Current Projects
Afghanistan’s shifting sands and the US
The latest development on Afghanistan is that President Donald Trump is looking at all possible options for the war-torn country. The shifting complex ground realities have effectively eroded the innate utility of each and every option the maverick leader had in mind in the initial days of his Presidency. Now he is unable to select one. He does not find any option good enough to advance broader US strategic objectives in the neighbourhood of two rising powers; China and Russia. Since the goal post has changed and it is not limited to Afghanistan alone, the National Security Team, specifically tasked to craft a new strategy, is still fumbling for a panacea. The burgeoning rift within the White House and between Congress and the administration has further complicated its job. The team was scheduled to announce the new strategy in June but the deadline was later shifted to July and now to September. The delay is understandable. The emergence of Taliban’s nexus with Russia, Iran and expanding ties with China have raised the spectre that the second round of cold war with three rivals could start in Afghanistan. This alarming possibility, albeit remote, requires a departure from the past tactical moves on the part of American strategists. In this background one can appreciate the Manila statement of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that Donald Trump has raised “ … some very, very pointed questions, … good questions”. He further claimed that “we want to give him good, thorough answers and good, thorough analysis to go with that, a very clear-eyed view, a very realistic view of what the future is likely to look like”. Nevertheless, not only in the region but also within the US, the delay has bred disappointment and thrown up a new set of questions raising doubts whether the US president is really interested in Afghanistan or just focused on something big like action against North Korea and Iran. Senator John McCain, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently...
Sabawoon Showcase: July 26, 2017
Benefits and Impact of Tourism on Economy The latest episode of Jwandai Jazbey (alive spirits) focused on the importance and benefits of tourism and its impact on the economy and society. Following points were discussed in the show: Tourism role in the growth of economy, seasons of tourism, benefits of tourism for tourists, benefits of tourism for host destinations, effects of tourism on mental and physical health, promotion of culture and local products through tourism. Moreover, the program shed light on the importance and role of the tourism department in KP and how private tour companies are being promoted. Mr. Asim Ahmad Khan, Student and Owner of AJ Event Elements and Mr. Jawad Afsar Khattak, Student and GM of AJ Event Elements took part as studio guests in the show. Mr. Khattak said: “Due to security concerns, most of the people are reluctant to visit these areas. There are no security issues whatsoever. Tourists can enjoy themselves and regional people can earn a living through it.” A radio report was made part of the program. The report highlighted the importance of tourism and contained the comments of public regarding tourism. Two listeners took part in the program. The listeners appreciated the show and urged the government to speed up the development work in northern areas so that people can visit these areas more frequently. About Sabawoon Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It is designed to highlight the local issues and promote the fundamental governance values, such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions....
Pak-Afghan Roundtable Calls for Economic Cooperation and People-To-People Contact
Afghan and Pakistani participants at a roundtable talk in Islamabad on Wednesday underscored the need for enhanced economic cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as people-to-people debate to bridge the trust gap. Retired ambassadors, officials and media persons also suggested that the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be expanded to Afghanistan and that bitter past should give way to a collaborative conversation on economic and social sector cooperation. The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and the Afghan Studies Center hosted a deletion of the Afghan media managers and journalists, who had discussions with Pakistani participants on ways how to bring the people closer. Important aspect of the Afghan visit was that all the participants belonged to northern Afghanistan … means non-Pashtun. The visit organized by the Pakistani embassy to enable the Afghans interact with all segments of the society to share their thoughts about the perception about Pakistan in Afghanistan and to listen to Pakistanis, who have own concerns about developments in the war-shattered country. Mohammad Naim Taher Qadiri informed the delegates that there has been no single protest in Northern Afghanistan against Pakistan as they intend to focus on friendly relations more with all neighbors for long term peace and development Qadri passed on the greetings of Governor Noor for Pakistan and told Pakistani delegates that Governor Noor believes that Afghanistan needs Pakistan, and without it Afghanistan can go nowhere. He acknowledged the positive engagements between Pakistan and Afghanistan every now and then, but noted that what is missing is the engagement between two people to sustain the peace-building efforts in improving relations. “What is positive here that there is a chance for betterment,” he added. Qadiri then commented on how Afghanistan has made big strides 9/11 afterwards. He informed the delegates that over 60,000 students...
