On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the Center for Research and Security Studies held the “United for Peace” event at the Pearl Continental hotel in Peshawar in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP). The musical event was conducted to show solidarity with the people of Peshawar and the greater KP, and to help spread the message of hope and peace. Notable guests included members of national assembly and KP provincial assembly , the honorable ambassadors of Japan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina, and Tajikistan, and other diplomats from Portugal, South Korea and Indonesia.

As a part of the CRSS campaign for social peace and cultural diversity, the event was designed to serve as a symbol of hope for a city that has been traumatized by years of violence. Since the war on terror began in the early 21^st century, Peshawar has seen an upsurge of militancy and stark violence unlike any other part of the country. The last eighteen months have seen unprecedented progress in the face of this tide of terrorism, and the people of Peshawar have received some respite in the form of better safety and service delivery. This event embodies the peace-loving nature of the people of Peshawar and KP, marks a return for community events, musical festivals and cultural gatherings in the city, and enhances the softer image of a resilient people by putting Peshawar on the international radar. This event also raised funds for the rehabilitation of education infrastructure in conflict-affected parts of KP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Envoy’s Band

The highlight of the evening was a performance by the Envoy’s Band. This band, formed in Islamabad by foreign dignitaries with a shared passion for music and peace, performed in public for the very first time. Envoy’s Band members include H.E. Inomata Hiroshi, the Ambassador of Japan, an avid drummer, and H.E. Nedim Makarevic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a singer and guitarist. The duo was also supported by Mr. Gerry Sholomenko, a Canadian saxophonist, Mr. Zeejah Fazli, from the Face Foundation. The Envoys performed a range of covers and songs, including “Twist and Shout” and “Brown-Eyed Girl” by The Beatles. The climax of their concert was a surprise rendition of “Dil Dil Pakistan”, performed for the first time, which caused the audience to erupt in applause.
Zarsange & Bakshi Brothers   

The night was given additional diversity and flavor with a mesmerizing performance by Pashto folklore traditional singer Zarsange. Zarsange is a famous traditional and folklore Pashto singer from KP. She is widely known as The Queen of Pashtun Folklore. She hails from a small village of Lakki Marwat, belongs to a nomadic tribe called Kutanree (Kutan), and has traveled the world enthralling people with her songs. The final performance of the night was by the Bakshi Brothers, Aafi, Bilal, Shehryar and Yawar, a group of cousin-brothers who performed their Urdu and Punjabi songs. Sons of Azam Bakshi, the legendary classical singer, and tabla player Ajmal Khan, winner of the pride of performance award, the passion for creating free-range music is hereditary and runs in their blood. With more than 10 years of experience working as music teachers, teaching vocals as well as music notations to students at a local school, the band has played shows across Pakistan as well as the SAARC Conference in 2013.

The event was a resounding success, establishing the softer image of Peshawar, and Pakistan at large in the international community, expressing solidarity with the people of KP, and promoting cultural events in the region. If you would like to donate to the cause of rehabilitation in the province, please get in touch at the contact information on our Contact Us page.
About CRSS
The CRSS is a non-profit advocacy and research think tank dedicated to the causes of Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law, Accountability, Security, Counter-radicalization, Social Peace and Cultural Diversity. Since 2009 the CRSS has been working in the KPK province and FATA regions, it takes pride in being one of the few civil society organizations that took up radio as a means for community-focused strategic communication through its initiative “media advocacy through airwaves “ on issues such as militancy, counter-radicalization, promoting democratic values, harmony, and tolerance all over Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, so far CRSS has aired approximately 3000 radio programs under this initiative.