Ambassador K. P. Fabian

Former Ambassador of the Republic of India to Italy

fabianAmbassador K. P. Fabian served in the Indian Foreign Service between 1964 and 2000, during which time he was posted to Madagascar, Austria, Iran, Sri Lanka, Canada, Finland, Qatar, and Italy. He is currently the Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, Chennai.  During his time in the diplomatic service, he spent three years in Iran (from 1976 to 1979), witnessing the Iranian Revolution first hand. As Joint Secretary (Gulf), Fabian coordinated the evacuation of over 176,000 Indian nationals from Iraq and Kuwait in 1990-91. His multilateral experience includes representing India at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, Food and Agricultural Organization, World Food Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. He is also the author of two books, Commonsense on the War on Iraq, which was published in 2003, and Diplomacy: Indian Style, published this year.
Expertise

diplomacy, Diplomacy: Indian Style, FAO, IGSSS, India-China, India-Pakistan, India-U.S., international affairs, Italy, North South Dialogue, UN

Last modified: August 9, 2017

Recent projects

Airlift Courtesy: Bollyvision
3 February 2016 Gateway House

Airlift: Not lifted from facts

Recently-released blockbuster Airlift, on the biggest evacuation by air in history conducted by the Government of India during Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990, falls disappointingly short of presenting the true picture of the government’s laudable and timely intervention.
Sushma on Gaza Courtesy: Rajya Sabha TV
30 July 2014 Gateway House

A confusing stand on Gaza

Historically, India has supported the Palestinian cause but today, shares strong diplomatic relations with both West Bank and Tel Aviv. India's vote at the UNHRC has provoked much debate within the country as it marks a distinct shift in the government's stand from a few weeks ago when it was reluctant to even discuss the Gaza crisis in Parliament
morsi Courtesy: Cyfraw/WikimediaCommons
2 January 2013 Gateway House

The chess game in Egypt

Despite heavy opposition from several factions, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s propositions for altering the constitution have been approved. Although the alterations have democratic elements, the liberals and secularists bear responsibility in taking forward Egypt’s journey to complete democracy.
Courtesy: Gigi Ibrahim/WikimediaCommons
27 November 2012 Gateway House

Israel-Hamas: Only an intermission

The series of Israeli offensives against Gaza, which began on November 4, ended when Egypt's new President Mohamed Morsi brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli government on November 13. The possibility of this ceasefire holding up, however, seems remote.
chris stevens casket Courtesy: Secretary of Defense/Flickr
20 September 2012 Gateway House

Death of an Ambassador

Ambassador Christopher Stevens, the U.S. envoy to Libya, was killed, following protests against a controvertial movie, titled 'Innocence of Muslims.' Is an anti-U.S. sentiment to be blamed for this violence? What consequences will this incident have on the U.S. policies towards Libya and Syria?
manmohan zardari_0 Courtesy: Cropbot, Russavia/WikimediaCommons
17 September 2012 Gateway House

Advantage: Pakistan

Manmohan Singh is likely to visit Pakistan later this year. As the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 8 years, it will be a significant event. The timing and the agenda of the PM’s visit, however, raise a few questions.
Courtesy: FREEDOM HOUSE2/FLICKR
24 August 2012

Syria: What next?

With the Free Syrian Army being supplied aid by the West and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the endgame for the Syrian regime has begun. Does Assad's exit guarantee the replacement of autocracy with democracy? What implications will it have on regional politics?
kp fabian 2 Courtesy: Gateway House
25 July 2012 Gateway House

“India’s diplomacy is textual, not contextual”

Understanding the rationale behind India’s diplomatic decisions is essential for policymakers and citizens alike, so as to take better decisions in the future. Gateway House interviews former Ambassador to Italy, K. P. Fabian, to discuss how India's assessment of policy values the spoken word over context.