministry for West Europe (1987-1990)\, Chief of Parliament Administration (1984-1986) and the editor-in-chief of the English-language international newspaper Tehran Times (1980-1990). Mousavian earned a PhD in international relations from the University of Kent in the U.K. His research focuses on exploring pathways for diplomacy between Iran and the United States and maintaining and building on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Mousavian is the author of The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: A Memoir (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace\, 2012) and several other books on Iranian foreign policy. His latest book\, Iran and the United States: An Insider’s view on the Failed Past and the Road to Peace was published by Bloomsbury Publishers in May 2014.\n\n\nDr. Awadh Al-Badi   \nAwadh Al-Badi\, Ph.D.   Advisor and Senior Scholar at King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies\, Riyadh\, Saudi Arabia; Director of Research at the same Center (1999-2010); Lecturer and faculty Member at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Saudi Arabia; His research and publications focuses on diplomatic history of the Middle East\, international and regional politics\, regional Security\, and Saudi Arabia foreign policy.\n\n\nDr. Badra Gaaloul  \nDr. Badra Galoul is President International Center for Strategic\, Security and Military Studies\, Tunisia. She has a PhD in Military sociology From the University of Human and Social Sciences\, Tunis and had previously taught at various military schools in Tunisia including Aviation School Borj Amri\, Military Academy FondekE’Jedid and Naval Academy Manzel Bourguiba. She has also taught course in social psychology and communication technique in civil institutions and served in various research capacities in organizations including International Migration Organization\, Tunisian Observatory for Global Security\, National Union of Tunisian security Forces and center of the Mediterranean and International Studies\n\n\nProfessor Dan Schueftan \nDr. Dan Schueftan is the Director of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa\, the Director of the International Graduate Program in National Security at that university\, a Visiting Professor (2012-2014) at the Department of Government at Georgetown University in Washington DC and a lecturer at the Israel Defense Forces National Defense College. For the last four decades he has been a consultant to Israeli decision makers and to the top echelon of Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office\, Foreign Ministry\, Defense Ministry\, the IDF and The National Security Council. \nSince the mid-1970s\, Dr.Schueftan has been briefing Members and staffers of the US Congress\, as well as top professionals and key political appointees in the executive branch. In Europe he has been briefing ministers\, parliamentarians\, political leaders\, senior officers\, defense and intelligence officials and government advisors. He regularly lectures at leading universities\, research centers and think-tanks in the United States\, Europe and East Asia and is a regular source and interviewee on the Middle East for the major media in Israel\, the Arab world\, Europe\, and North America. \nDr. Schueftan has published extensively on contemporary Middle Eastern history\, with emphasis on Arab-Israeli relations\, Inter-Arab politics and American policy in the Middle East. His books cover a wide variety of topics:  A Jordanian Option – Israel\, Jordan and the Palestinians (1986); Attrition: Egypt’s Post War Political Strategy 1967-1970(1989); Disengagement -Israel and the Palestinian Entity (1999). This last book\, advocating unilateral disengagement\, had a considerable effect on Israeli policy makers. Dr. Schueftan’s recent books are Palestinians in Israel – the Arab Minority and the Jewish State (2011) and The Israel-Arab Reader – A Documentary History of the Middle East Conflict (co-edited with Walter Laqueur\, 2016).