The South Asia programme is now considered the leading research and conference-based programme on contemporary regional security issues in the UK and Europe. Its Ministerial and other high-level official discussions and meetings have helped shape the strategic debate, have stimulated and influenced research and publications, and have encouraged new thinking about how to enhance regional security and stability.
The IISS's engagement with South Asia includes: Presidential and Ministerial addresses in London and at IISS conferences in Singapore, Geneva and Bahrain; discussion meetings with senior officials and experts from the region in London; an annual water security & cooperation conference in Abu Dhabi; the annual South Asia security conference with senior Indian and Pakistani officials in Muscat; and annual IISS-South Asia seminars in New Delhi and Islamabad which include calls on ministers, military chiefs and senior officials.
The programme's primary research themes are the promotion of South Asian peace processes, building confidence and cooperation to counter terrorism and religious extremism, prevention of conflict through collaboration on non-military security issues, enhancing nuclear stability and security, and assessing the rise and implications of India as a global power. Its research is regularly published in a range of IISS books and journals, as well as in other publications.
The core group of the South Asia programme comprises -
i) Mr Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, IISS Senior Fellow for South Asia; former official in the National Security Council Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India, New Delhi. Mr Rahul Roy-Chaudhury heads the programme.
ii) Dr Sanjaya Baru, Director for Geo-economics and Strategy; former Editor of the leading Indian financial newspaper The Business Standard; from May 2004 until August 2008 he was the Official Spokesman and Media Advisor to the Prime Minister of India.
These experts also regularly provide briefs on key security issues to government officials, visiting senior officials/military delegations, influential experts and the media.