CRSS Hosts Rountable Discussion with Afghan Media Delegation
A deletion of Afghan journalists visited the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) on Wednesday - August 09, 2017. Mr. Mohammad Naim Taher Qadiri - CEO of MITRA Global TV Network was the head of the delegation, other journalists included: Mr. Bashir Ansari - Head of Ariana TV in North and Head of Journalists Safety Committee, Mr. Fahim Ahmad Haqbin - Head of Lahza Radio and TV and Incharge of Afghan National Journalists Committee, Mr. Rohullag Farooq - Editor in Chief of Peerozi Newspaper, Mr. Zabiullah Fetrat - Head of National TV. Their visit was facilitated by Ministry of Information, Pakistan. Mr. Taimur Ahmed, Mr. Amin Jan from Ministry of Information, and Mr. Liaqat Pasha from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) accompanied the Afghan delegation. CRSS was represented by former IG Police Dr. Shoaib Suddle, former Ambassadors Mr. Mian Sanaullah, Muhammad Ayaz Wazir and Qazi Humayun, Beyond Boundaries Track 1.5/II Project Director Mr. Aized Ali, senior journalists Mr. Tahir Khan, Mr. Hassan Khan, Ms. Amber Shamsi and Mr. Amaad Khalique, and Lt. Gen. Asif Yasin Malik. CRSS Executive Director Mr. Imtiaz Gul welcomed the Afghan Media delegation and told them about CRSS’ different initiatives which include Beyond Boundaries Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II and Afghan Studies Center (ASC) in bridging the gap between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan delegates were explained that the ASC was the result of CRSS's Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/11 dialogue that has been running since 2015. During this dialogue, it was felt that youth has a remarkable potential to play a constructive role in improving bilateral relations, thus the idea of providing the youth with a platform such as ASC precipitated there. The basic idea is connect the two countries through an informed discourse. After introduction of all participants, he let the floor open for discussion. Mr. Mohammad Naim Taher Qadiri on behalf of the Afghan media delegation expressed his gratitude for the generosity and...
Sabawoon Showcase: July 25, 2017
Regional Review on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) The latest episode of Da Simay Jaaj (regional review) discussed several public issues, such as health, life security, local bodies’ budget and encroachment in different areas of KP and FATA. In the first report, the issue of central jail Mingora Swat was discussed, which was destroyed in the earthquake of 2005. Since October 2005 till date, thousands of accused belonging to Swat were sent to jail at district Bunir and Lower Dir Temargara. Keeping them in these far-flung areas (other districts) creates hurdles to the police, lawyers and the families of the accused as well. Senior advocate and well known human right defender Sher Mohammad Khan, speaking as a telephonic guest insisted that the government should complete their work as soon as possible. He promised that he will raise the issue in Bar Association and draw the attention of the district courts as well. The second report was about the contaminated drinking water in Tehsil Shabqadar district Charsadda and the non-functional tube well in the area. The report mentioned that the underground water level in the area is very high and gets mixed with the sewerage water. There are five tube wells which are non-functional. The report suggested that the elected members should resolve the issue. The third report pointed out the irregularities in approval of annual budget 2017-18 of District Council Kohat. Naib Nazim Kohat Mr. Abdul Rashed took part in the show as telephonic guest and accepted the allegations. He mentioned that he will go to the court because he thinks that the approval of the budget is illegal. In the last report Mr. Mohammad Rehan mentioned the poor conditions of the road in Kurram Agency. There were sixteen calls during the show of which twelve calls were aired live. The callers took keen interest in the show and openly discussed their local issues through telephone. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber...
Sabawoon Showcase: July 24, 2017.
Role & efficiency of Local governments in KP. The latest episode of Jarga Maraka (debate and council) shed light on the role and efficiency of Local government bodies in Tehsils, Towns and districts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Local governments are the back bone of micro development in the world. Following issues were discussed in the show: What is the basic role of the present LG system in KP? How much is the local public satisfied from the elected members of local bodies and the existing system? What amount of developmental budget they utilized successfully in previous years? District Niab Nazim, Mr. Syed Qasim Ali Shah as studio guest tried to defend the system. He claimed that they were going according to the book and the public is fully involved and satisfied with the new system. He further explained that although the system is very new and the elected members are trying their best to meet the public needs but it will require time. A radio report was made part of the program in which public voices were part of the report. They complained about the elected members and the system. Four calls were received during the show and two were aired live, the callers took keen interest in the topic and expressed their views openly. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It is designed to highlight the local issues and promote the fundamental governance values, such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, students and women....
Mindset That Rules Pakistan
Accountability and compliance with the rule of law probably should be our yardstick for this support of the opposition, instead of looking at it through the eyes of incumbent elites Most of Pakistan is currently polarized in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s controversial Panama verdict. The socio-political dynamics unleashed by what the pro PML-N denounce as an (establishment-sponsored) judicial coup seem to have galvanized almost all key political stakeholders, including the chief provocateur, the PTI chairman Imran Khan. The sleazy barrage of accusations (read Aysha Gulalai) and the flood of federal and Punjab government commercials on both the print and electronic media as well as the narrative doing rounds invariably reminds me of two anecdotes. These offer a good explanation on the mindset behind our political economy and also highlights why and how the politics of patronage, permits, plots and loan-write-offs took the economy down a disastrous path. One of the anecdotes relates to the late Ardeshir Cowasjee, an extremely selfless human being, prolific writer/columnist for a national newspaper and a fearless critic of Pakistan’s civilian and military elites. The paltry sums of income taxes that the Sharif family paid in the 1980s and the 1990s bore testimony to the propensity to conceal income and evade or avoid taxes, while their Finance minister hunted small and medium private businessmen to cough up exorbitant taxes Sometime in the earlier part of Nawaz Sharif’s second tenure (1997-1999), we met at the Islamabad residence of veteran politician couple Begum Abida Hussein and Fakhr Imam. Over lunch Cowasjee shared with us his recent meeting with the Sharif brothers. I flew from Karachi for the meeting at the Prime Minister’s House where they offered me the governor ship of the Sindh province. “We value your greatly and think you deserve a place like the Governor’s House in Karachi to guide us,” Cowasjee recalled. Despite repeated requests, Cowasjee, who...