\n\n\nProfessor Mustafa Aydin \nProf Dr Mustafa Ayd?n is the Rector of Kadir Has University (Istanbul) since February 2010\, and the President of the International Relations Council of Turkey since 2004. He is also Governing Board Member of the OECD International Management of Higher Education Programme\, and member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts\, as well as the European Leadership Network. \nProfessor Aydin previously worked at Ankara University (1994-2005) and Economy and Technology University (2005-2009); and was guest researcher/lecturer at Michigan (1998)\, Harvard (2002\, Fulbright fellow)\, and Athens (2003\, Onassis Fellow) universities\, as well as Richardson Institute for Peace Studies (1999\, UNESCO Fellow) and the EU Institute for Security Studies (2003). He is a member of Global Relations Forum (GIF)\, International Studies Association (ISA)\, Turkish Atlantic Council\, Turkish Political Sciences Association\, International Network on Regional Security\, and the European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS). He was member of Economy and Foreign Policy Study Group of the President of Turkey (2003-2009)\, Co-Coordinator of the International Commission on Black Sea (2010); and Director of International Policy Research Institute (2005-2011). \nProf. Ayd?n’s areas of interest are international politics\, foreign policy analysis\, Eurasian security and geopolitics\, politics of the Black Sea and the Middle East\, as well as Turkish foreign and security policies.\n\n\nDr. JinLiangxiang \nDr. Jin Liangxiang\, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for West Asian and African Studies and Senior Research Fellow with Institute for International Strategic Studies\, SIIS. He is specialized in the Middle Eastern international relations\, and is particularly engaged in the field of Iran’s foreign policy and domestic politics. He has also conducted some research on international relations on China’s neighboring areas. He has visited more than 20 countries and regions\, most of which are Middle East countries and China’s neighboring countries. He has been a frequent visitor of numerous influential academic institutions and conferences. He was a visiting fellow of the Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace (2002-2003)\, Fredrich Ebert Stiftung New York Office (2006)\, the Baker Institute (2011) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of the U.S. (2013). He is the author of the book “On the Domestic Sources of Iran’s Foreign Policy” (2015). He has written more than twenty academic papers on Middle Eastern studies\, most of which are about Iran. He is also a frequent writer in English for www.china.org\,cn and China-U.S. Focus. Some of his English articles are available at the following linkage.\n\n\nDr. Prasanta Kumar Pradhan \nDr. Prasanta Kumar Pradhan is an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)\, New Delhi. He holds a doctorate degree from the School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi. Since joining IDSA\, he has been researching on foreign policy\, security and strategic issues in West Asia\, and India’s relationship with West Asia and the wider Arab world. He is the author of the book Arab Spring and Sectarian Fault lines in West Asia: Bahrain\, Yemen and Syria\, monograph India’s Relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council: Need to Look beyond Business\, and has edited Geopolitical Shifts in West Asia: Trends and Implications. He has also published articles in reputed journals and contributed articles to several edited volumes on West Asia.\n\n\nJeffrey S. Payne \nJeffrey Payne is Research Fellow/Academic Affairs Manager at the National Defense University’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) in Washington\, DC. He joined the NESA Center in 2012\, after serving for five years as an Instructor of Political Science at Butler University. While at Butler\, he taught classes on Asian politics\, social movements\, international relations\, and political economy. Mr. Payne has also served as a consultant for the World Bank and as a faculty member for DePauw University. As a Research Fellow at the NESA Center\, Mr. Payne conducts analysis on Chinese foreign policy\, South Asian security affairs\, maritime security\, and transnational movements. In his role as Academic Affairs Manager\, Mr. Payne serves the Dean of the NESA Center by managing academic products produced by the NESA Center. Presently\, he serves as the NESA Center’s lead for engagements in the People’s Republic of China. He also serves as the director of the Next Generation Seminar\, an ongoing NESA program devoted to the rising generation of leaders in the Middle East and the impact of the Arab Awakening. Additional NESA programs in which he is a part include Energizing Peace\, a program devoted to energy security in the Levant\, and the Strategic Studies Network. Mr. Payne received his Master’s Degree from Indiana University. Originally hailing from the Midwest\, he has lived in China and travelled extensively throughout Asia. He and his wife live in the Northern Virginia.\n\n\nDr.  