New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) "The global landscape is transitioning into a unique phase characterized by grey-zone conflicts, where established international institutions face significant challenges in addressing shifting geopolitical tensions," remarked Daniel Benaim, the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs, during his keynote speech at the Maharana Pratap Annual Geopolitics Dialogue (MPAGD) 2026 held in Udaipur.

Benaim stressed that the framework of international collaboration founded on “shared values” is increasingly inadequate for maintaining effective interstate alliances, highlighting the ongoing transformation in United States foreign policy as it adapts to changing global dynamics.

This year’s fifth edition of the Dialogue was organized by the Usanas Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs on March 13-14, under the overarching theme “Chakravyuh to Shanti Parv: From Conflict to Consensus.”

The event featured Syed Ata Hasnain, the Governor of Bihar, as the Chief Guest, who delivered a keynote address following the launch of Dr. Abhinav Pandya’s book 'The Jihad Game: Inside Pakistan’s Dark War'. In his address, Lt Gen Hasnain elaborated on three fundamental pillars underpinning jihadist networks targeting the ideological infrastructure supported by India-Pakistan: institutional capability, extensive financial mechanisms, and logistical networks, while also providing strategic insights to tackle these challenges.

Also present was Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who discussed the ongoing significance of Maharana Pratap’s legacy in contemporary geopolitics and public policy.

Dr. Anita Jain, Director of the Usanas Foundation, opened the conference by outlining its broader intellectual context, and Dr. Abhinav Pandya, Founder and CEO, emphasized how current great power rivalries are influenced by ideological clashes, technological competition, supply chain supremacy, and the shift towards a multipolar global order.

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Former Ambassador to Jordan, Libya, and Malta, and Distinguished Fellow at VIF, also offered opening remarks. The conference included several high-profile sessions. One such session titled “The Chessboards of Giants: Great Power Rivalries in the 21st Century” was chaired by Sujan Chinoy, Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), and featured notable speakers such as Dr. C. Raja Mohan, Amb. Anil Trigunayat, Amb. Mayank Singh, and Dr. Timofey Bordachev.

A dedicated session on China, chaired by Dr. Jagannath Panda, Head of the Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs, included discussions with Amb. Vijay Gokhale, Manoj Kewalramani, and Col. Pavithran Rajan.

The conference also focused on climate and sustainability, with a session chaired by Erik Grigoryan, the Former Minister of Environment of Armenia, featuring Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen and Dr. A.A. Mao.

On the second day, Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the President of the RAND Corporation, and Tejendra Khanna, Former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, were notable speakers. The session titled “Disruptors and Proxies”, chaired by Prof. (Dr.) Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, included contributions from a range of experts, including Daniel Benaim and Dr. Sagit Yehoshua.

Discussions on “Evolving Frontiers of Jihad” featured several experts such as Peter Knoope and Dr. Vinod J. Bahade.

A pivotal session on “Pakistan’s Terror Factories and Radical Islam in South Asia” was chaired by Ajay Bisaria, former envoy to Pakistan, Canada, Poland, and Lithuania. He referenced the October 7 attacks on Israel and the Pahalgam attack linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), which resulted in 26 fatalities, reiterating India's zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and the escalating challenge posed by Salafist ideologies in Kashmir.

Sam Westrop, Director of the Middle East Forum’s counter-extremism initiative, discussed the evolving nature of terrorism, highlighting the use of charities and welfare organizations for financial support. He warned of the threats posed by “soft Islamism.”

Shiv Murari Sahai, a former IPS officer, traced the historical spread of Islam in the region and noted the role of the JKLF in the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. He also highlighted China-Pakistan collaboration in information warfare and the ongoing evolution of counter-terrorism efforts within India.

Subsequent sessions explored topics such as geoeconomics, Indo-Pacific strategy, information warfare, and emerging technologies, featuring contributions from various esteemed speakers.

The Dialogue concluded with final remarks by Amb. Ashok Sajjanhar, reiterating the event's significance in fostering discussions on geopolitics, security, and global transitions, highlighting pathways from conflict to consensus in an increasingly intricate international landscape.