Two day National Seminar on ‘Conflict in South and West Asia at AMU

ALIGARH, December 21: Inaugurating a two day National Seminar on ‘Conflict in South and West Asia was organized by the Centre of West Asian Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Former Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Prof. Veena Seekri emphasized the role of people to people contact as a way for resolving conflicts. She was of the opinion that in today’s globalised world, people to people diplomacy is playing an important role in international relations. In the new media and communication regime, this form of diplomacy challenges general understanding and practice of foreign policy issues. In this scenario, the concept of “people to people contact” can create new opportunities and avenues. Giving various examples from Bangladesh where she served as High Commissioner she further emphasized that track two diplomacy deals with the influence of public attitudes on the formation and execution of foreign policies.

The AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis in his residential remarks discussed the issues of conflict resolution with reference to West Asian region. To him the Arab – Israel conflict is the result of the failure of the on the part of the western powers to understand the issues in right perspective. He very categorically stated that the emergence of Israel as an independent nation in 1948 has not been accepted by the Arab World which views it as an American imposition. The conflict in Iraq has further compounded the ever growing conflicts & tensions in the region. He also spoke about Indian foreign policy posture over Palestine issue and emphasized that the problem can only be resolved taking into consideration the various factor ranging from sociological root of conflict; conflict caused by the “state system”, and regional case studies.

Prof. Girjesh Pant, Vice Chancellor, Doon University, Dehradun, in his key note address discussed at length about the dimensions of the Palestinian – Israeli battle, the two gulf war (Iraq-Iran and the Kuwait war), Lebanon, the Kurds and the rise of political Islam in the context of governance and state building in the West Asia. He shows his concern that as an academician all these occurrences demand explanations, historical records and often compelling perspectives in terms of explaining why collapse into violence has occurred in such contexts. He was however, optimistic that despite repeated setbacks and failures, and despite negative trends the course of peace-making in the two regions has also seen several breakthroughs in avoiding wars and-resolving some of their conflicts.

Dr. Javed Iqbal, Convener of the Seminar in his address emphasized that the purpose for organizing this conference is to understand the dynamics of the issues involved the conflict in terms of issues of terrorism, ethnic and religious discord; the surge of extremist religious elements; and the encouragement of local conflicts by the regimes in power. The purpose is to address to the causes in terms of explaining why collapse into violence has occurred in such contexts Given these facts, the task of peace-making in the West and South Asia has had repeated setbacks and failures. He wished that the discussions in the seminar would go a long way towards meeting such a need.


While welcoming the guests and fellow participants those included diplomats, policy makers and scholars from academia , Prof. Mohammad Gulrez , Chairman -Organizing Committee emphasized that from the decolonization to the present day these two regions have witnessed the outbreak of wars; foreign involvement; successful and aborted peace processes; the adoption of military and non-military confidence-building measures (CBMs); terrorism, ethnic and religious discord; the surge of extremist religious elements; and the encouragement of local conflicts by the regimes in power.

He further emphasized that in this kind of conflict the human costs are high and are borne  principally by the civilian population- civilians make more than 90 percent of the causalities in the post cold war conflicts globally. There are also the political costs of the demolition of the democratic system and even the disintegration of states. Efforts to create a lasting peace have a deal with all these kinds of problems.




The vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. CPS Chauhan, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, the seminar was attended by large number of faculty members, students and invited participants.