India-US Bilateral Track-II Dialogue:

A Plan of Action: Managing Global Insecurity, 18 February 2009, New Delhi

The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies and Brookings Institution, Washington DC addressed the issues related to the threats to global security. The discussions were held on Managing Global Insecurity (MGI) project undertaken by Brookings Institution. The purpose of the study undertaken by Brookings was to analyze the threats to global security and how these might be effectively addressed. It challenges conventional wisdom, particularly the concept of sovereignty and provides in its stead a revised concept of ‘responsible sovereignty.’ The study is unsparing in its criticism of the lapses of US leadership, and is aimed at the new incumbent Obama government, in that, it suggests the course the US foreign policy must now chart.

Publication:
The full report of this dialogue can be accessed at:
http://www.ipcs.org/article_details.php?articleNo=2811http://www.ipcs.org/article_details.php?articleNo=2811


Governance of Biological Threat Reduction, 8 January 2008, New Delhi
The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies and the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies addressed the issues overlapping security and science; especially, the issue of bio security in a workshop in New Delhi on “Governance for Biological Threat Reduction: A Comprehensive, International and Interdisciplinary Approach.” Gerald Epstein and David Heyman from CSIS presented an approach to dealing with biological risks of both manmade and natural origin, and a wide-ranging discussion ensued among workshop participants from a diverse range of disciplines and professional communities. The summary below reflects the major points raised during the workshop. Questions and comments presented here were those of individual workshop participants; no attempt was made to generate or report on any consensus conclusions among workshop participants.

List of Participants

Indian Delegation
1.    Mr. PR Chari, Research Professor, IPCS, New Delhi
2.    Wg. Cdr. Ajay Lele, Research Fellow, IDSA, New Delhi
3.    Mr. AK Doval, Former Director, Intelligence Bureau, India
4.    Brig Gurmeet Kanwal, Director, CLAWS, New Delhi

American Delegation
1.    Dr. Gerald Epstein, Senior Associate (Non-resident), CSIS, Washington DC
2.    Mr. David Heyman, Director – Homeland Security Programme, CSIS, Washington DC

It was concluded that the biological weapons threat is imminent and adequate measures for addressing this issue are required. There is a need to consult scientists in this regard, as there is to engage the members of other relevant professional communities. An interactive forum such as the one discussed at this workshop would help to analyze – and counter -- the reasons underlying biological terrorism. We must devise measures to deter terrorists from using biological weapons.

Publication
All the relevant communities and nations should understand that there is a threat, and there is a need for a common platform to address this issue. The report can be accessed at:
http://www.ipcs.org/conference-report/terrorism/governance-for-biological-threat-reduction-7.html


IPCS – Brookings Dialogue on China, 19-22 March 2007, Neemrana Fort Palace, Rajasthan

The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, in collaboration with the Brookings Institution held a 'Dialogue on China' at the Neemrana Fort Palace, Rajasthan from 19-22 March 2007. The American delegation, led by Professor Stephen Cohen of the Brookings Institution, included senior research fellows from the Brookings and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Leading experts from India and the United States participated in the dialogue. A wide range of issues evolving India, China and United States were discussed, most important being – China’s   Grand Strategy (as viewed by the US), India's Grand Strategy and the United States' strategy towards China; China's military outreach: The PLA Navy, force modernization; China’s nuclear strategy; China’s and India’s approach to regional organizations; Challenges to China’s economic growth and China’s overseas economic outreach and regional integration; Changing political and economic tectonics between India and China; Energy Security; China’s leadership and political evolution.
2.    List of Participants

Indian Delegation
1. Amb. Salman Haidar, Former Indian Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China
2. Amb. Lalit Mansingh, Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the United States
3. Vice Admiral (Retd.) P S Das, Former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval
     Command, Indian Navy
4. Rear Admiral (Retd.) Raja Menon, Former Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations)
5. Mr Mohan Guruswamy, Chairman, Centre for Policy Alternatives
6. Prof. Madhu Bhalla, Department of East Asian Studies (Chinese Studies), University of Delhi
7. Dr Sudha Mahalingam Senior Fellow Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Teen Murti House
8. Dr Alka Acharya, Associate Professor, Centre for East Asian Studies (Chinese Studies),
    School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University   
9. Dr Srikanth Kondapalli, Associate Professor, Centre for East Asian Studies (Chinese Studies),
     School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University   
10. Amb. Eric Gonsalves, Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and President, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
11. Maj Gen (Retd.) Dipankar Banerjee, Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
12. Mr P R Chari, Research Professor, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
13. Ms Poonam Muttreja, Country Director, The John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation
14. Maj Gen G G Dwivedi, MGGS (Doctrine), ARTRAC
15. Brig. Rahul Kumar, Col. S S Mishra, Army HQ
16. Mr Jabin T Jacob, Research Fellow, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
17. Ms Rukmani Gupta, Research Officer, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

American Delegation
1. Prof. Steve Cohen, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings Institution.
2. Rear Admiral (Retd.) Mike McDevitt, Vice President and Director of Center for Strategic
    Studies at the Center for Naval Analysis
3. Prof. Wing Thye Woo, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development Program, Foreign
    Policy Studies, Brookings Institution
4. Dr. Jing Huang, Senior Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution
5. Dr. Cheng Li, Visiting Fellow, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution
6. Mr. Derek Mitchell, Senior Fellow and Director for Asia, International Security Program at the
    Center for Strategic and International Studies
7. Mr. Dewardic McNeal, Assistant Director, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution

Publication:
The Report can be accessed at:
http://www.ipcs.org/seminar/india/ipcs-brookings-dialogue-on-china-698.html