Elena Suponina \nDr. Elena Suponina is advisor at the Institute for Strategic Studies\, Moscow where she has previously served as Director of the Middle East and Asia Center. He research interests include contemporary Middle Eastern and Asian issues; cooperation between Russia and countries in the region; international mediation in the Middle East settlement; counter-terrorism strategies; Foreign policy and International affairs. Dr Suponina during her 15 years in research was a member of analytic groups belonging to the Kremlin and Foreign Ministry\, traveling with Russian President and several Russian Foreign Ministers during their trips abroad. For her researches she met and interviewed eminent world leaders\, including the leaders of most Arab countries\, presidents\, heads of governments\, foreign ministers and ministers of petroleum and energy industries\, heads of intelligence agencies and political parties. She published over 10 research papers and thousands of opinion articles. As political analyst she provides commentaries for various Russian\, Western and Arab TV channels and radio stations. Dr. Suponina has received International and Russian awards for best publications in following areas: Islam in Russia\, Russian–Arab cooperation\, International Policy. She was also given an award for courage from Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.\n\n\nDr. Gidon Windecker \nGidon Windecker has lived and worked in the Middle East for the last 16 years. He is a social scientist and holds a PhD degree in Middle Eastern Studies. He is an expert on consulting international stakeholders\, especially in volatile and politically sensitive environments. His consulting work focuses on organisational development\, change management\, policy implementation processes\, and strategy design and implementation. He has also trained numerous local organisations in project management. \nGidon worked for and headed the Regional Office Gulf States of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for altogether six years. He is an advocate for international cooperation\, intercultural communication\, and rapport building between people of diverse backgrounds. “Building bridges through Dialogue” has been the long-standing motto of his work. \nThe focus of Gidon’s research and project work is good governance\, civil society empowerment\, prevention of radicalisation\, peace education\, and inter-religious dialogue. He has published a considerable number of relevant research papers on Middle Eastern politics\, socio-economic development\, conflict transformation\, and media and society in the Arab world. His regional focus lies on the Levant and the Gulf States.\n\n\nProfessor P R Kumaraswamy \nP R Kumaraswamy is a professor of contemporary Middle Eastern studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)\, New Delhi\, India. During 1992-1999\, he was a research fellow at the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace\, Jerusalem. Since joining JNU in September 1999\, he has been researching\, teaching and writing on various aspects of the contemporary Middle East. His works include Squaring the Circle: Mahatma Gandhi and the Jewish National Home (2018); India’s Israel Policy (2010) and Historical Dictionary of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (2015). In February 2010 he setup the virtual Middle East Institute\, New Delhi and serves as its honorary director. He is the editor of Contemporary Review of the Middle East and the Series Editor of Persian Gulf: India’s Relations with the Region.\n\n\nDr. Elsayed Ali Abofarha \nDr. Elsayed Ali Abofarha is Assistant Professor of political science at the Faculty of Economic Studies and Political Science in Banisuef University\, Cairo\, Egypt. He was a Fellow at Massachusetts Amherst University in 2015 and has been a visiting professor at universities of Connecticut\, Virginia\, Shippensburg\, and Massachusetts Amherst. Dr.Abofarha was awarded PhD by Cairo University in 2015 for his thesis on and “Judiciary’s Political Role in Democratization: Comparative Study.” He book The Implications of Qualitative Transformation in the Terrorist Phenomenon on the Arab Nation State (in Arabic) was published by Center for Strategic Studies\, Bibliotheca Alexandrina\, Egypt in 2016. In addition he has published numerous articles and contributed chapters in edited volumes.\n\n\nH. E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa \nH.