Tag Archives: Security

Defence And Strategic Affairs Blog

Afghanistan, its Security, Stability and Prosperity

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USA and other NATO led troops of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are now preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan.  As a matter of future policy USA will leave some elements behind to be able to exercise and influence events in Afghanistan. However rebuilding Afghanistan will be a herculean task. It will require international support, humongous human and material resources, and a steadfast political commitment. The size of the country , the extent of the human needs, the absolute decay of  infrastructure, and the scarcity of local professional capacity combine to make restoring Afghanistan an immense challenge.

The only way in which Afghanistan can return to the state of lasting peace is to establish a political procedure by which various Afghan tribes and leaders can develop a common national agenda. This method can offer opportunities for extensive and widespread participation of various Afghan groups at all levels, and must realistically account for current power realities in the country. The solution agreed to by the Afghan factions represented in Bonn is only the first step towards a long-term process of creating a unified, representative, and stable government. It will require consideration not only to the political process itself, but also to security and public order needs, justice concerns, and economic and social needs. A new, steady Afghan government must be an essential partner in the struggle to prevent terrorists from using the country’s domain once again.

Afghanistan’s economic potential majorly depends on economic links to their neighbors for everything from markets for its agricultural products, infrastructure investments, and a possible natural gas pipeline. Given high debt burdens and severe governance challenges throughout the region, addressing economic and political development in both a regional and bilateral context is peremptory.

The potential of Afghanistan’s professional diaspora living all over the world must be tapped to contribute to a strengthening of the socio-economic sector. Return of committed, educated and skilled Afghanis, along with increased investment and the opening of trade channels, are needed to reverse the substantial “brain drain” that Afghanistan has suffered due to over three decades of violent conflict.

US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) in association with American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) and Foundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) is organizing a conference focusing on the issue of  “ Afghanistan and the Region: Security, Stability and Prosperity” on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at the Capitol Hill, Washington DC. The conference which has been divided into 3 sessions will be graced by some of the most eminent speakers, in short the people who matter. Here is the schedule:

Session 1- 10:00 A.M to 11:15 A.M

Management of Transition and Ensuring Stability

Speakers:

  • Congressman Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Opening Speaker)
  • Congressman Joseph Crawley, Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans
  • Mr. Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary of India
  • Ms. Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation
  • Mr. Micheal O’ Hanlon, Director of Research, Brookings Institute

Session 2- 11:30 A.M to 12:30 P.M

India, Afghanistan and Regional Security (Keynote Session)

Speakers:

  • Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
  • Mr. Rajnath Singh, President, Bhartiya Janata Party,  (BJP) India
  • Mr. Amrullah Saleh, Former Head of Afghan Intelligence

Session 3- 1:00 P.M to 2:30 P.M

Moderate and Balanced Afghanistan- Imperative for Regional Security

Speakers:

  • Mr. Ajit Doval, Former Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), India
  • Mr. Mehran Baluch, Baloch Leader
  • Mr. Senge  Sering, President, Institute of Gilgit Baltistan Studies Moderate and Balanced Afghanistan- Imperative for Regional Security

The conference aims to engage communities to discuss factors affecting security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and surrounding region. The sessions will focus on critical dimensions of a balanced and unified strategy that can lead to Afghanistan’s stable and secure development. Participate in the discussion on how the management of political environment can be a force to bring peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and its consequential effect on nearby nations including India. We hope that you will be able to join us for this unique conference where leading international speakers are featured.

 

Attendance Strictly by RSVP only

RSVP: events@usinpac.com

Defence And Strategic Affairs Blog

Investing In Security: Developing US-India Defense Relations

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Once unthinkable to a level of being a taboo subject during the cold war, US-India military relations have grown exponentially since the signing of a new Defense framework agreement in 2005.  Annual bilateral training exercises (known as Yudh Abhyas involving India’s 99th Mountain Brigade and the American 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade) have been warmly received and annual US sales of military equipment to India now top $8 billion.  Given ongoing and serious security challenges in the region, fostering even more efficient and effective US-India defense ties is a critical bilateral priority with significant potential yet to be tapped.

American Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter made a visit to New Delhi a year ago and stressed the urgency of exploring bilateral missile defense cooperation.  Ongoing debate over FDI liberalization of India’s defense sector has dominated dialogue since, but consultations on joint co-development of military systems could be the breakthrough that helps generate considerably more trade and boost U.S. export revenue.

On purely strategic grounds, India must show greater resolve in developing its ballistic missile defense capabilities.  Its neighbors China and Pakistan possess formidable ballistic and cruise missile forces.  Internal political and ideological concerns within the government over becoming more interlinked with the United States on defense matters over traditional suppliers like Russia, and how it affects India’s strategic authority, will have to be addressed in a more serious and urgent manner.

Given that Pakistan has refused to commit to a no-first-use policy and grave international concerns over the safety and security of sensitive Pakistani military equipment, the United States should make every effort to help India develop missile defense technology and overcome compulsions to do so purely indigenously.  The American experience in South Asia over the past ten years have exposed a rather pressing need for The United States to find and develop more stable and reliable strategic partners and stronger, more co-operative guarantors of regional stability.  If longstanding biases can be overcome, it will considerably improve the security situation in Asia and further one of the critical bilateral relationships in the geopolitical sphere.