As a national, nonpartisan, independent Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace draws on our exceptional convening power to create opportunities for diverse audiences to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas necessary for creative solutions to difficult challenges. We serve as an important, neutral platform for bringing together government and nongovernment, diplomacy, security, and development actors, and participants across political views. The Institute’s events help shape public policy and priorities to advance peaceful solutions to conflict and strengthen international security.
On April 22, USIP hosted a discussion on what the recent thaw between India and Pakistan reveals about each country’s strategic thinking, the region’s overarching security concerns, and opportunities for the United States to encourage confidence building and crisis management even if peace remains elusive.
On December 16, the co-chairs and members of the SSG discussed their work and their latest report’s conclusions. The conversation tackled topics such as U.S. interests in South Asia amid China’s growing role, Beijing’s interests in and approach toward the region, China-Pakistan relations, China-India relations, and China’s relations with the smaller South Asian states.
On December 15, USIP hosted distinguished journalists from the region to shed light on the challenges of the past year, share personal insights from the ground, and discuss what we can expect from South Asian governments and media outlets going forward.
On December 1, USIP held a virtual discussion on the future of water conflict and water diplomacy. Environmental peacebuilding experts and activists from Burma, India, and Pakistan discussed the strategies they use to mitigate water conflict risks in their countries, and examined insights from a new USIP report, “Water Conflict Pathways and Peacebuilding Strategies,” that may help develop early warning indicators for emerging water-based conflicts.
On September 17, USIP hosted one of India’s foremost diplomats and scholars, former Foreign Secretary and former Ambassador to both China and the United States Nirupama Rao, for a candid conversation that explored how Indian leaders are managing challenges in the Indo-Pacific and what we may expect from Indian foreign policy going forward.
USIP hosted a conversation with the authors, focused on the tensions between India and Pakistan and prospects for resolving the bilateral dispute, as well as the domestic Kashmiri resistance and both the violent and non-violent movements within Kashmir that may challenge Indian attempts to reshape Kashmir’s status.
USIP hosted an expert panel on the Sino-Indian border clash and its implications for regional and global security. The discussion examined whether this conflict signals an emboldened shift in China’s posture toward disputed borders elsewhere, how this rivalry affects existing India-Pakistan tensions and other border disputes, and what the implications are for the United States and its allies as they push back on perceived Chinese aggression.
The U.S. Institute of Peace and His Holiness the Dalai Lama have joined to strengthen the abilities of youth leaders to build peace in the world’s most violent regions. On October 23 and 24, 2019, USIP and the Dalai Lama hosted a fourth annual dialogue with 28 youth peacebuilders from 12 countries across the globe.
In March, India and Pakistan moved to the brink of war. In response to a terrorist attack claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group, India conducted an airstrike into Pakistani territory for the first time since 1971. The next day, Pakistan downed an Indian MiG 21 jet and captured its pilot. By returning the pilot two days later, India and Pakistan avoided further immediate escalation. However, tensions remain high.
In November 2008, operatives from the Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 coordinated terrorist attacks across Mumbai, killing 164 and wounding over 300. The days following the attacks saw tensions rise between India and Pakistan. War clouds hovered over South Asia for weeks before the crisis abated, in part due to U.S. mediation.