Conference on ‘Radicalisation: Threats to the Architecture of Global Stability’ concludes

New Delhi, Dec 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Council for Strategic Affairs, Indian Institute of Management Rohtak organised a two-day international conference on the topic "Radicalisation: Threats to the Architecture of Global Stability" on December 10 and 11 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

The conference witnessed the presence of speakers and delegates from over 25 countries. Farid Mamundzay, Ambassador of Afghanistan to India, Hasanul Haq Inu, Member of Parliament, Bangladesh, Abdusamat Khaydarov, former ambassador, Marvin G. Weinbaum, Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies, Middle East Institute, Washington, Tahir Aslam Gora, Eminent Canadian Broadcaster, Editor & Publisher, Vijay Kant Karna, Former Ambassador of Nepal to Denmark, Vadim B. Kozyulin, Head, Centre of Global Studies and International Relations, The Institute of Contemporary Internal Studies, Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Nuzhat Choudhary, an eminent speaker on Bangladesh Genocide delivered their talks on day two of the conference.

Ambassador of Afghanistan to India, Farid Mamundzayin his keynote address pointed out that after the withdrawal of the US Troops from the Afghan soil, the Pakistan Army plundered away the arms and ammunitions left behind by the US Army. Hundreds of military vehicles with large quantity of arms and ammunition were taken away by Pakistan Army to Sialkot and other places in Punjab, Pakistan where they manufacture their own military equipment.

He also asserted that given the positive role that India has played in rebuilding Afghanistan in the last two decades, it should be made part of the Troika constituted on Afghanistan related issues and also suggested that India should be a part of the deliberations of any international body constituted for dealing with the issue of Afghanistan crises.

India's presence in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member will also benefit Afghanistan. Thus, the presence of India in the UN Security Council must continue. He further stated that the International community must exert pressure on the interim Taliban Government to prevent flagrant human rights violations and improvement of the status of women.

Hasanul Haq Inu while comparing the foreign policies of India and Pakistan pointed out that while India has spent millions of dollars in building schools and other infrastructure in Afganistan, Pakistan on the other hand has butchered more than 3 million Bangladeshi nationals and molested more than 200 thousand women in the 1971 Bangladeshi genocide by the Pakistani Army. Further talking about the impact of political implications of radicalisation, Amriddin Sharipov asserted that given the positive role played by India in the rebuilding of Afghanistan over two decades, Tajikistan believes that India can play a constructive role in resolving the current Afganistan crisis.

Vijay Kant Karna, former Nepalese Diplomat said: "Pakistan's Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have tried many time to attack India using Nepalese soils but we caught them and handed them over to Indian authorities." He further added: "Measures that could reduce radicalisation include adopting secular policies, eliminating religious, cultural or ethnic differences, equitable access to state resources, empowering the marginalised and minority communities etc. would go a long way in curtailing radicalisation."

Nuzhat Choudhury highlighting on another issue that needs attention of the International community said that the radicalised groups operating in Afghanistan and beyond do not believe in the concept of Nation-States or international boundaries. Such challenge to the concept of Nation-State can cause instability in regions across the globe, as extremist ideologies do not respect national boundaries. In the end, she stressed that there is a need for the progressive Muslims to rise against Islamic radicalisation so that peace and calm can prevail in the Islamic world.

From the deliberations of the conference spanning over two days, Dheeraj Sharma in his closing remarks said, "It has become obvious that radicalisation has become a business for a few selected extremist groups, who are exploiting religion as a commodity for furthering their own propaganda. However, the groups that have promoted the business of radicalisation have not taken into account the negative externalities of promoting radicalization, because of which the entire community has to bear the brunt. As rational thinking members of society, we must create awareness regarding the negative externalities of radicalisation and conferences like these can contribute in this direction."

Nuzhat Chaudhury from Bangladesh, an eminent speaker on genocide, said that Pakistan is focal point of terror in the world. She also said the CIA and ISI nexus was responsible for radicalization in Bangladesh.

Mahmood Marhoon from Afghanistan stated that in the conference where representatives of more than 20 countries participated have reached a consensus that radicalization and instability in Afghanistan is primarily due to Pakistan.

He further said: :In international politics, it is frequently observed that local grievances become international and these grievances are then exploited by opportunistic elements as it had happened in the case of Afganistan as well. However, if we introspect, then we would realise that local grievances become international because the people have low trust in their governments and government officials. Therefore, one of the best ways for the countries to reduce their vulnerability to radicalisation is through good governance and building trust in governmental officials."

Council for Strategic Affairs at IIM Rohtak continues to present global platform for the discussion on temporal and critical issues. The proceedings of this conference will be brought out in the form of white paper on a way forward on radicalisation and to ensure peace and stability in South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, and beyond.

IIM Rohtak has completed more than a decade in imparting excellence and management grit to the courtry's young aspiring young managers. It is amongst the country's top management institutes and an only IIM in Delhi NCR region. The institute is the first IIM to have a BBA+MBA degree program and BBA+LLB degree program.

Source: IANS