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Bahrain Centre for Strategic\, International and Energy Studies\, in addition to serving as Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain\, a post he has held since August 2015. In 2015\, Shaikh Abdulla was awarded a PhD in International Relations and Diplomacy from the École des Hautes Études Internationales\, France. In 2008\, he earned a Master of Law (LLM) from Queen Mary College\, University of London\, UK\, focusing on negotiation and mediation. He also holds a Diploma in Political Development (Honours) from the Bahrain Institute for Political Development\, Bahrain 2007 and a Bachelor of Law (LLB) (Honours) from the Applied Science University\, Jordan 2006. \nShaikh Abdulla is an international expert in Mediation\, accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London where he participated in their training initiatives for international agencies and experts. He is also accredited as a Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming by the United States’ National Federation of Neuro Linguistic Programming.\n\n\nAzmi Bishara (TBC) \nHe is the Director General of the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies and a member of its Executive Board. A prominent researcher and writer\, Bishara has published numerous books and academic papers in political thought\, social theory\, and philosophy\, in addition to several literary works. He was Professor of Philosophy and History of Political Thought at Birzeit University\, from 1986 to 1996. He also co-founded Muwatin\, the Palestinian Institute for the Study of Democracy\, and Mada al-Carmel\, the Arab Centre for Applied Social Research. Bishara was the principal founder of the National Democratic Assembly (Balad)\, a Palestinian-Arab party inside the Green Line\, which supports democratic values irrespective of religious\, ethnic or national identity. For four consecutive sessions\, from 1996-2007\, he represented his party as an elected member of parliament. In 2007\, Bishara had differences with the Israeli authorities over his political positions. He currently resides in Doha\, Qatar. He is the recipient of the Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2002 and the Global Exchange Human Rights Award in 2003.\n\n\nDr. Ebtesam al-Ketbi \nEbtesam Al-Ketbi is a founder and president of the Emirates Policy Center and the first Arab woman to lead a think tank. She is a professor of political science at United Arab Emirates University and a member of the Consultative Commission of the Gulf Cooperation Council. She has served in several capacities\, including: as the secretary general of the Gulf Development Forum; as a board member of the Association of Political Sciences; as a member of the board of trustees of the Arab Unity Studies Center; as a member of the board of trustees of the Arab Organization for Transparency; as a consultative board member of the Arab Thought Foundation; as a member of the board of trustees of the Arab Council for Social Sciences; and as a member of the core team behind the 2006 Arab Human Development Report\, among others. She is a founding member of the Emirates Human Rights Association. \nShe has published a number of papers including: “The Security Dimensions of Military Relations Between GCC countries and the USA”; “The Global Community and the War on Terrorism: Threat or Opportunity?”; and “Democratic Transformations in GCC Countries. She earned a PhD in political science from Cairo University.\n\n\nKhalid Hamad Al Gailani (TBC) \nDeputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of Sultanate of Oman \nDr. Meena Singh Roy \nDr. Meena Singh Roy is a Research Fellow and Coordinator\, West Asia Centre at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. She has published books titled\, International and Regional Security Dynamics: Indian and Iranian Perspectives (ed.)\, July 2009\, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi; Emerging Trends in West Asia: Regional and Global Implications (ed.)\, Pentagon Press\, 2014 and a monograph titled The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: India Seeking New Role in the Eurasian Regional Mechanism\, 2014\, IDSA Publication. Her Forthcoming book is titled Linking South and Central Asia in the New Strategic Environment: Envisioning India’s Future Partnership with the Eurasian.\n\n\nAmbassador Michael Ronen \nMichael Ronen is Head of India and South East Asia Bureau\, MFA Israel. He completed his M.A. in European Studies\, Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983. Prior to that he was Deputy Ambassador in El Salvador\, Deputy Ambassador in Colombia\, Deputy Ambassador in Paraguay\, Deputy Ambassador in Azerbaijan\, Deputy Chief of Mission in Australia\, Non-Resident Ambassador to the Pacific Islands. He served at various departments in Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs like Official Guests Department\, Deputy Director in European Organizations Department\, Deputy Director in Emergency and Crisis Management Center\, Director of the Pacific Department and Director of the South East Asia Department.