Ajai Sahni
Encyclopedia
Ajai Sahni is an author and expert on counter-terrorism
, and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi
, which maintains the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a website
focusing on terrorism
in South Asia
.
Sahni also edits 'South Asia Intelligence Review' and 'Faultlines'.
Sahni earned his Ph.D.
at the University of Delhi
, where his dissertation was titled 'Democracy, Dissent & the Right to Information'.
In 2006 he submitted written evidence to the UK House of Commons, Select Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding Islam
ic terrorism in South Asia which is available on House of Commons website.
, described Sahni as "a local counterterrorism expert" and interviewed him after 2008 Mumbai attacks
.
Emily Wax and Rama Lakshmi, writing for The Washington Post
, also described Sahni as "a counterterrorism expert" in another article on the 2008 Mumbai attacks
.
In February 2009, Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
, included Sahni in a panel of leading experts debating how to combat global terrorism with UK Parliamentarians.
n government
. Madhur Singh, writing in Time
, quoted Sahni "We have such an incoherent and incapable leadership, and across all political parties
. While Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh
seems to understand the scale of the challenge, he doesn't seem to carry the weight with his own Cabinet
colleagues. And the irrational opposition
has been blocking all forward-looking steps, irrespective of national interest."
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
, and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, which maintains the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
focusing on terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
Sahni also edits 'South Asia Intelligence Review' and 'Faultlines'.
Sahni earned his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
, where his dissertation was titled 'Democracy, Dissent & the Right to Information'.
Published work
Sahni has published a number of papers and articles, and has been interviewed on terrorism-related matters.In 2006 he submitted written evidence to the UK House of Commons, Select Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic terrorism in South Asia which is available on House of Commons website.
Citation as an expert
Jason Overdorf, writing for NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, described Sahni as "a local counterterrorism expert" and interviewed him after 2008 Mumbai attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
.
Emily Wax and Rama Lakshmi, writing for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, also described Sahni as "a counterterrorism expert" in another article on the 2008 Mumbai attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
.
In February 2009, Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
Emma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
Emma Harriet Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne is a British politician. Formerly the Conservative then Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Torridge and West Devon she is a now life peer, and a former Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South East England.-Early...
, included Sahni in a panel of leading experts debating how to combat global terrorism with UK Parliamentarians.
Political position
After the Mumbai attacks, Sahni criticized the IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n government
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. Madhur Singh, writing in Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, quoted Sahni "We have such an incoherent and incapable leadership, and across all political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
. While Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
seems to understand the scale of the challenge, he doesn't seem to carry the weight with his own Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
colleagues. And the irrational opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
has been blocking all forward-looking steps, irrespective of national interest."