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SUMMARY:19th Asian Security Conference - Combating Terrorism: Evolving an Asian Response
DESCRIPTION:Concept Note\n\nAsia\, with close to sixty percent of the world’s population\, has suffered disparate political\, nationalist\, religious\, ideological\, ethnic\, sectarian\, and state sponsored violence for decades\, if not centuries. The world’s geo-economic pivot may have shifted to Asia\, but the repercussions of every day violence and terrorism are becoming an impediment in the realisation of the Asian Century. Violent extremism comes in the way of socio-economic development and inclusive growth\, amplifying and widening fissures caused by failures of governance. Historical roots of militancy (insurgencies\, separatist movements\, etc.) in many countries of Asia have provided the context for local grievances to be exploited by larger ideological frameworks of global extremist movements.  \nThe resurgence of violent extremist movements we are witnessing today has evolved in sophistica-tion with the advances in technology\, communication\, and the complicated web of terror finance. Threats that were earlier contained within national boundaries have now become transnational and ideational challenges\, which respect neither state sovereignty nor existing governance structures. While the challenges confronting Asia and the global order have multiplied\, a cohesive response to them has remained elusive. With countries in the region constructing frameworks of cooperation to combat terrorism\, it is time to exchange ideas on countering violent extremism\, which will define an Asian approach to this issue. A global regime built on a strong foundation of effective regional prac-tices is bound to find wider acceptability. \nTwenty years since it first submitted a proposal for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)\, India has revived its efforts to secure a global consensus in the UN General Assembly in the fight against terrorism. India’s attempts have received traction as the world seems to be in a state of constant terror\, with an increase in the footprint of global terrorist groups\, especially in the West and South West Asia. Having been subjected to and resisted such acts against humanity\, India is engaged in persuading responsible governments across the world to take a more united stand on the matter.  \nThere is a global consensus in principle that there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ terrorist. It is for this reason that India\, has through the Convention\, sought to identify an acceptable definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA would be able to adopt legally; to ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps regardless of their objectives; to prosecute all terrorists under special laws\, and to make cross-border terrorism an extraditable offence worldwide. To build an Asian consensus on the issue\, India has also repeatedly suggested that violent extremism needs to be delinked from religion\, ethnicity or identity. Recognising the trans-national nature of terrorism today\, India has been push-ing for a global regime on terrorism that enforces concepts of – assigning responsibility and ensuring accountability.  \nThe inconsistencies in the global war on terror have been exploited by extremist groups to advance their narratives and ideologies and ensured that ecosystems nurturing terror continue to flourish. Ironically\, even countries which have been victims of frequent terror attacks have shied away from pushing for a more global response to the threat owing to geo-political pressures and rivalries. The embryo of building such response exists in frameworks like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that sets standards with respect to combating money laundering and terrorist financing\, the Egmont Group\, which is an informal network of Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) and through instruments  such as the  ‘United Nations Security Council committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL(da’esh) al-qaida and associated individuals groups\, under-takings and entities’. These however\, do not yet provide an effective  global response for reasons of national expediency. Terrorist groups recruit globally and strike across national boundaries\, yet nations have a fragmented approach in meeting this challenge India seeks a more coherent approach on the part of the entire international community. \nIt with this direction in mind that IDSA aims to take the first step of comprehending the Asian re-sponse to “Combating Terrorism” in the region. In this context the 19th Asian Security Conference will focus on the theme\, “Evolving an Asian Response” to this complex issue. We aim to focus on the following themes over multiple interactive sessions:  \nI . Evaluating the norm building efforts in countering global terrorism\, understanding the geo-political realities and defining the Asian and global response to terrorism.\nII – Identifying  ideologies and drivers fuelling this transnational resurgence of extremist violence\, with an eye on the role of terror finance in exacerbating conflict in the region\nIII – Examining how technology is changing the nature of conflict and the rising challenges there-in to Asian security.