\n\n\nProf. Mohammed Benhammou \nMohammed Benhammou is President\, Moroccan Centre for Strategic Studies (CMES)\, Rabat. He is former student of the National School of Administration of Paris. He is a graduate of the University of Montpellier and holds a doctorate of state in law. As a professor\, he was engage in teaching political science\, evaluation of public policies international relations and introduction to strategic studies and geopolitical changes in the Rabelese French universities and Mohammed V-Souissi University. He is former vice Dean of la Faculte de Droit de Sale and he is current chief of Department of Public Law. He is former vice President of international organisation called “Trainers without Borders”.  He is the President of Centre Marocain Etudes Stratégiques (CMES) and elected President at African Federation of Strategic Studies (FAES). He is member of International Institute for Strategic Studies and is associated with the London Academy of Diplomacy. He has a number of publications to his credit.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhotographs\n\n\nPhotographs [+]\n\n\n\n\nRapporteur’s Report\n\n\nRapporteur’s Report[+]\n\n\n\n\nPREVIOUS CONFERENCES:\nIdeology\, Politics and New Security Challenges in West Asia\, January 19-20\, 2016 [+]\nGeopolitical Shifts in West Asia: Trends and Implications\, September 10-11\, 2014 [+]
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/3rd-west-asia-conference-changing-security-paradigm-in-west-asia-regional-and-international-responses
CATEGORIES:Previous West Asia Conference,CONFERENCES,West Asia Conference
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20140910T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20140911T053000
DTSTAMP:20261110T072107
CREATED:20231223T125508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250404T005730Z
UID:62769-1410327000-1410413400@idsa.in
SUMMARY:1st West Asia Conference - Geopolitical Shifts in West Asia: Trends and Implications
DESCRIPTION:Concept Note The West Asian region continues its struggle to establish a stable political order. As the popular protests removed many longstanding authoritarian regimes throughout West Asia and North Africa in 2011\, the contemporary geo-political situation seems to be getting more complex day by day. The hoped-for transition from authoritarianism to democratisation has been rather painful and convulsive\, and has a long way to go. Tunisia is the only success story. The situations in Libya\, Egypt and Yemen are still evolving and these countries are yet to find a viable future political roadmap for themselves. Besides\, the deteriorating situation in Syria provides a geo-political challenge for peace and stability throughout the region. The region is experiencing rapid destabilising societal and political changes and\, thus\, the fundamental challenge is to envision ways to achieve ordered change for West Asia. There has been much speculation amongst scholars regarding the future trajectory of the so-called Arab Spring; whether this tumultuous upsurge will peter out remaining an isolated event in contemporary history or will the chain of events translate into a movement leaving behind a significant mark throughout the Arab world and West Asia. Particularly disturbing not only for the region but for the immediate neighbourhoods as well is that the continuing uncertainty is creating expanding spaces for extremist and terrorist elements to entrench themselves in the region. Their increasing activities are evident on a daily basis in Iraq\, Libya\, Somalia\, Syria and Yemen manifested in a growing number of attacks. Sectarian politics in the region has also further contributed to the growth of such radical ideologies among the people. Iran has been the most important player throwing its weight behind various Shia groups. Saudi Arabia has been known for supporting the Salafists throughout the region while Qatar supports the Muslim Brotherhood. The growing Shia-Sunni dimension of the conflict has severe implications for regional security throughout West Asia. The P5+1 interim agreement with Iran in November 2013 over Iranian nuclear programme has added yet another dimension to the complex geopolitics in the region. As per the interim agreement\, Iran has agreed to freeze parts of its nuclear programme\, provide access to the international inspectors as well as provide additional information about its nuclear programme. In return\, the