Round Table

ICAF organised a 32 Round Table. The details are placed below:

➤ ICAF organised a Round Table on “Andijon and After” on October 24, 2005 at 1600 h at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi. There was a screening of a video tape seized from the militants. Prof Saydakmal S Saydaminov, Charge d’ Affaires a. i., Uzbek Embassy, New Delhi briefed the gathering on the extra regional affiliations of these militant organisations involved in the incidents.

➤ ICAF organised another Round Table on “Perspectives of Central Asian Republics on International Affairs” at the India International Centre, New Delhi on Wednesday March 29 2006. Discussion was initiated by Mr Dmitri Kosyrev, RIA Novosti, Moscow. He is a Political Columnist (Asian Affairs), since November 2001. Earlier he was Chief of the Foreign News Section and Editor of the Diplomatic Courier supplement of the Nezavisimaya Gazeta (1997 – 2001).

➤ ICAF organised a Round Table with the visiting Tajik Economic delegation and members of the India-Tajik Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Trade Cooperation on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Common issues of interest were discussed at length and the ideas of Integrated Development Zones (IDZs) were well appreciated by H E Mr. G Bobozoda, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan and the leader of the delegation. Speakers from both sides underlined the need for enhancing cooperation between India and Tajikistan in political, economic and security areas. India’s experience in nation and state building with secularism, pluralism and equity under a democratic umbrella could be of some importance to Tajikistan and other countries of the Central Asian region.

➤ ICAF organised a Round table on “Developments in Afghanistan” with Uzbek scholars Prof Forkhod Tolipov and Mr. Mahmud Oybek on January 31, 2009 in New Delhi.

➤ ICAF organised a Round Table with the Centre for Strategic Research (CSR), Dushanbe on “India-Tajikistan Relations” on Saturday July 4, 2009 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Common issues of interest were discussed at length and the ideas of Integrated Development Zones (IDZs) were well appreciated by Prof Sayfullo S Safarov, Deputy Director, CSR, Dushanbe. Speakers from both sides underlined the need for enhancing cooperation between India and Tajikistan in political, economic and security areas.

➤ ICAF and Embassy of Turkmenistan, New Delhi jointly organised a Round Table on “Turkmenistan and the United Nations: Partnership for Peace & Development” on Thursday November 12 2009 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.

➤ ICAF organised a Round Table with the Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University on “The Current Crisis in Kyrgyz Republic” on Tuesday July 27, 2010 at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. Critical appraisal of the political situation in Kyrgyz Republic was made by the speakers. Common issues of interest between India and Kyrgyz Republic were discussed at length.

➤ An International Round Table on Afghanistan was organised by the India – Central Asia Foundation (ICAF) in New Delhi on Saturday, July 7 2012. Nineteen experts from India and Afghanistan attended the Round Table. Fourteen scholars made presentations. The discussions focused on the following aspects:

  • Afghan perceptions of the emerging security scenario, especially in the post-2014 phase
  • Status of the reconciliation process
  • The role of other groups/organizations in the future
  • Could the ANSF and the Afghan Police acquire the necessary capability by 2014?
  • The role of a reconstruction strategy in the southern provinces
  • Suggestions for India’s role

The Round Table had four Working Sessions:

Inaugural Session

Session # 1: Perceptions of the Emerging Security Scenario in Afghanistan

Session # 2: Status of the Reconciliation Process

Session # 3: A Reconstruction Strategy for Afghanistan

➤ A Round Table on “India – Central Asia: Retrospect and Prospects” was organised in New Delhi on Friday Nov 23, 2018. Historically, Central Asia has been important geopolitically, as evidenced by the Great Game and the Cold War played out between the Soviet Union and the Euro- Atlantic powers. After the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the discovery of large oil and gas fields spurred a new Great Game in this region. Central Asia witnessed a geopolitical seesaw between the United States, Russia, China and even the EU, with the earlier quest for territorial domination shifting to a competition for energy and other resources.  There were rapid shifts in the region – starting with the Russian legacy presence, succeeded by entry by the United States, and followed by a rising China.  The EU and Japan are also active today in the region. China is focusing on the development of energy resources, building trans-Eurasian pipelines and transportation networks, and extending cooperation in a number of other sectors, leveraging the complementarities between the region’s economies. Russia, China and countries in the region have signed several bilateral deals for collaborations in energy and transportation projects/ corridors while consolidating their strategic partnership in Central Asia through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Countries as far as Turkey are being connected through these networks. The ADB and other international organisations have outlined a roadmap for physical connectivity in order to support economic growth in central Asia.