\nIV – Assessing the threat of terrorism in Asia: From South West Asia\, to the extended outposts in South Asia and South East Asia.\nV – Forecasting challenges that lie ahead\, debating the absence of effective counter-narratives\, and building upon a reservoir of best practices of counter terrorism efforts by countries in the re-gion.  \nII) The conference will explore these subjects through the course of the following interactive sessions.  \n\nNorms & The Global War on Terror : Challenges for Asia\nNew Wave of Global Terror : Ideas\, Resources and Trends\nThe Age of ‘Instant Terror’: Technology\, the Game Changer\nRegional Perspectives – The West Asia Conundrum : Unraveling geopolitics & global response \nRegional Perspectives – South and South East Asia : The Growing Spectre of Terror\nConstructing effective counter-narratives: The need for a global response\nThe Asian Response to Combating Terror : The Way Forward\n\nInaugural Session: Special Address \nIII) Theme Elaboration\n1. Norms & The Global War on Terror: Challenges for Asia\nIt has taken the world  decades of terrorism and insurgency to understand that escalation of vio-lence is linked in a large part to failed politics\, governance\, and economic development. The set-backs of the global war on terror and the rise in the number vulnerable and failing states since 9/11\, have shown that the civil causes of violence are so deep that no defeat of extremist movements alone can hope to bring any lasting form of security and stability. It has been argued that if extrem-ist violence and its many manifestations are to be defeated then states need to be accountable to both their people and the global order. This lack of accountability\, coupled with the absence of clarity\, consistency\, and enforcement in global norms to tackle terrorism have been impediments to an effective response. In addition\, shifting goalposts and the pressures of geopolitics have proved to be counterproductive to efforts aimed at building a global counter-terrorism regime. Since September 11\, international terrorism has emerged on the top of national and international security agendas necessitating international alignment and cooperation on an unprecedented level. Yet\, the question that has plagued all counter-terrorism efforts since has been the viability of this cooperation in the absence of a basic agreement on the common denominator – the definition of terrorism. This inaugu-ral session seeks to address the following questions : \n\nWhat are the challenges that constrain the global response to counter terrorism? What are the im-plications for Asian Security?\nHow is regional geopolitics shaping state responses?\nWhy is global response to terrorism in some geographies different from others?\nWhat role does India see itself playing in the shaping of a global regime on counter-terrorism? What norms does it seek to build and to what end?\nAssessing support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism\n\n2. The New Wave of Global Terror : Ideas\, Resources\, and Trends\nTerrorism is a dynamic phenomenon that develops over time\, gradually changing its shape and man-ifestations. It is carried out by various organisations in the service of different ideologies. There is growing recognition now that the dominant form of transnational terror today is not motivated by nationalist grievances or separatist goals. Instead\, the current threat confronting the world today is of terrorism motivated by political objectives that uses religion as an instrument to justify violent activities against civilians. These groups are motivated by what they perceive as a divine command and apocalyptic world view. Religious appropriation of the recent wave of attacks across the world\, by the current poster child of extremist violence\, the Islamic State or Da’esh and its many imitators globally is case in point. Fuelling this resurgence is the many reincarnations of the means of terror finance\, taking refuge sometimes in the guise of state sponsored policy or enjoying the patronage of non-state actors .This session will take on these challenging questions and  identify: \n\nWho are the actors driving the new wave of global terror and what are their motivations?\nWhat are new ideas/ideologues that make extremist violence so attractive to recruits? Is there is a shift in narrative?\nWhat is driving the increase in ‘Lone Wolf’ Attacks?\nWhat explains the constant supply of foreign fighters and women pursuing religious extremism?\nWhat are the future trends – threats- both home grown and international that will demand global attention?\nHow effective is the fight against the financing of terror ? Can we enforce accountability?