P5+1 has agreed to partially lift sanctions on Iran. As further negotiations continue to reach a possible final deal\, countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel have expressed concerns regarding the West’s rapprochement with Iran. Saudi Arabia believes that Iran has been able to buy time by signing the interim deal with the P5+1. Similarly\, Israel is also concerned about the future of the agreement and its implications for regional security in West Asia. The region has a history of external influence and even intervention in the past. Among several stakeholders\, the US remains the most prominent one despite undoubted loss of influence in the region. Its attitude towards the Arab Spring and it policy of ‘rebalancing towards Asia Pacific’ has drawn criticism from its regional allies. At the same time\, Russia is emerging as a major player in the region with its support for Iran\, stance on Syria and ongoing efforts to cultivate stronger ties with Egypt\, it could emerge as an important player. Recent developments in Ukraine and Russia’s role therein exhibit increasing Russian assertiveness in the world affairs and it may have an impact on the developments in West Asia. China\, meanwhile\, has continued to strengthen its economic leverage in the region and is a major player in the energy scenario as well.  Continuing regional instability also raises increasing concerns related to issues of energy security. The emergence of protests led to rise in international oil prices and created apprehensions regarding uninterrupted production and supply. Since the economy of many countries in the region is primarily dependent upon the hydrocarbon sector\, any disruption in production and supply of oil may have serious impact not only regionally but much further beyond on countries dependent on oil supply from the region.  India has been following West Asian developments very closely. India has important political\, economic and security stakes in the peace and stability of West Asia. In the light of the emerging political situation\, the challenge facing India is to balance its political equations and economic interests with major regional and external players in the region. India is heavily dependent on energy supplies from the Gulf region. Energy imports from the region constituted around 63 percent of India’s total oil imports in 2012-13. The region is the leading trading partner for India with a total trade of around US$ 200 billion in the same year. Around 7 million Indian passport holders live in the region and they form another important symbiotic link between India and the region. The importance of stability is therefore of paramount importance for India. Absence of a robust security architecture and deep rooted intra-regional conflicts raises concerns about the viability of regional security in West Asia. There is a realisation in some quarters that India should start getting involved in the regional security of West Asia. As India maintains warm ties with all the major countries in the region and is non-interfering in the internal affairs of these countries\, it can be an important player in talking to various countries to discuss about regional security in the region. Realising the importance of the developments taking place in the region and huge Indian stakes involved in the regional stability\, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)\, New Delhi\, has taken a decision to hold an annual West Asia conference beginning this year\, and in this regard\, the first conference will be held on September 10-11\, 2014. This year’s conference will deliberate on geo-political\, security\, economic and strategic issues unfolding in the West Asian region. Scholars from India\, West Asia and other countries will participate in the conference to discuss in greater details the evolving trends and its implications for the regional peace and stability in West Asia.  Programme Schedule Programme ScheduleDay – 1\, September 10\, 2014Registration: 09:30-10:00Session I: 10:00 – 10:30 Introductory Remarks by Brig. Rumel Dahiya (Retd.)\, Deputy Director General\, IDSA. Keynote Address by General Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd)\, Minister of State for External Affairs\, Government of India Tea Break: 10:30 – 10:45 Session II: 10:45 – 13:00: Current Geopolitical Situation in West Asia Chair: Amb. Chinmaya R. Gharekhan Speakers:  A New Paradigm in Understanding the Current Developments in the Middle East\, Dr. Mostafa Torkzahrani\, Director General\, Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS)\, Tehran.  