Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: The three day national conference on `Trends in Non Traditional Security’, organized by the Department of National Security Studies (DNSS), Central University of Jammu (CUJ), in association with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Department of International Relations, Christ University, and the Konrad-Adeanuer-Stiftung, India, concluded here today.
The last session of the conference, `Contemporary Narrative – Global Crises’ was chaired by Dr Senthil, Regional Wildlife Warden. Eminent experts, including Dr Sanjaya Baru, Media Advisor to former Prime Minister, Dr Gurpreet Khurana, Executive Director, National Maritime Foundation, Dr S D Singh, IGP Jammu and senior journalist Zafar Chaudhury spoke on Economic Crisis; Maritime Security; Chemical; Biological, Radiological and Nuclear issues; and New Media respectively.
In his presentation, Dr Sanjaya Baru highlighted the challenging issues of economic crisis and financial threats perceived from China and other emerging economic power centers. Captain Gurpreet Khurana, speaking on maritime security and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region, elaborated the security environment and military imbalances that prevail in the oceans.
Dr S D Singh, covering on the lethal aspects of CBRN, explained the number of casualties caused by harmful chemical agents in Syria and how chemical weapons have been sought by non state actors. Zafar narrated the dangers of internet or new media and it being exploited by extreme elements to incite militancy in Kashmir and other parts of the country.
At the valedictory session, Professor Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor, CUJ, expressed his desire to open a think tank under the Department that can dedicatedly focus on policy research and constructive ideas at national and international levels. Referring to the context of security issues in JK, he elaborated on the problems to be solved at the grassroots level considering political, ethnic, cultural and religious discourses.
Dr Sudhakar from the Department of NSS, CUJ, presented the welcome address. A way forward of the conference was provided by representatives of partner institutes that collaboratively organized the programme.
Prof Mallika Joseph provided highlights of the conference by explaining the reason the programme was organised, its objective, and successive steps to be taken forward by the partner organizations. Vote of thanks was presented by Dr Neeta, Assistant Professor, DNSS, CUJ.