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TZID:Asia/Kolkata
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0530
TZOFFSETTO:+0530
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DTSTART:20110101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120302T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120302T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T190754
CREATED:20231224T103527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250228T014506Z
UID:64093-1330666200-1330666200@idsa.in
SUMMARY:India's 'Asymmetric Responsibility': SAARC as an instrument of Neighbourhood Policy
DESCRIPTION:Open to all Members; others pl. contact 1030 to 1300 hrs Conference Cell \nChair: Ambassador I P KhoslaDiscussants: Ambassador Veena Sikri and Dr Nitya Nanda
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/indias-asymmetric-responsibility-saarc-as-an-instrument-of-neighbourhood-policy
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120309T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120309T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T190754
CREATED:20231224T103527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231224T130242Z
UID:64091-1331271000-1331271000@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Internal Security Threats to Pakistan
DESCRIPTION:Chairperson: Dr Ashok BehuriaDiscussants: Shri Rana Banerji and Professor Kalim Bahadur \nTopic:Internal security threats to PakistanDiscussants: Prof. Kalim Bahadur\, Mr Rana BanerjiChair: Dr. Ashok Behuria\n	The paper focused on the myriad threats that are challenging the internal security situation within Pakistan and the implications of the threats for the region. In discussing the above\, the author widely classified the threats under the following heads: militancy in Pakistan\, radicalisation in Pakistan\, ethnic dissent\, sectarian strife\, energy shortage\, paucity of water and economic downslide to be the causal factors of instability within the country.  \n	Beginning with militancy in Pakistan\, the author stated that Pakistan was witnessing a massive spurt in violence by militant groups due to its self-defeating policy of using jihadis in War in Afghanistan during 1979-1989 and its romance with the Taliban later. The Taliban connection has radicalised Pakistani society in an irreversible manner. In recent times\, Pakistan is facing an insurgency waged by a network of militants under the banner of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistani Taliban. It seeks to undermine the writ of Pakistani law and establish Sharia all over. The TTP has perpetrated hundreds of suicide attacks and justified their action as jihad against the enemies of Islam. Even investigations into recent spate of attacks like Mehran Naval Base have established TTP’s links with the Al Qaeda. That apart\, suicide bombings and kidnappings have become common and preferred option for the militants as major source of funding. Most of the groups involved in such activities emanate from the tribal areas of Pakistan like Jandola\, Waziristan and so on. Pakistan Army’s operations and well-coordinated drone attacks by the US agencies have not been effective. They have only led to regrouping of the militants and further radicalisation and violence. It has also led to a huge population of internally displaced people who suffer hardships that create dissent against the government.  \n	Next threat that the author discussed was that of radicalisation of the state. The forces of radical Islam\, she held\, have managed to infect the social and political fabric of Pakistan. The onward march towards extremist politics in Pakistan can be termed as Talibanisation. The type of education imparted in the Madrassas is not the only reason for rise of militancy in Pakistan. Exploitation of popular grievances against unequal social\, political and economic systems by the extremists has also fueled such a marked rise in militancy. The excessive importance given by the Pakistani leadership to religious elements\, especially during Zia ul Haq’s regime\, has also given a fillip to such extremism where the clergy was allowed to participate in political activities. Such links nourished over time have emboldened these elements to make demands for Islamisation of the Pakistan state.  \n	The killings of Salman Taseer and Shahbaaz Bhatti for advocating amendments to blasphemy law are indicators of the extent of radicalistaion in the Pakistani Society and state today. The process of radicalisation has crept into the army as well although the extent of such penetration remains a matter of debate. Some of the officers supposedly have links with religious groups like Tabhlighi Jamat\, even as its activities are banned in the garrisons. The author concluded that the political parties and civil society groups have failed to take on these radical elements because they are either sympathetic towards them or afraid of raising their voice\, and thus militancy in the name of religion will have broader support base in the country in times to come.  \n	Another issue that impinges on internal situation in Pakistan is that of the rise of nationalist movements demanding autonomy or independence on the basis of their ethnic identities. Insurgency in Balochistan is the most important example here. Balochistan has been wrecked by insurgency for more than six decades. The grievances of Baloch population have been that they were made to forcibly accede to Pakistan and subjected to colonisation by the Pakistani state\, which has exploited all their natural resources and treated them as second class citizens. The Baloch insurgents have routinely carried out attacks on gas pipelines\, railway lines\, other critical infrastructure and military establishments. The government in Islamabad has always used heavy force to quell the movement over the year leading to total alienation of the people there. However\, the recent US congressional hearing on Balochistan has stirred up unease in Pakistan over the issue. That apart\, dissent has been reported over renaming of the erstwhile North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the non-Pashtuns of the region like the Hazaras who want a separate province for themselves. Similar instances of demand for separate province have been reported from Karachi\, FATA\, and Sindh etc. Also demand for creation of a separate Seraiki province within Punjab has made its way into parliamentary debates. Seraiki activists have been demanding creation of new province for themselves comprising 17distritcs in south western Punjab. However\, these demands are proving a continuous challenge for the government and a major hindrance to development and resource distribution. All these unrests have the potential to turn into secessionist movements\, unless they are addressed well. \nOn the other hand\, sectarian strife has also engulfed the country. There is a major strife between the Shias and the Sunnis. Pakistan being s Sunni majority country\, minority sects have been at the receiving end for a long time. In the 1950s\, there was a nationwide movement against the Ahmadiyas\, by both the Sunnis and the Shias\, which resulted in their being declared as non-Muslims in 1974. Since the Shi’ite revolution in Iran in 1979\, the Sunnis of Pakistan have trained their guns on the Shias. Zia’s Islamisation drive also accentuated the divide between these groups during this period. The Talibanisation process has now resulted in violence between different Sunni groups like the Deobandis and the Barelvis. Suicide bombings in Barelvi places of worship are quite regular these days. The growing sectarian violence in Pakistan casts a dark shadow on the future of Pakistan. \nThe last three of threats mentioned by the author centred on energy\, water and economic downslide which have the potential to become bigger threats if they are not tackled with care. All of them are interlinked in many ways. Energy crisis for last few years has had its impact on Pakistani economy and triggered mass unrest throughout the country.  \nWater has also become another source of concern in Pakistan. Pakistan\, being a water stressed country\, is going to face water scarcity due to high growth in population. Since large amount of water has been diverted upstream to Punjab\, the rivers have dried up in downstream Sindh. This in turn has affected the agricultural sector. The thinning of Himalayan glaciers due to global warming has affected water flow in the Indus basin. Division of river water on an ad hoc basis to favour the requirements of Punjab has also resulted in smaller provinces of Pakistan accusing it of monopolizing a crucial resource. Water related issues\, like floods and poor availability\, are increasingly being discussed in Pakistan as instances of Indian insensitivity towards Pakistani needs. There is a conscious effort in Pakistan to brand India as a country determined to turn Pakistan into a desert. This is likely to have repercussions for India-Pakistan relations. \nLastly economic downslide has hit Pakistan in a major way since the GDP has declined to 2.4 per cent. There has been significant growth in the service sector compared to the agricultural sector which proves the rural-urban divide in Pakistan. Insurgency and terrorism have also taken its toll on the economy with general investment climate in the country going down. Even recent floods have affected Pakistani economy massively.  \nThe scholar concluded the paper by stating implications of all the above for Pakistan and India\, which were: \nRate of radicalization amongst the youth will go up if not provided access to better and modern education system. Pakistan’s relations with India will acquire a new dimension with Pakistan accusing India of water scarcity in the country. Several sections in Pakistan hold that India has denied Pakistan its legitimate share of water under the Indus Water Treaty. This has become a fresh irritant in Indo-Pak relations. Presently\, India and Pakistan are agreeing to better trade relations\, however\, this could be affected by the anti-India rhetoric being peddled by right wing elements in Pakistan who are raising the water bogey and arguing against any rapprochement with India. Also elements within the Pakistani establishment committed to destabilize India and take Kashmir away by force could ratchet up tensions with India.  \nThat author argued that despite pressures from the US to desist from Iran gas pipeline\, Pakistan is likely to follow an independent policy on the issue and go ahead with the deal.  \nThe major points that emerged from the discussion were;  \n\nApart from the madrassa system of education\, the secular system of education in Pakistan is equally to be blamed for the rising radicalization and this needs to be studied. \nThe failure of the government in handling the extremist elements needs to be studied more. \nRole of Islam should have been in an entirely different section. \nCentrality of India as the primary enemy needs to be factored in the discussion along with relations with US and the endgame in Afghanistan. \nImplications needed more in-depth analysis and study. \nIssue of sectarian strife is an important issue which needs to be mentioned in more detail. \n\nReport prepared by Anwesha Ray Chaudhuri\, Research Assistant.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/internal-security-threats-to-pakistan