The Arab Uprisings: The More Things Changed\, the More They Stayed the Same\, Prof. Gencer Özcan\, Istanbul Bilgi University\, Istanbul. (via Skype\, TBC)  Egypt and Geopolitics in West Asia\, Amb. Mohamed Fathy Abdel Hamid El Shazly\, National Project Director\, Executive Secretariat for the De-mining and Development of the North West Coast\, Ministry of International Cooperation\, Cairo.  Regional Geopolitical Situation in the Middle East\, Amb. Ahmed Salem Saleh Al-Wahishi\, Director\, Yemeni International Affairs’ Center\, Sanaa.  Arab Uprisings and Changing Geopolitical Trends in West Asia\, Dr. N. Janardhan\, Dubai based Political Analyst. Lunch Break: 13:00-14:00 Session III: 14:00 – 16:00: Sectarianism\, Extremism and Regional Security Chair: Amb. S K Bhutani Speakers: Regional Security in the Gulf: A GCC Perspective\, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Ghaffar\, Advisor to HM the King for Diplomatic Affairs\, Chairman\, Board of Trustees\, Bahrain Center for Strategic\, International and Energy Studies\, Manama.  Sectarianism and Regional Security in West Asia\, Amb. Talmiz Ahmad\, Former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia\, Oman and the UAE. Recent Developments in Iraq and its Regional Implications\, Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Qassab\, Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies\, Doha. GCC and Gulf Security: Time to Shed Past Baggage and Evolve Anew\, Col. Rajeev Agarwal\, Research Fellow\, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi. Session IV: 16:15 – 18:00: External Interventions and its long term consequences Chair: Amb. Sanjay Singh Speakers: Russian Perspective of the External Intervention in West Asia\, Dr. Veniamin Popov\, Director\, Civilizations’ Partnership Centre\, Institute of Oriental Studies\, Moscow.How to deal with West Asia? Commonalities and Differences in the European and German Approaches\, Prof. Henner Fürtig\, Acting Vice-President\, German Institute of Global and Area Studies\, Hamburg. (via Skype\, TBC) The Love-Hate Relationship: External Interventions and the Region\, Prof. P. R. Kumaraswamy\, School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi. External Intervention in West Asia: Regional and Global Implications\, Dr. Waiel Awwad\, New Delhi based independent journalist.  Perils of External Intervention in West Asia and Ramifications for India\, Dr. Meena Singh Roy\, Research Fellow\, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi. Day – 2\, September 11\, 2014Session V: 09:30 to 13:00: Impact of Regional Instability on Energy Security Chair: Amb. Ranjit Gupta  The Other Side of the World\, Dr.Jon B. Alterman\, Senior Vice President\, Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Director\, Middle East Program\, Center for Strategic and International Studies\, Washington\, DC. Strategic Transformation in the West Asia and China’s Policy Choices\, Dr. Niu Xinchun\, Director\, Institute of Middle East Studies\, China Institutes of Contemporary International Studies\, Beijing. (via Skype\, TBC)  The Impact of the Regional Instability in West Asia (Middle East) on Energy Security: The Cases of Japan and Asia\, Prof. Toshitaka Takeuchi\, Osaka School of International Public Policy\, Osaka. (via Skype\, TBC)  A Korean Perspective of the Impact of Regional Instability on Energy Security\, Prof. Jeongmin Seo\, Department of Middle East and Africa Studies\, Graduate School of International and Area Studies\, Seoul. Tea Break: 11:00 – 11:30  Energy and Geopolitics of West Asia: Changing Dynamics\, Prof. Girijesh Pant\, School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi. West Asian Turmoil and the Future of the Regional Gas Sector: Implications for India\, Ms. Shebonti Ray Dadwal\, Research Fellow\, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses\, New Delhi. Lunch Break: 13:00 – 14:00 Session VI: 14:00 – 16:00: Panel Discussion: India and the West Asian Region Chair: Dr. Arvind Gupta Panelists:  Dr. Muhammad Abdul Ghaffar\, Chairman\, Board of Trustees\, DERASAT  Dr. Mostafa Torkzahrani\, Director General\, IPIS  Amb. Arundhati Ghose\, Former Indian Diplomat   Shri Sandeep Kumar\, Joint Secretary (WANA)\, MEA  Prof. A. K. Pasha\, Jawaharlal Nehru University   Brig. Rumel Dahiya (Retd.)\, Deputy Director General\, IDSA  Prof. Gulshan Dietl\, ICSSR Senior Fellow affiliated to IDSA \n\nConference Booklet\nRapporteurs Report
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/1st-west-asia-conference-geopolitical-shifts-in-west-asia-trends-and-implications
CATEGORIES:Previous West Asia Conference,CONFERENCES,West Asia Conference
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