Current Projects
CHINA WATCH [MARCH 14-20] CHINA’S POSITION ON KASHMIR
China has said that the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) did not affect its position on the Kashmir issue. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has for the first time supported China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI). China and Pakistan agreed to enhance military cooperation between the two countries. China plans to increase the size of its marine corps from about 20,000 to 100,000 personnel to protect its growing interests overseas. Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, has rejected the criticism on Chinese investment in Pakistan as ‘unjust.’ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has prepared a list of nine projects for inclusion in the CPEC. China’s Position on Kashmir: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that the development of CPEC did not affect China’s position on the Kashmir issue.[i] While explaining Beijing’s position on the news that Pakistan was going to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region as a province, she said that “[A]s a leftover issue from history between India and Pakistan, it (Kashmir issue) needs to be properly settled through dialogue and consultation between the two sides.” Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Minister for Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzad had told Geo TV that a committee led by the Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had proposed giving the status of a province to GB.[ii] On the other hand, India has strongly opposed any such move as it has always maintained that GB - like Pakistan-held Kashmir- is an integral part of India. As China has started investing billions of dollars in the CPEC that traverses the GB region, Pakistan has been mulling the idea of mainstreaming the region so as to be in better position to counter the Indian claims. For now, it seems that Indian assertions about GB have gained little traction with Pakistan and China who have been proactively engaged in carrying out work on the corridor in GB...
Sabawoon Showcase: February 28, 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 education, beggars’ involvement in crimes, transportation, and the rehabilitation of orphan children and IDPs. The show included a report about the lack of governmental focus on the Government Girls Primary School in Karim Banda, Charsadda, which is nonfunctional since the last 10 years. Another topic was the involvement of female beggars in criminal activities in the Kohat district and the lacking of police control. Furthermore the problems of residents of the Central Kurram Agency caused by dilapidated roads and infrastructure, as well as the distribution of clothing and hygiene kits among orphans in Mohmand Agency by civil society were discussed. Conclusively the implementation of Sada-e-Aman cards scheme for internally displaced people of Waziristan agency was reviewed. The IDPs remain victims of Rah-e-Nijjat operation against the war on terror in the region. Callers Response: Four live callers took part in the program, urging government to strengthen the rule of law and policing in different parts of KP. 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. Socio-cultural affairs are discussed...
Partnership with Russia to Promote Regional Peace: PM
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said Pakistan’s “longstanding partnership” with the Russian Federation as well as with its Muslim regions, including the Republic of Tatarstan, would witness significant progress in all areas of mutual interests. The prime Minister reiterated his resolve to establish a strong partnership between Pakistan and Russia in all fields “as this cooperation will positively contribute towards promoting peace and stability in the region”. He was talking to President of Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, who called on him at the PM House, according to the PM Office media wing’s press release. While warmly welcoming the president of Tatarstan and his delegation to Pakistan, the prime minister said: “Longstanding bilateral relations are a manifestation of a common desire to explore possibilities for enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.” “Pakistan has been pursuing a policy of peaceful neighbourhood and wishes to resolve all outstanding issues with its neighbours peacefully through dialogue.” President Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the prime minister for extending warm hospitality during his visit to Pakistan and informed him that the Tatar business delegation held fruitful meetings in Lahore. The prime minister expressed the hope that the Joint Business Forum “will develop mutually beneficial contacts and help boost bilateral trade”. “Cooperation in sectors including banking, Halal food, production of cement, automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, technology, culture and education, should be explored,” he added. The visiting delegation comprised Albert Karimov, Deputy Prime Minister; Alexey Dedov, ambassador of Russian Federation to Pakistan; Ms Taliya Minullina, chief executive of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency; and Marat Gatin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs. Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Secretary to the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad and Zaheer Janjua, Additional Secretary,...
