The 4th “Afghanistan-India Security Dialogue” co-organised by Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) and United Service Institute of India (USI) was held at the AISS Kabul on November 25, 2018. The theme of this dialogue was “Experience of Afghanistan and India in the Field of Counterterrorism.”
The USI team was led by Maj General BK Sharma, AVSM, SM & bar (Retd), Deputy Director (Research) and Head USI Centre of Strategic Studies & Simulation. It included Shri Amar Sinha, IFS (Retd) ex Ambassador to Afghanistan & member USI, and Lt General GS Katoch, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Distinguished Fellow USI and member USI Council.
Besides the USI members the dialogue was attended by H.E Shri Vinay Kumar, Indian ambassador to Afghanistan along with several Indian embassy officials.
From the Afghan side were a select number of officials, Members of Parliament, academia, serving and retired army officers, civil society and media activists and members of AISS. It was also attended by select diplomats from the embassy of the United States of America.
The dialogue covered some of the key issues pertaining to Afghanistan and India. These offered lessons and explored opportunities along with their inherent challenges relating to Afghanistan-India strategic partnership in the wider geo-political and regional context.
There were four working sessions on themes as under:
- Afghanistan & India’s Experience in Combating Terrorism.
- Military & Intelligence Dimensions.
- Diplomatic & International Dimensions.
- The Way Forward: Strengthening Strategic Partnership
The opening address was given by H.E. Dr Rangin Dafdar Spanta, Former Foreign Minister and National Security Advisor Afghanistan and Chairman of the AISS Advisory Board. This was followed by a speech by the Indian ambassador before the commencement of the session-based dialogue. The concluding remarks were given by Maj General BK Sharma, Deputy Director USI of India.