Another Brick in The Wall
OVER the past few weeks, I have come across two powerful new words. Coincidentally, both are related in a certain way. The first, ‘kakistocracy’ refers to “government by the worst people”. (Understandably, PML-N sympathisers want to insert an ‘h’ after the first ‘k’). The second word, ‘tenderpreneurs’ hasn’t made it to the dictionary as yet, but it should. It has been coined by Raila Odinga, the veteran Kenyan opposition leader, to refer to the alleged money being made by the Kenyan president and his coterie via commissions from a raft of public works tenders by the government in the run-up to elections. Many of these are deemed to be overpriced and shoddy in construction (a $12 million bridge constructed by the Chinese collapsed a fortnight after inauguration by the president earlier this year). Misuse of public funds, embezzlement, using a public office for private gain, stashing ill-gotten wealth in offshore tax havens etc., have all been around since people first stepped forward to ‘serve’ others and exercise control of collective finances. The scale and scope is, unfortunately, much larger now, with allegations of mega corruption no longer the preserve of African dictators like Mobutu Sese Seko, Sani Abacha et al., or of presidents Marcos, Duvalier and Suharto. Of recent, grand corruption scandals have broken out under democratically elected governments in Malaysia, Turkey, South Africa, Spain, France, Italy, Brazil, Russia, Argentina, South Korea among others. Of course, corruption is not the exclusive domain of civilians — far from it. Many of the corrupt African dictators were serving generals (Sani Abacha, Charles Taylor etc). In Pakistan’s case, the first major corruption scandal in Benazir Bhutto’s tenure involved the serving naval chief at the time (in the Agosta submarine case). Under Gen Musharraf’s time, several high-profile cases of irregularities came to light — in the importation of rail engines and carriages, the NICL land scam, Bank of Punjab,...
Hard Work for Dirty Money
Terrorist Financing and NACTA Gear Up For Assessment One of the 20 points listed in the National Action Plan (NAP) relates to terrorist financing or “choking financing for terrorist and terrorist organizations”. And after long and focused inter-provincial deliberations, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has finally laid down a roadmap to tackle this menace. The task had become urgent because of increased international monitoring of illicit funds meant for terrorist activities and an impending evaluation of Pakistan’s efforts against it. The challenge is to satisfy the 35-nation intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force when it visits Pakistan in October next year. Formed in 1989 to combat money laundering, the task force also began monitoring the financing of terrorism after 9/11. If unsatisfied with a particular country’s banking measures against terrorist financing, the task force can blacklist it, which would hurt a country’s ability to borrow. Back in 2015, it had exempted Pakistan after its annual session which appreciated the country’s progress in tackling both money laundering and terrorist financing. With this looming deadline, NACTA, the lynchpin in the entire effort, moved with speed to put together policies, recently approved by the the Minister for Interior. It also included a proposal for a National Task Force on Counter Terrorism Financing. It will have representation from all police establishments, the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, FMU, Federal Board of Revenue, Anti-Narcotics Force, National Accountability Bureau, the Home departments, FIA, State Bank of Pakistan and FATA secretariat. The task force held its first formal session on July 19. The challenge is to satisfy the 35-nation intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) when it visits Pakistan in October next year Simultaneously, Counter-Terrorist Financing Units (CTFUs) have been set up in all provincial Counter-Terrorism Departments (CTDs). ...
Sabawoon Showcase: July 20, 2017
FATA Students Protest against FCR The latest episode of Ranra (light) focused on delay in FATA reforms bill and students protest for FATA merger in KP. The following points were highlighted during the show: Fata students’ sit-in protest against FCR, history of FCR as black law, why Fata people are against FCR? , people being deprived from their basic rights under FCR, people demanding extension of judiciary to Fata, extended laws to Fata, Fata women demanding their right to education and health. Moreover, the program discussed the role of youngsters against FCR as they want a merger of Fata in KP. Mr. Shoukat Aziz, President Fata Students Organization and Mr. Haleem Orakzai, Advisor Fata Students Organization, took part as studio guests in the show. Mr. Aziz said: “Tribal youth should focus on education, no one from outside will come to bring change in the region rather we should take the initiative. It is said ‘If you change nothing, nothing will change’. They must come out against black law ‘FCR’ and raise voice at every forum against this.” A radio report was made part of the radio program. The report contained the comments of people present in the Fata students protest in front of governor house Peshawar. Four listeners took part in the program. They urged the federal government to abolish the FCR, merge FATA in KP and give basic rights to the people of FATA. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). It is designed to highlight the local issues and promote the fundamental governance values, such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories...
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TESTIMONIALS
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.