April 21, 2009 — South Asian experts will gather Friday at the University of Virginia to explore issues of worldwide concern that face the Obama administration in its relations with India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The workshop, "South Asia: Challenges and Prospects for the Obama Administration," will be held from 2 to 5:15 p.m. in the Gibson Room, 114 Cocke Hall.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will include two panel discussions on the topics of Islamic radicalism, nuclear proliferation and economic development.

The schedule:

Panel I, 2-3:30 p.m. (Chairwoman: Rina Williams, assistant professor of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures)

• "The Indian Perspective on U.S-India Relations," Ronojoy Sen, senior assistant editor of The Times of India, New Delhi.
• "The U.S. Perspective on U.S.-India Relations," Rick Inderfurth, professor of international affairs, George Washington University. Inderfurth served as assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs from 1997 to 2001.
• "India's and Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenals," Michael Krepon, U.Va. professor of politics and president emeritus of the Henry L. Stimson Center

Panel II, 3:45-5:15 p.m. (Chairman: Gowher Rizvi, U.Va. vice provost for international programs)

• "Pakistan and Afghanistan," Riaz Khan, retired Pakistan diplomat and a Woodrow Wilson International Center scholar
• "Pakistan and Islamic Radicalism," Touqir Hussain, a former Pakistani diplomat and currently adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University and U.Va.
• "Economic Development and U.S. Assistance in Pakistan," John Echeverri-Gent, U.Va. professor of politics.

Each speaker will talk for about 15 to 20 minutes, followed by 10 to 15 minutes of discussion and questions from the audience.

The workshop is supported by the Office of Vice Provost for International Programs, the Taraknath Das Fund and the Center for South Asian Studies.