Is the War on Terror over? No, terrorism continues to be a constant worldwide menace that recognises no boundaries, nationalities, or religions. Terrorism, in all its forms, is fundamentally devastating and can never be justified. It threatens development and jeopardises civil liberties, freedom and human rights. The only way to combat terrorism is through the collective working of the international community and building a global consensus in the fight against terrorism.
With similar aims, Usanas Foundation, a security and geopolitical think tank base din Udaipur, is organising an international conference, “Maharana Pratap Annual Security Dialogue”, between 10 January and 13 January 2022. The conference’s theme is “transitional terrorism in the 21st century and global response to counterterrorism.” This international event is sponsored by prestigious organisations like the Indian Council of World Affairs (think tank of Ministry of External Affairs), Maharana of Mewar Charitable Trust (Trust run by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, the 76th custodian of the House of Mewar) and Manipal Global Education Services (organisation run by Padma Shri awardee, T.V. Mohan Das Pai). The conference will bring together 25 of the world’s best terrorism, radicalisation and counterterrorism experts from over eight different countries.
This conference will bring the different perspectives of experts who have been working on this subject for several decades, from veteran journalist Praveen Swami, one of the foremost experts on Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, to Dr Rohan Gunaratna from Sri Lanka and Singapore, who has extensive experience on terrorist organisations like Al Qaeda and ISIS. To make this conference truly diverse, it has speakers like Yoram Schweitzer, a legendary counterterrorism expert from Israel who has served under the Israeli Task Force at the Prime Minister’s office. Speakers like Dr Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official who has spent time with the Taliban before 9/11 and has lived in post revolution Iran, Yemen, and Iraq, will bring us the ground reality of terrorism in these regions.
This conference will also be the first mega event on global terrorism discourse in India after the recapture of Afghanistan by the Taliban. To understand the conflict in Afghanistan, the dialogue will host speakers like Ambassador Amar Sinha, who was appointed as the ambassador of India to Afghanistan in 2013 and has had a diplomatic career spanning 35 years. Ambassador Javid Ahmad, former Afghan ambassador to UAE, will also present his views on Afghanistan and regional security vis-à-vis terrorism post Taliban takeover.
This event will bring a fresh perspective on terrorism and counterterrorism discourse, especially when the world perceives that the global war of terror is over after the American withdrawal. This extensive four day conference from 10th to 13th January 2022 will not only be beneficial for military officials and counterterrorism scholars but also for students, scholars and diplomats who are inquisitive to know more about these issues.
The first three days of the conference will be held online, and the closing ceremony will be held offline in the city of Udaipur.
This security dialogue will make you understand the decentralised and lethal nature of current day terrorism and radicalisation and how it impacts society.