Special lecture on topic “Current Flux in the Middle East” by Col Amit Vig (Retd)

Chandigarh, February 7, 2025: Department of Defence and National Security Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh today organised a special lecture on the topic “Current Flux in the Middle East” by Col Amit Vig (Retd). 

In his engaging lecture, Col Amit Vig, who is a prolific writer on military and strategic affairs of India, traced the historical and cultural roots responsible for the current flux in the Middle East. He traced the history of this region from the Mesopotamian civilisation to the formation of modern nation states in the region. He explained the development of various civilisations, ethnicities, languages along the big rivers like Nile, Euphrates and Tigris. He stressed that the extreme heterogeneity exists within the region based on the ethnicities, so it is wrong to see the whole region in the light of a single religion. The countries take pride in their individual past and there are existing historical and cultural fault lines among the nations of this region. The nation states boundary drawn by the colonial powers further exacerbated the situation.

Col Vig also discussed the existing geopolitical situation in the region. The major powers, the US, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Russia are jostling for power in the region. He said that the powers like Turkey and Iran draw inspiration from erstwhile kingdoms, whose power centres were based in their present nation state territories. He expressed his concerns regarding evolving security scenarios due to existing faullines and presence of extra regional powers.

The special lecture was organised under the guidance of Dr. Jaskaran Singh Waraich, Chairperson, Department of Defence and National Security. Dr. Priya felicitated the speaker, and welcomed the guests, faculty members, research scholars and students present for the event. She also introduced the theme of the special lecture and its relevance to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East to the audience.

Dr. Mandeep Singh proposed the vote of thanks and asked students to adopt a comprehensive view of the ongoing conflicts in the region. The seminar was attended by the faculty, research scholars, students and student officers of the Department.