AVTAR SINGH BHASIN (b. 1935). BA (HONS); MA in History. Initially he had short stints of service in the National Archives of India and the Minist r y of Defence. In 1963 he joined the Ministry of External Affairs where he served for three decades, retiring in 1993 as Director of the Historical Division. He was posted in Indian missions in Nepal, Bonn, Vienna, and Lagos. He travelled to several other countries in the discharge of his duties in the Ministry. Some of the countries visited were USA, China, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Hungary, etc. He was member of several ministerial and official delegations for discussions with various countries both in India and abroad. Since retirement he has taken to academic research. He was Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Historical Research from 1994 - 96. He was Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library from 1997 to 2001. He has edited and authored several books on South Asian affairs. He also contributed many articles in newspapers on developments in the neighbouring countries. His 75 pieces on Partition and Freedom were published in the Asian Age consecutively from June 1 to August 14, 1997 coinciding with the Golden jubilee celebrations of the Indian independence.
This is the fifth volume in the series India's Foreign Relations. The volumes for 2003 to 2006 have already mad their appearance. The developments in India – Pakistan relations in 2001 particularly the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament, on December 13, cast their ominous shadow on the developments in 2002. Concerned with security, much of the ef for t s dur ing the year were concentrated on neutralizing this threat and convincing the world that there was no short-cut to security, which like peace, was indivisible. All sources of terrorism must be plugged if the humanity has to save itself from this scourge and prevent 9/11 from repeating itself in other parts of the world. The five hundred and seven documents showcased in this compendium are indicative of the great concern of the Indian policy-makers during the year 2002 for internal security and their efforts to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future.
   
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