\n\n\n3. The Age of ‘Instant Terror’: Technology\, the Game Changer\nThe most lethal weapon in the arsenal of extremist groups today is technology. The internet is the largest and most ungoverned space in the world. Its unprecedented reach\, instant connectivity\, ano-nymity\, resourcefulness\, and interactiveness along with low cost of access make it the most potent tool in extremist hands. Innovations in technology and the advent of social media have furthered the scope of instant dissemination of propaganda\, strengthened informal networks of online recruitment and radicalisation and worryingly made brutal violence a fashionable tool to install fear in the hearts and minds of a global audience. Social media feed into 24×7 global news cycles\, which amplify these messages further and inadvertently end up endorsing and branding these extremists groups as the face of global terror. This session will seek to address the questions on :  \n\nThe use of technology to ‘brand’ global terror\nInnovations in online radicalization \, recruitment and mobilization\nCyber security and Terrorism: Addressing evolving threats\nSocial Media : Impact\, challenges and opportunities for  counter terrorism efforts\nTechnology and Intelligence : Opportunities for global co-operation \n\n4.Regional Perspectives – The West Asia Conundrum : Unraveling geopolitics & global response\nThe rise of Da’esh has been an unprecedented event in the geopolitics of the West Asian region\, de-spite the region being a  being a burning cauldron for many terrorist movements for the last several decades. Having  captured territories in Iraq and Syria\, Da’esh has challenged the existing regional political order by trying to redraw boundaries in the volatile region. It has spread its tentacles far beyond its captured borders\, subsuming terror groups across the world eager to bandwagon with its brand of terror. With the conflict spilling over to many countries\, it has instigated an unparalleled refugee crisis that the world is still trying to grapple with. Regional actors have taken initiatives\, but there is an absence of a collaborative action on the ground strong enough to defeat the terror group .The existing unease\, competition\, and rivalry among the countries of the region and the interests of extra regional powers have been a hindrance in building up a united front against Daesh. The activities of the United States and Russia have a critical bearing on the geopolitics in West Asia. This ses-sion will explore the West Asian conundrum in all its complexity and assess the impact on the global war on terror. \n5.Regional Perspectives – South and South East Asia: The Growing Spectre of Terror\nThe terrorist threat to South and South East Asia has never been as acute as it is today. South Asia – home to more than one-third of humanity\, has more terrorist groups and terrorists\, than any other part of the world. More lives have been lost in this region to terrorist attacks than anywhere else in the world. Meanwhile\, South East Asia since the 1990s\, is battling the residual challenge posed by sub-state militant extremism which has risen in reaction to both the force of modernization pursued by many Southeast Asian governments and the political influence of radical Islam. Some states in both these regions face a threat to their existence if terrorism is not contained. The developments in Afghanistan-Pakistan and West Asia will have complicated the situation further The story of coun-ter-terrorism efforts so far have been that of individual countries crafting distinct strategies to deal with a problem which has long ago gone trans-national. Attempts at crafting a regional approach have been few and ineffective. This session will examine national and international government responses to extremist movements in the region\, expanding terrorist sanctuaries and homegrown ter-rorist networks\, funding and support from international organisations and governments\, military and policing strategies\, and the success and failures of hearts-and-minds campaigns. \n6. Constructing effective counter-narratives: The need for a global response\nThe field of counter terrorism has expanded from the traditional focus on covert action to preventive measures that dissuade individuals from subscribing to arguments of violent extremists. To that end\, states have developed tools to prevent radicalisation of vulnerable populations in an effort to win hearts and minds. These include promoting interfaith dialogue and breaking down cultural bar-riers between communities. Although attempts have been made by several governments to develop a credible narrative to prevent international terrorism\, there has been a failure to thwart the appeal generated by violent extremist groups. This session will address the following questions: \n\nDoes the current counter narrative account for the variances in the demographic and socio-economic composition of its audience? Would producing tailor-made narratives result in greater outreach? \nIs the negative perception of governments amplifying this challenge? Are there other actors who would be more successful in propagating a counter narrative? \nDoes the narrative address different aspects of the radicalisation process?\nHas the international community been able to shift gears from producing defensive to preventive propaganda? What are the shortcomings of the dissemination strategy being em-ployed? \nHave there been cases of success even if limited that can be studied to further our under-standing?