After a series of interactions among people who cherish similar objectives, Regional Peace Institute (RPI) was formally launched on June 16, 2013 with the inaugural meeting of the Board of Governors (BOG). RPI will principally focus on bringing peace to this controversy- and conflict-riddled region called South-Asia. The scope of work will encompass India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, China and the US. The Russian Federation and the countries of Central Asia will also figure in the parameters of work as will the countries of the SAARC and the GCC.
The principal stakeholders come from the academic, diplomatic and military communities. Some professionals with expertise in analysing the dynamics impacting the regional situation are also part of the RPI team. The Board of Governors also includes representation from other countries of the region.
The innovation of approach and, consequently, the materials that RPI produces together with strategic solutions recommended will have a lot to do with the people who are associated with the Institute.
RPI will encourage all individuals and groups who are willing to pursue the challenge of peace in a pragmatic manner to coordinate with the Institute. It is hoped that, over a period of time, RPI will be able to produce workable solutions of issues that have lingered in the realm of the untouchable so far.
Our intended audiences include all the stakeholders in the region including the governments, non-government organisations, media conglomerates, foreign donor groups and local funding
organisations, other think-tanks which may like to collaborate with us in specific studies and projects, and such other outfits that may be interested in our work. In this context, we would approach all other organisations engaged in similar work for general collaboration or working together on project-to-project basis.
There are three distinct components to the RPI working:
- Operate as an independent think-tank to conduct studies and research on specific issues within its ambit of operation and come up with pragmatic and workable solutions. The papers so finalised will be available to interested organisations from the government and private sectors as well as other think-tanks and research institutes engaged in similar activities.
- Work in collaboration with other think-tanks and research institutes on subjects and issues of mutual interest and come up with policy papers for dissemination and discussion.
- Work on behalf of governments and research institutes to conduct studies and research on specific issues and formulate policy papers.
Over a period of time, RPI intends to expand the scope of its presence to other capitals including Delhi, Dacca, Beijing and Washington, DC.