5-Nov-2018: Pakistan supports active participation of China at SAARC.
Giving a boost to China’s long standing demand, Pakistan recently said that it supported active participation of China at the platform of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Why China is demanding a greater role?
China has a status of an observer state in South Asia, however an observer state can get involve with SAARC members on specific initiatives, but they do not have voting rights. China entered SAARC as an observer in 2005, supported by most member states.
India’s concerns and fears:
If China is given a greater role, India fears that its neighbours will come together to oppose the country’s interests, particularly under the influence of Pakistan and China. India’s neighbours are attracted to China, because of its greater economic resources, as also it has the potential to counter India. China’s influence can be witnessed even in Nepal.
To enhance strategic ties with Nepal, China has been investing heavily in that country; it has opened land-port between Nepal and Tibet named as Kyirong which will affect the regional strategic balance.
The growing friendship with China and Pakistan is viewed by many as a joint tactic to offset India’s dominance in the South Asian region. One of the most famous project, is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which strategically aims at providing links between the overland Silk Road and maritime Silk Road. Due to this project China becomes one of the major investors in Pakistan.
It has been agreed that China’s entry in SAARC as a full-member can give a push to SAARC to grow as a regional bloc as China’s global economic influence can help SAARC in international forum. But, growing alliances between China and Pakistan may work against India and which will hamper the regional progress. It has also been feared that China may block the projects which are both strategically and economically important for India.
2-Mar-2017: Pakistan's official elected as SAARC Secretary General
After months of difficulty, Pakistan succeeded in getting its official elected to the post of Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Pakistan was backed by all members, including India, which made the selection consensus- based.
Officials at the SAARC Secretariat, however, said the election was of administrative nature and diplomatic intent should not be read in it. As the incoming chair, Pakistan was supposed to provide the next Secretary General and all members of the SAARC allowed the smooth transition from Nepal to Pakistan.
The new chief of SAARC, Amjad Hussein B Sial, is a veteran diplomat, who was expected to take charge a year ago. However, India’s tough stance on cross-border terrorism posed a problem for the candidate, who has been in waiting since March 2016. Election of Mr. Sial was possible as India and Pakistan had indicated a greater willingness to allow SAARC to function.
Earlier, India opposed the holding of the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad in November 2016 after the terror strike in Uri.
6-Oct-2018: Pankaj Sharma appointed India's ambassador to UN Conference on Disarmament
Pankaj Sharma has been appointed as the ambassador and India's permanent representative to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
Sharma is currently the joint secretary (Disarmament and International Security Division) in the Ministry of External Affairs. He will replace Amandeep Gill.
12-Jul-2018: Vice President and President of ICWA appoints Director General of ICWA
The Vice President of India and the President of ICWA, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has appointed Dr. T.C.A. Raghavan (IFS: 1982) as the Director General, ex officio Member-Secretary of the Council, ICWA. The decision was taken in the meetings of the Governing Body and Governing Council of the Indian Council of World Affairs.
The appointment was made in terms of Section 7(2)(c) and Section 15(1) of the Indian Council of World Affairs Act, 2001, read with the Indian Council of World Affairs (Amendment) Act, 2003, the Council, constituted under Section 7(2) of the Act, and the post is equivalent to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, with effect from 24th July, 2018.
Dr. T.C.A. Raghavan has served as India’s High Commissioner to Islamabad and Singapore and has served in our missions at London, Thimphu and Kuwait.
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA):
The Indian Council of World Affairs was established in 1943 by a group of Indian intellectuals as a think tank. It was registered as a non-official, non-political and non-profit organisation under the Registration of Societies Act 1860. By an Act of Parliament in 2001, the Indian Council of World Affairs has been declared an institution of national importance. The Vice President of India is the ex-officio President of ICWA.
It is devoted exclusively for the study of international relations and foreign affairs. Historic international conferences like 'Asian Relations Conference' in 1947 under the leadership of freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu and 'United Nations and the New World Order' in 1994 have been held by this think tank in which world renowned dignitaries addressed huge gatherings of intellectuals. Scores of conferences, meetings and panel discussions have been organised by the Council in its elegant building called "Sapru House".
The first Prime Minister of independent India, late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of India's foreign policy, was a regular visitor to Sapru House to confer with noted scholars, intellectuals and academics.
In 2009, an initiative was taken to commemorate the 'Asian Relations Conference' and a conference titled "Emerging China: Prospects for Partnerships in Asia" was organized. It was addressed by 25 foreign scholars from 15 countries and was attended by academics, diplomats and policymakers.
Spread over two acres of land in the heart of New Delhi, Sapru House has lush green lawns with high quality infrastructure. The present building was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in May 1955. It is named after the eminent Indian Jurist and intellectual, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, the founder President of the Council. A number of renowned and prestigious Indian think tanks and organisations like the "Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses" (IDSA), "School of International Studies" (which was later merged with the famous Jawaharlal Nehru University), "Children's Film Society of India" and the "Press Institute of India" were established in this building. The Council has a state of the art Auditorium with a seating capacity of 380 persons. It has a separate Conference Room and a Conference Hall where panel discussions and seminars are held regularly. International personalities come and address meetings at Sapru House on regular basis.