\n\nValedictory Session \n7.The Asian Response to Combating Terror : The Way Forward\n    (Panel Discussion and Scenario Forecasting)\n \n\n\n\nProgramme Schedule\n\n\nDay 1: 6 March 2017\n09:15– 09:45 – Registration  \n09:45– 10:30 – Inauguration \n\nWelcome Address by DG\, IDSA\, Shri Jayant Prasad\nInaugural Address by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar\nVote of Thanks by DDG\, IDSA\, Maj Gen Alok Deb\, SM\, VSM (Retired)\n\n10:30-10:45 – Tea/Coffee Break \n10:45-11:15 – Keynote Address H.E. Mhd. Hanif Atmar\, National Security Advisor\, Afghanistan \n11:15-13:00 – Panel 1 Norms and the Global War on Terror: Challenges for Asia\nChairperson – Dr. Pratap Bhanu Mehta\, President\, Centre for Policy Research\, New Delhi \n\nMaj. Gen. Mahmud Ali Durrani\, Former National Security Advisor\, Pakistan\nSubject: Developing a Common Denominator to Fight Terrorism in Asia\nMr. Abdel Bari Atwan\, Editor-in-chief\, Rai al-Youm\, an Arab world digital news and opinion website\nSubject: Geopolitics of Islamic Jihad\nMr. Praveen Swami\, National Editor (Strategic and International Affairs)\, The Indian Express\nSubject: Invisible Jihad: Challenges for India and Asia\nMr. Ehsan Monawar\, Counter Terrorism Expert\, Afghanistan\nSubject: Countering Terrorism in the AfPak: Past\, present and the road ahead\n\n13:00-14:00 – Lunch Break \n14:00-15:30	– Panel 2 The New Wave of Global Terror: Ideas\, Resources and Trends\nChairperson – Shri G.K Pillai\, Former Home Secretary\, Government of India \n\nMr. Baker Atyani\, Veteran journalist from Jordan\, covering conflict zones in Asia\nSubject: Hostage taking as a Tool of Terrorism and Methodology of Negotiations\nDr. Waiel Awwad\, Writer and South Asia Political Analyst\nSubject: The Terrorism Industry and its Global Expansion\nMs. Lamya Haji Bashar Taha\, Public advocate of the Yazidi community\, Iraq\nSubject: Women and Da’esh\nMr. P.K. Dash\, Director Enforcement Directorate\, Government of India\nSubject: Economics of Terror: The Indian Experience\n\nMr. Atul Goel\, SP\, NIA\nSubject: Terror Finance in Kashmir\nDr. Christine Fair\, Associate Professor\, Peace and Security Studies Program Georgetown University\, USA\nSubject: Women in the Lashkar -e- Taiba: When Terrorism is a Family Affair\n\n15:30-15:45 – Theme Address Shri Gulshan Rai\, Chief of Cybersecurity\, Government of India \n15:45 – 17:15 – Panel 3 Age of ‘Instant Terror’: Technology\, the Game Changer\nChairperson – Dr. Arvind Gupta\, Deputy NSA\, Government of India \n\nDr. Anne Speckhard\, Director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE)\, USA\n   Subject: Breaking the ISIS Brand: Trajectories into and out of Terrorism & the Social Media Recruitment of ISIS\nMr. Madan Oberoi (IPS)\, Former Director of Cyber-Crime\, Interpol\, Singapore\nSubject : Darknet and Cryptocurrencies – Technology as enabler for Terrorism\nMr. Saikat Datta\, Director\, Centre for Internet & Society\, India\nSubject: Technology and Intelligence in Counter Terrorism\nMr. Sanjeev Singh\, Addl DG (anti-Naxal Operations)\, Madhya Pradesh Police\nSubject: Online Radicalisation and India’s CT efforts\nMs. Manjula Sridhar\, Founder ArgByte – a cybercrime analytics software\nSubject: Tackling Malicious Profiling Online: The Indian Experience\n\n17:15 – 17:30	Tea/Coffee \nDay 2: 7 March 2017\n09:45 – 10:00	Tea/Coffee \n10:00 – 12:30 – Panel 4 Regional Perspectives – The West Asia Conundrum: Unraveling Geopolitics and Global Response\nChairperson – Shri Sanjay Singh\, Former Secretary (East)\, Ministry of External Affairs\, Government of India  \n\nAmbassador Hossein Sheikholeslam\, Advisor to Foreign Minister\, Iran.\nSubject: The Threat of Extremism in West Asia: The Iranian Experience\nDr. Vladimir I. Sotnikov\, Senior Research Fellow\, Institute of Eastern Studies\, Russian Academy of Sciences\nSubject: Russia’s views on Radical Islam threat in Central Asia\nMr. Mustafa El Sagezli\, General Manager of The Libyan Program for Reintegration & Development\nSubject: Countering Terrorism in the Maghreb: Implications for Global Security \nMs Prabha Rao\, Senior Fellow\, IDSA\, New Delhi\nSubject: al-Qaeda and the Arab Peninsular \nDr. Frank Ledwidge (UK)\, Former Military Intelligence Officer who served in Iraq\, Afghanistan And Libya\nSubject: A brief survey of total strategic failure:  NATO in Western Asia\nDr. Eitan Shamir\, Senior Research Fellow\, Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies\, Israel\nSubject: What after counter-insurgency? Raiding in zones of turmoil\n\n12:30 – 13:30	Lunch Break \n13:30: – 16:00 – Panel 5 Regional Perspectives – South and South East Asia: The Growing Spectre of Terror\nChairperson – Dr. Sanjaya Baru\, Distinguished Fellow\, USI\, New Delhi \n\nLt. Gen. Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy\, Commandant\, National Defence College\, Mirpur\, Bangladesh\nSubject: Countering Terrorism : Perspectives from Bangladesh\nDr. Ayesha Siddiqa\, Former bureaucrat and Political commentator\, Pakistan\nSubject: A 9/11 for South Asia?\nDr. Ma Xiangwu\, Functionary\, Communist Party of China\nSubject: China’s Experience in Countering Terrorism/Violent Extremism: Policy\, Achievements and Challenges\nGen. Daya Ratnayake\, Former Commander of Army\, Sri Lanka\nSubject: The Sri Lankan defeat of Terrorism: Lessons for evolving a regional response for combatting Terrorism\nDr. Kumar Ramakrishna\, Head of Policy Studies and Coordinator of National Security Studies Programme in the Office of the executive deputy chairman\, RSIS\, Singapore\nSubject: The Evolving ISIS Threat to Southeast Asia\n\n16:00 – 16:15	Tea / Coffee Break \n16:15 – 18:15 – Panel 6 Constructing Effective Counter-narratives: The Need for A Global Response\nChairperson – Mr. Syed Asif Ibrahim\, Indian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on “Countering Terrorism and Extremism \n\nLt. General S A Hasnain\, Former GOC 15 Corps\, Srinagar\, Fellow at Vivekanand International Foundation and Member of Governing Council of Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS)\nSubject: Crafting a Narrative for Kashmir\nH.E. Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun\, Grand Mufti\, Syria\nSubject: Effective Counter narratives for Deradcalisation\nDr. Adil Rasheed\, Research Fellow\, IDSA\nSubject: The Deconstruction of the Jihadist Narrative\nMr. SM Sahai\, IPSSubject: Understanding Sufism to influence extremism in Kashmir\nDr. A.R. Anjaria\, President\, Islamic Defence Cyber Cell of India and Member\, Advisory Council\, Jama Masjid\, Delhi.\nSubject: Use of Quran and Fatwas to enable change \nDr. Kalbe Sadiq\, Founder\, Tauheedul Muslimeen Trust\nSubject: Narratives for Countering Jihad\n\nDay 3: 8 March 2017\n10:00 – 10:15	Tea/ Coffee \n10:15 – 13:00	Valedictory Session – The Asian Response to Combatting Terror: The Way Forward\nChairperson – Commodore C. Uday Bhaskar\, Director\, Society for Policy Studies (SPS)\nPanellists: tbc\nRound up comments – DG\, IDSA\, Shri Jayant Prasad \n13:00	   Lunch (End of Conference)\n \n\n\n\nConference Booklet\n\nClick here to Download\n\n\n\n\nPhotogallery\n\nClick here to Photographs\n\n\n\n\nRapporteurs Report\n\nClick here to Download\n\n\n\n\nContact us\nShruti Pandalai\nCo-ordinator 19th Asian Security Conference\nAssociate Fellow\, Military Centre\nInstitute for Defence Studies and Analyses\nNew Delhi-110010\n(Office) +91 11-26717983 Extn 7202\nEmail: shrutipandalai [at] gmail.com
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/19th-asian-security-conference-combating-terrorism-evolving-an-asian-response
CATEGORIES:Asian Security Conference,Previous ASC,CONFERENCES
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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20170328T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20170329T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T164751
CREATED:20231223T125426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250328T012016Z
UID:62748-1490679000-1490765400@idsa.in
SUMMARY:10th South Asia Conference - Strengthening Connectivity in South Asia
DESCRIPTION:Concept Note\n\n\nSouth Asia has emerged among the fastest-growing regions in the world and is expected to play a dynamic role in shaping the ‘Asian Century’. Known for its human and natural resources\, it has the world’s largest young working population and a significant number of middle-class consumers. According to the most recent World Bank South Asia Economic Focus\, South Asia’s economic growth is forecasted to gradually accelerate from 7.1 per cent in 2016 to 7.3 per cent in 2017. It is likely to reach 7.4 per cent in 2018 and 7.5 per cent in 2019. It is estimated that South Asia needs to generate employment for more than 12 million people of working age every year. Home to one-fifth of humanity\, it also has 40 per cent of the world’s poor or close to about 400 million people still living in poverty. South Asian countries face significant challenges in providing their people public education\, health care\, livelihood\, and social security. Almost all the South Asian countries are also prone to frequent natural disasters. While they are busy pursuing their respective development plans\, it is clear that no country alone can deal with socio-economic challenges that require collective efforts at a regional level. \nFor taking forward this idea\, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established three decades ago. As a regional organisation\, it has attempted integration amongst its states parties\, first through preferential\, and then\, free trade arrangements. Since there were limitations to this approach\, SAARC later focused on lack of ‘connectivity’ as a major factor affecting regional economic cooperation and integration. The 16th SAARC Summit held at Thimphu\, Bhutan in 2010 had declared 2010-2020 as the ‘Decade of Intra-Regional Connectivity’. \nConnectivity has multiple facets—physical\, socio-cultural\, political and economic. SAARC laid special emphasis on physical connectivity—building transport infrastructure and transit facilities to enable trans-South Asian road connectivity. The 17th SAARC Summit held at Addu City\, Maldives in 2011 had re-iterated the importance of promoting ‘effective linkages and connectivity for greater movement of people\, enhanced investment and trade in the region’. SAARC leaders have also underlined their commitment towards establishing a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) by 2020. \nBeyond the mid-point of the ‘decade of connectivity’\, South Asia continues to suffer from connectivity and infrastructure deficits. During the 18th SAARC Summit held at Kathmandu\, Nepal in 2014\, the member states had ‘renewed their commitment to substantially enhance regional connectivity in a seamless manner through building and upgrading roads\, railways\, waterways infrastructure\, energy grids\, communications and airlinks to ensure smooth cross-border flow of goods\, services\, capital\, technology and people.’ The forward-looking agenda in fact went beyond intra-regional connectivity and recognised the need for enabling inter-regional connectivity ‘linking South Asia with contiguous regions\, including Central Asia\, and beyond by all modes of connectivity.’ \nIn the absence of consensus on enabling the trans-South Asian road connectivity project\, attempts have been made to facilitate sub-regional connectivity through Bangladesh\, Bhutan\, India and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement signed in June 2015 for the regulation of passenger\, personal and cargo vehicular traffic amongst the four signatory countries. There are also efforts to bring about bilateral multi-modal connectivity projects like the one between India and Bangladesh. There is a sub-regional consensus on the need to work together on issues pertaining to water\, power\, transport and infrastructure. \nThe six member countries of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme\, launched in 2001 and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)\, have implemented several regional projects in the field of energy\, transport\, trade facilitation\, and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors. Comprising of Bangladesh\, Bhutan\, India\, Maldives\, Nepal and Sri Lanka\, SASEC seeks to strengthen the intra-regional trade by developing multi-modal regional transport and trade facilitation networks. Some of these connectivity initiatives seek to reinvent the linkages that existed across the region during the colonial period and were subsequently lost due to inter-state dissonances. As of now\, the intra-regional trade is less than six per cent of the region’s total trade and the intra-regional investment accounts for only three per cent of the total investment flow in the region. Globally\, South Asia accounts for merely two per cent of the trade and 1.7 per cent of the investment.* \nAll South Asian countries recognise the need for improving the state of connectivity both within their borders and with other countries in the region. They have\, however\, not so far been able to take advantage of the connectivity initiatives taken by multilateral bodies like the ADB and also the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Instead\, they have been a victim of politics based on legacy issues that inhibit effective inter-state engagement. State-sponsored cross-border terrorism remains one such major impediment. Persisting differences at the political level\, coupled with huge imbalances in trade and investment\, are often used by vested interests to cultivate negative stereotypes and strengthen misperceptions in the region. \nImpediments in the westward extension of the trans-South Asian road and rail connectivity have encouraged other regional efforts to extend the links eastward\, in the shape of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway\, to build the missing links of the Trans-Asian Railway and the Asian Highway networks. The idea of extending the Trilateral Highway to Vietnam via Myanmar\, Cambodia and Laos is already under discussion. \nDeveloping maritime infrastructure too is critical to promoting both intra and inter-regional connectivity and trade\, as much for India as for the other South Asian nations. About 90 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 70 per cent by value moves through ports. The primary objective of India’s Sagarmala project is to improve the operational efficiency of its existing ports in order to enhance connectivity with the main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail\, inland water\, coastal and road services. Several projects have been identified on port modernisation\, port connectivity\, port-led industrialisation\, and on coastal community development. India also plans to develop Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) in the coming years. The vast Indian Ocean region hosts over 40 states and nearly 40 per cent of the world’s population. Prime Minister Mr. Modi had stated in 2015 that India seeks ‘a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region.’ If land connectivity is crucial particularly for the development of the three land-locked member states of SAARC – Afghanistan\, Nepal and Bhutan – sea or maritime connectivity is equally crucial for them and the remaining five SAARC member states\, including the two island nations\, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. \nAdditionally\, despite the obvious gains from enhanced connectivity and its strong advocacy by national leaders\, the States in the region have not so far made satisfactory progress in this area. Besides political differences at the inter-State level\, the concerns of the national security agencies in the region about possible adverse impacts of improved connectivity on state-security often constrain and inhibit governmental approach to ‘connectivity’ and come in the way of its effective implementation. The issues that impinge on security are trans-border crime\, human and drug trafficking\, fake currency notes\, unauthorised transfer of small arms and light weapons\, illegal trade and migration. The possibility of mass cross-border migration as a consequence of climate change and other weather events could also be another matter of concern. These issues need to be adequately addressed by the proponents of connectivity for better regional integration. \nThere is a welcome view that greater connectivity\, if implemented efficiently and effectively with proper investment in technology to generate and manage data with regard to movement of people and goods\, will ameliorate rather than accentuate many concerns often flagged by security managers. Other issues that require greater