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120309T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120309T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T190754
CREATED:20231224T103527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250228T014416Z
UID:64092-1331271000-1331271000@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Theaterised Joint Logistics: A Calliberated Approach Towards Initiation
DESCRIPTION:Open to all Members; others pl. contact 1030 to 1300 hrs Conference Cell \nChairperson: Ambassador I P KhoslaDiscussants: Rear Admiral Sushil Ramsay\, Maj Gen Sheru Thapliyal\,SM (Retd) and Wing Cdr Deepak Sharma
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/theaterised-joint-logistics-a-calliberated-approach-towards-initiation
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120316T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120316T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T190754
CREATED:20231223T134407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231224T130242Z
UID:63175-1331875800-1331875800@idsa.in
SUMMARY:External Threats and the Formulation of China’s Foreign Policy
DESCRIPTION:Chair: Amb. R RajagopalanDiscussants: Amb. Nalin Suri and Prof. MV Rappai \nChina’s foreign policy is geared towards securing its ‘core interests’ such as maintaining territorial integrity\, the preservation of its system of government and continued economic and social stability. Perceived threats to these core interest shape China’s external behaviour. The paper analyses important external threats as perceived by Chinese strategic thinkers.  \nChinese perceived external threats are: \n\nJapan\nKorean Peninsula\nSouth China Sea\nIndia\nThe US.\n\nChinese scholars view Japan as an emerging military threat. They believe that China’s economic growth has encouraged a sense of envy within Japan regarding China. Japan will seek to strengthen its military and political clout to balance China’s growing political and economic clout. Japan’s territorial disputes with Russia and China are seen by many Chinese scholars as providing impetus to revise the role of Japan’s Self Defense Forces. A close examination of Chinese threat perception regarding Japan suggests that they believe that Japan can be a threat for China as a key ally in the event of a conflict in the Taiwan straits\, as a facilitator of regional cooperation (among India\, Japan\, Australia and the US) that may exclude China and as a contender for political leadership of the region by increasing its stature at the international forums including the UN. Japan’s pursuit to gain a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is viewed by the Chinese scholars as being aimed at gaining political clout to countervail China. \nAs regards Korean peninsula\, the Chinese scholars perceive that an exacerbation of tensions on the Korean peninsula would have implications for China’s domestic and foreign policy. China’s failure to prevent conflict from breaking out on the Korean peninsula would adversely affect the political influence Beijing has gained in the region. In case that happens\, smaller states in the region would look at the US as the net provider of the security. Chinese scholars also believe that instability in the Korean peninsula has given an opportunity to Japan and South Korea to strengthen their military ties with the US. In case the situation aggravates further\, it will help them deepen their military relationship. \nThe issue of South China Sea and Chinese territorial and maritime claims over its sovereignty has become an issue of much concern for China in recent years. According to the Chinese scholars\, the bilateral disputes that China has with some ASEAN member states such as Vietnam\, Philippines\, Malaysia\, Brunei and Indonesia now have the potential to strain and stall the relationship with the ASEAN as a whole. American courtship of these countries neighbouring China is viewed by the Chinese scholars as an opportunistic exploitation aimed at containing China. According to the Chinese scholars\, instability in the South China Sea provides an excuse to the US and Japan to increase their military footprint in China’s immediate neighbourhood. They also fear that in the event of an escalation of dispute on South China Sea\, the US and its allies would take the opportunity to interdict Sea Lanes of Communications thereby jeopardizing China’s economy.  \nIndia has been recognized as an important regional actor by Chinese scholars because of two main factors: economic development and a proactive foreign policy following the 2005 Indo-US nuclear deal. Unlike the Indian perception of an imminent military challenge from China\, India is seen as a direct threat to China. It is Tibet\, which China defines among its core interest\, that makes India a potential threat in Chinese thinking. Despite India’s adherence to the “one China policy” and repeated assurances that the Indian government will not permit dissident Tibetan to undertake anti-China activity\, Chinese scholars remain wary of India’s stand on the Tibet issue. They believe that Dalai Lama can be used by India to destabilize the Tibetan Autonomous Region. \nIndia’s look east policy and growing military relationship with the regional countries are seen by Chinese scholars as aimed at seeking strategic balance with China. New Delhi’s efforts to develop bilateral relationship with central Asian countries and prospects of greater involvement in the region are seen as enabling the encirclement of China. Growing Indo-US relationship is also seen as a strategy to contain China in the near future. China is deemed as an important factor in the close bilateral relationship that developed between the two countries following the Indo-US nuclear deal. \nIn the Chinese strategic thinking the US is viewed as the fundamental obstacle to China’s continued assent in global politics. The US arms transfer to Taiwan and the seeming centrality of the Taiwan question in the Asia calculus of the US continues to be an important threat for China. Apart from Taiwan issue\, China sees the US as a threat for many reasons. It is seen as a facilitator for the creation of China containment policy in Asia. American relations with Japan and South Korea\, its military engagement with Southeast Asia and its growing relationship with India are all seen as part of a greater strategy to reduce China’s strategic space. The US has been raising the human rights issue of China. This has been viewed in Beijing as interference in China’s internal matters and an effort to destabilize the country domestically.   \nChina has taken three important foreign policy initiatives- support for multilateralism\, promoting military diplomacy and active pursuit of economic diplomacy- to tackle various external threats mentioned above. By promoting multilateralism\, China is trying to project itself as a responsible power and a cooperative partner. Chinese participation in multilateralism is also geared towards diluting the influence of one particular power.  \nFollowing the repeated criticism of its military modernization\, China has tried to allay the “China threat thesis.” It has established defence and security consultation with 22 countries including the US\, India\, Japan\, Vietnam and Philippines. With an aim to project a more open and transparent image of the Chinese military\, it has also sought to increase military exchanges with countries across the world.  \nEconomic diplomacy has become a central theme in China’s foreign policy. In terms of management of external threats\, China has actively sought to reassure its smaller neighbours that they have a stake in China’s growth. Keeping that in mind\, China has signed various FTAs with Southeast Asian countries. China has consistently sought to deepen economic engagement while putting contentious issues on the backburner. The rational is that greater economic ties will help instill mutual trust.   \nMajor points from the discussion and suggestions to the author; \n\nThe title should be revised to reflect that the paper studies Chinese perception of external threat.\nCurrent assessment of security environment and Chinese world view may be added as a background to the paper.\nThe paper must include a section on Taiwan and an assessment on recent elections.\nThe paper should also look at Chinese threat perception with reference to Central Asia and Russia. Resource competition among the regional powers should also be factored in.\nChina’s historical grievances-the century of humiliation-should also be factored in the paper.\nThe Chinese threat perceptions mentioned in the paper should be reordered and should begin with the US.\nThe paper should lay emphasis on Chinese threat perception in Hu Jintao era.\nChina’s response to these threats may also be added if possible.\nThe scholar should undertake a field trip to further asses the Chinese perception on these threats.\nThe paper notes that some of the perceptions mentioned in the paper are based on personal interviews with the Chinese scholars. The scholar should footnote the interviews.\n\nReport prepared by Shamshad A. Khan\, Research Assistant\, East Asia Centre.
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/external-threats-and-the-formulation-of-chinas-foreign-policy
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR,EVENT REPORT
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120316T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120316T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T190754
CREATED:20231224T103527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250228T014311Z
UID:64090-1331875800-1331875800@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Bhutan and Climate Change: Identifying Strategic Implications
DESCRIPTION:Open to all Members; others pl. contact 1030 to 1300 hrs Conference Cell \nChairperson: Ambassador I P KhoslaDiscussants: Shri Aditya Batra and Professor A C Sinha
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/bhutan-and-climate-change-identifying-strategic-implications
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120323T053000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Kolkata:20120323T053000
DTSTAMP:20261104T190754
CREATED:20231224T103523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250228T014156Z
UID:64089-1332480600-1332480600@idsa.in
SUMMARY:Situating Gilgit Baltistan in the Kashmir Discourse
DESCRIPTION:Open to all Members; others pl. contact 1030 to 1300 hrs Conference Cell \nChair: Cmde (Retd) C Uday BhaskarDiscussant : Shri Rana Banerji and Dr D Suba Chandran
URL:https://idsa.in/idsa-event/situating-gilgit-baltistan-in-the-kashmir-discourse
CATEGORIES:FELLOW'S SEMINAR
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