The keynote speaker, Dr Farish Ahmad-Noor, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies, Berlin, noted the similarities between South and Southeast Asian Islam. Both were considered to be on the ‘periphery’ of the Muslim world, had Sufi tendencies and adapted to local traditions and realities. By the nineteenth century Islam had become a means of political and economic mobilisation in the regions. Dr Ahmad-Noor said that in many Asian societies religious identity now comes before national identity and citizenship. As religious-based sectarian politics grew in Asian countries, the future of nation-building and the nation-state was of concern. The growth of pan-religious solidarity networks added further pressure on the governments of South and Southeast Asia, already attempting to cope with the pressures of globalisation.
Conference sessions on the first day focused on ‘Politics of Islam in South Asia’, examining the various schools of Islam, the relation between state and religion, and state-building and integration; ‘Islamic Radicalism in South Asia’, on the politics of fundamentalism (Islamist ideology) and neofundamentalism (madrasas), the rise of radical Islamic groups, governments/militaries and radical Islamic groups; and ‘Islamic Extremist Groups and their Impact on Stability & Security’, on sectarian conflict and violence in Pakistan, the revival of the Taliban, the rise of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, the jihad in Kashmir, and linkages with al-Qaeda and international terrorism.
On the second day, the conference sessions included ‘Countering Islamist Extremism – National Perspectives’, examining the reform of certain madrasas/education curricula, banning of militant groups and ways of dealing with public opinion and political reform and democracy; ‘Bolstering Regional Cooperation’ on bilateral linkages and regional and multilateral perspectives; and the ‘Role of Outside Powers’. Lt-Gen. David Barno (retd), Director, NESA, and Minister Ali Jalali, Distinguished Professor, NESA made key post-lunch remarks on the conflict in Afghanistan – its past, present, and possible future – and noted that there was no substitute for regional cooperation.
At the conference, the senior participants suggested that issues as complex as Islam and politics would benefit from having broader participation in the future, provided the total number could be kept to a manageable size for informal dialogue. The IISS is preparing a policy-relevant brief which draws on the discussion and outcomes of the conference for distribution to senior officials of regional and other governments.
Key Indian participants at the conference included Ambassador M. Hamid Ansari, Chairman, National Minorities Commission, Government of India; Ambassador Vivek Katju, Additional Secretary (Policy & SAARC), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Ajit Doval, former Director, Intelligence Bureau; B. Raman, former Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat; and Ambassador Salman Haidar, former Foreign Secretary. In addition, the National Security Council Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India, was represented for the first time.
Pakistani participants included Dr Maleeha Lodhi, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK; General Jehangir Karamat (retd), former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the US; Khalid Rahman, Director General, Institute for Policy Studies; and Lt-Gen. Asad Durrani (retd), former Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate.
From Bangladesh, the key participants included Mr Nazmul Quaunine, Director General (Europe & EU), Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, President, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, and Former Foreign Secretary; Major-General Muniruzzaman (retd), President, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies; and Ambassador Wali-ur Rahman, Director, Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs.
Two senior officials from the Sultanate of Oman, Mr Osama bin Khasim Al Jamali, Deputy Head of the West Asian Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Ahmed bin Salim al-Harthy, Director for Information and International Affairs, Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, Royal Court, attended as observers.
NESA was strongly represented by its Director, Lt-Gen. David Barno (retd), along with Minister Ali Jalali, Distinguished Professor and former Minister of Interior of Afghanistan; Dr Michael Yaffe, Academic Dean; and Col. Jack Gill (retd), Professor.
IISS was ably represented by its Director of Studies, Dr Patrick Cronin, along with Sir Hilary Synnott, Consulting Senior Fellow for South Asia and the Gulf, and Dr Mamoun Fandy, Senior Fellow for Middle East Security. The IISS is grateful for the support of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the assistance provided by the Royal Court Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman. The IISS also gratefully acknowledges partial funding of the conference by NESA.
The conference was organised by Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, IISS ResearchFellow for South Asia, with support from Kathleen James, IISS Events and Media Relations Manager. The 8th IISS South Asia Security Conference will
be held in early 2008 in Muscat, Oman.