attention include sequencing\, financing and measuring of connectivity efforts in South Asia. The conference will offer an opportunity to explore these gaps in our understanding of the subject. \nIndia’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy\, which prioritises regional cooperation\, connectivity and people-to-people contacts\, is very much based on the principle of collective efforts and inclusive growth in the entire SAARC region. India is looking towards the finalisation of the SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement and the SAARC Railways Agreement in this regard. If Bangladesh and Myanmar could serve as land-bridge between South and Southeast Asia\, Pakistan and Afghanistan too have the potential to emerge as major transit and transportation hubs between South and Central Asia and regions beyond. \nSouth Asia as a sub-continent\, linking the Gulf States\, Central and West Asia to East and Southeast Asia\, has the natural potential to emerge as a key Asian roundabout. There is a need to improve the interoperability of customs electronic interfaces and harmonise the operating procedures of border crossing points and land customs stations\, and to develop a network of multi-modal transport systems connecting and integrating the entire South Asia region. Improved infrastructure and connectivity also means better governance\, which creates conducive environment for greater domestic and foreign investment and value chain. None of this is however possible without broadening the political space and cultivating the constituencies needed to operationalise and sustain collaborative development strategies. \nThis year’s South Asia Conference\, 10th in the series\, seeks to closely examine the key issues pertaining to lack of connectivity within the region\, and explore the possible way forward to transform South Asia into one of the most economically integrated regions in the world. Some of the questions to be addressed in the two-day conference include the following: \n\nHow is the idea of connectivity perceived by South Asian countries? What are the shared benefits of connectivity? What are the main constituencies advocating for a pan-South Asian connectivity?\nHow are South Asian countries responding to various initiatives taken to promote connectivity under the clusters of trade\, transportation\, information and communications technology\, energy\, tourism and pilgrimage\, and people-to-people contact?\nWhat are the key challenges to operationalising efforts aimed at enhancing connectivity in the identified clusters?\nWhat are the specific ways in which challenges to regional connectivity can be overcome?\n\nSession Themes\nDAY ONE: Tuesday\, March 28\, 2017\nSession I: State of Connectivity in South Asia\nThe session seeks to closely examine the current state of connectivity in South Asia. How critical is the role of connectivity in shaping the future of the most populous region in the world? The session also seeks to identify key institutions and stakeholders defining intra-regional connectivity in South Asia. \nSession II: Economics of Connectivity: Perspectives from the Region\nThe session seeks to explore the various national perspectives prevalent within the region on the subject of South Asian connectivity. Basically\, how national narratives are strengthening the economics of connectivity within the region. \nDAY TWO: Wednesday\, March 29\, 2017\nSession III: Challenges to Connectivity: Initiatives and Responses\nSeveral initiatives have been taken at both regional and sub-regional levels to address the issue of lack of connectivity in South Asia. Apart from examining the key initiatives taken particularly at the bilateral or the sub-regional level\, the session seeks to explore the specific responses to the challenges of connectivity at the regional\, sub-regional and inter-regional levels. \nSession IV: Role of Media and Civil Society in Enhancing Connectivity\nThe role of media and civil society is considered critical to shaping and reshaping public opinion and perception on various aspects of connectivity – trade\, transportation\, information and communications technology\, energy\, tourism and pilgrimage\, and people-to-people contact. This session\, therefore\, would attempt to explore ways in which the media and the civil society can contribute to creating conducive atmosphere and building sustainable constituencies for taking key connectivity initiatives forward. \nSession V: Panel Discussion: The Way Forward\nIn the concluding session\, select panellists from participating countries will briefly discuss the key points emerging from the two-day deliberation and make specific recommendations for the consideration of policy makers. \n\n\n\n\nProgramme Schedule\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDAY ONE: Tuesday\, March 28\, 2017\n\n\n\n09:30 – 10:00 \n Registration\n\n\n10:00-10:30 \nCurtain Raiser \n\nA Decade of Dialogue: Ten Years of South Asia Conference\nDr. Ashok Kumar Behuria\, Coordinator\, South Asia Centre\, IDSA\nConnectivity in South Asia as a Regional Public Good\n Shri Jayant Prasad\, Director General\, IDSA\n\n\n\n\n\n10:30 – 11:00 \nTea/Coffee Break\n\n\n11:00–11:30 \nKeynote Address – Towards Digital South Asia \nShri Ravi Shankar Prasad\, Hon’ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology\, Government of India\n\n\n11:30-13:30 \n\nSession I: State of Connectivity in South Asia\nModerator: Shri Ranjit Rae\, Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal \n\nState of Connectivity in South Asia: An Overview\n– Dr. Rajat M. Nag\,  Distinguished Fellow\, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)\, New Delhi\nMaking People the Pivot to Enhance South Asian Connectivity\n – Dr. A.F.M. Shamsul Bari\,  Chairman\, Research Initiatives\, Bangladesh\nConnecting the Old Way: India-Pakistan Trade through Rail and Road\n – Dr. Syed Akbar Zaidi\,  Political Economist\, Karachi\, Pakistan\nStrengthening Cooperation in South Asia: Need for Out-of-the-Box Thinking\n – Mr. Madhukar S. J.B. Rana\,  Former Finance Minister of Nepal\n\n\n\n\n13:30 – 14:30 \nLunch Break\n\n\n14:30 – 17:00 \n\nSession II: Economics of Connectivity: Perspectives from the Region\nModerator: Prof. Ram Upendra Das\, RIS\, New Delhi \n\nStrengthening Connectivity in South Asia: Prospects\, Opportunities and Challenges\n – Dr. Daoud Ali Najafi\,  Former Transport and Civil Aviation Minister of Afghanistan\nProposed Land Bridge between India and Sri Lanka: A Rapid Qualitative Assessment\n– Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan\,  Founder\, Point Pedro Institute of Development\, Northern Province\, Sri Lanka\n\nHealth Services Trade in South Asian Countries: Challenges and Opportunities\n – Dr. Vaqar Ahmed  and Ms. Rabia Manzoor\, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)\, Islamabad\, Pakistan\nRole of India’s Northeast in Facilitating South Asia Connecticity\n– Mr. Sabyasachi Dutta\, Executive Director\, Asian Confluence\, Shillong \n\nNeed for Reactivating the Trans-Western Himalayan Corridor: Optimising J&K’s   Strategic  Advantage\n – Amb. (Prof.) P. Stobdan\, Senior Fellow\, IDSA\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDAY TWO: Wednesday\, March 29\, 2017\n\n\n\n09:30-10:00 \nTea/Coffee Break\n\n\n10:00-10:30\n\nSpecial Session\nChair: Lt. Gen. (Dr.) B.S. Malik\, PVSM\, AVSM (Retd.) \n\nConnecting South Asia and South East Asia: The BIMSTEC Perspective\nAddress by  Ambassador Sumith Nakandala\, Secretary General\, BIMSTEC\n\n\n\n\n\n10:30-13:00 \n\nSession III: Challenges to Connectivity: Initiatives and Responses \nModerator: Prof. Prabir De\, Coordinator\, ASEAN-India Centre\, RIS\, New Delhi \n\nConnectivity in South Asia: Opportunities\, Potentials and Challenges\n– Prof. Syed Munir Khasru\, Chairman\, IPAG\, Dhaka\n\nThe Challenges of Energy Connectivity\n– Ms. Shebonti Ray Dadwal\,  Senior Fellow\, IDSA\nAfghanistan and Regional Connecitiy in South Asia\n– Mr. Ashraf Haidari\,Directot General\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Kabul\nChallenges to Regional Connectivity in South Asia– Ambassador Ali Hussain Didi\,  Former Maldivian Ambassador to EU\nChabahar Port: A Strategic Analysis\n– Mr. Abdul Qadeer Mutfi\,  Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies\, Kabul\nCross Border Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges\n – Mr. Aye Lwin\,  Member\, Myanmar Investment Commission\, Yangon\n\n\n\n\n\n13:00 – 14:00 \nLunch Break\n\n\n14:00-16:00 \n\nSession IV: Role of Media and Civil Society in Enhancing Connectivity\nModerator: Cmde. C. Uday Bhaskar (Retd.)\,  Director\, Society for Policy Studies (SPS)\, New Delhi \n\nConnecting People: Key for Unleashing Regional Economic Growth\n – Mr. Sujeev Shakya\,  Chairman\, Nepal Economic Forum\nArtists Crossing Borders: Dreams which Refuse to Die\n– Ms. Madeeha Gauhar\,  Founder\, Ajoka Theatre\, Lahore\, Pakistan\nStrengthening Connectivity through Media in a Culturally Diverse Region\n– Ms. Bhagya Senaratne\, Lecturer\, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University\, Colombo\, Sri Lanka\n\nDisconnect in South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities\n– Mr. Mahendra Ved\, President\, Commonwealth Journalists Association\, New Delhi\n\n\n\n\n16:00-16:30\nTea/Coffee Break\n\n\n16:30 –17:30 hrs\n\n Session V: Panel Discussion: The Way Forward\nModerator: Prof. S.D. Muni\, Distinguished Fellow\, IDSA \nPanellists: \n\nDr. Daoud Ali Najafi\, Afghanistan\nMs. Madeeha Gauhar\, Pakistan\nMr. Sujeev Shakya\, Nepal\nProf. Syed Munir Khasru\, Bangladesh\nDr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan\, Sri Lanka\nAmbassador Ali Hussain Didi\, Maldives\nMr. Aye Lwin\, Myanmar\nDr. Smruti S. Pattanaik\, India\n\nVote of Thanks: Conference Coordinator\, Mr. Vishal Chandra\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhotogallery\n\nClick here for Photogallery\n\n\n\nPress Release\n\n\n\n Ravi Shankar Prasad Urges South Asia to Follow India’s Model of Digitisation\nConnectivity of Minds Crucial for Connecting South Asia and SE Asia: Sumith Nakandala\n\n\n\n\n\nContact us\nVishal Chandra\nCo-ordinator\, 10th South Asia Conference\nResearch Fellow\, South Asia Centre\nInstitute for Defence Studies and Analyses\nNew Delhi-110010\n(Office) +91 11-26717983 Extn 7202\nEmail: cc.idsa@nic.in \n\n* “Statement by External Affairs Minister during 37th SAARC Council of Ministers’ Meeting in Pokhara”\, Ministry of External Affairs\, Government of India\, March 17\, 2016.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/10th-south-asia-conference-strengthening-connectivity-in-south-asia
CATEGORIES:Previous South Asia conference,South Asia Conference,CONFERENCES
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