Indian Team Arrives to Discuss Water Projects
Marking the revival of bilateral engagement at the institutional level after two years, a 10-member Indian delegation led by Indian Indus Water Commissioner P.P. Saxena arrived on Sunday for two-day talks on the designs, disputed by Pakistan, of three controversial water projects being built on river Chenab. The water experts of the two sides at the level of Permanent Indus Commission last met in May 2015 in New Delhi and could not hold mandatory annual meetings since then despite repeated requests by Islamabad. The two sides would not discuss the controversial Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects on which Pakistan is seeking international court of arbitration (ICA) through the World Bank, a senior official told Dawn. He explained that the World Bank was at the advanced stage of appointing an ICA, hence not on the bilateral agenda. Controversial Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects will not come under discussion The teams led by Mr Saxena and Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Mirza Asif Beg would open formal talks on Monday before leaving for Lahore in the evening where the talks would conclude on Tuesday. The visiting delegation would leave for New Delhi the same day. The officials said that Pakistan had raised objections to the designs of three projects on Chenab it considered being built by India in violation of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. These include Pakul Dal of 1,000MW, Miyar of 120MW and Lower Kalnai of 48MW. The two sides will exchange data on river flows and try to finalise the schedule of future meetings and tours of inspections by Pakistani water engineering experts to the various rivers and project sides across the Line of Control. An official said that Pakistan’s objections to the three projects led the Indian side to agree on putting them on the agenda of the meeting. He said Pakul Dal, a mega project with a proposed generation capacity of 1,000MW, would be built on Chenab and would be able to store nearly one million acres feet of...
Sabawoon Showcase: February 27, 2017
Show title: Drug Addictions and District Administration Plans The latest episode of Jarga Maraka (debate and council) discussed the increase in drug addiction in the Peshawar district and the district administration’s plan to control it. Other points of discussion were related to the involvement of females and youngsters in drug smuggling, the increase of drug addiction among students, the role of police, anti-narcotics force, and local administration to curb it, the punishment for addicted people, the impact of drug addiction on youngsters and the causes of drug addiction among youngsters and females. Moreover, the program also highlighted the diseases caused by drug addiction and the role of civil society in their rehabilitation. Mr. Asim Khan, District Nazim, Peshawar, and Ms. Androon Gulzar, Lawyer, Peshawar High Court, were studio guests in the show. Mr. Khan said: “The district administration has always played its role in curbing this menace from society. We are in close coordination with police and anti-narcotic force in order to identify key place for drug availability. We are planning to take serious integrated actions against smuggles in the district.” Ms. Gulzar said: “The free availability of drugs is a dilemma. We need to take serious actions against the culprits to get rid of this issue. The Lawyer society has always been seriously striving to gauge the causes for people’s involvement in drugs and its smuggling.” Another radio report on the relationship between increasing drug availability in the market and the involvement of youngsters was also made part of the program. Five callers took part in the program which urged provincial government to launch stern operations against smugglers and establish rehabilitation centers for addicted people. 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...
Afghan Taliban Signal Interest in Joining Moscow Talks
The Afghan Taliban have signalled willingness to take part in a meeting that Russia is expected to host next month on peace and reconciliation in war-ravaged Afghanistan. Russia has extended an invitation to 12 countries for consultations in Moscow on April 14. The process of informal consultations was initially started by Pakistan, China and Russia in December and was expanded to six-nation talks in mid-February with the participation of Afghanistan, India and Iran. The US, some Central Asian states and the EU will also be invited to next month’s meeting. Taliban officials say it is possible the group may participate in the Moscow meeting, if invited. “Our response would be positive if we get a formal invitation,” two Taliban officials said on Sunday. Initially when Moscow had floated the idea of inviting the Taliban political representatives from the Qatar office, Kabul disagreed with the proposal and insisted that Afghans should lead the process not others. But on Tuesday Afghanistan said it would welcome Russia’s diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the war-torn country. “The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan welcomes the Russian Federation’s recent position with regards to peace and stability in Afghanistan which states that their recent contacts with Afghan armed groups are aimed at promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region,” the Afghan foreign ministry said. Afghanistan was upbeat at a recent Russian foreign ministry statement which asked the Taliban to “lay-down their arms, cut their ties with terrorist groups and join the peace talks to ensure durable peace and stability and end fighting in Afghanistan.” Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar’s visit to Moscow on March 17 helped in developing understanding with Russian officials. Speaking in Moscow following the talks, Atmar threw his weight behind Russia’s peace efforts in Afghanistan. “During the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov...
Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (2): Case studies of Uzbek Taleban in Faryab and Sar-e Pul
The Taleban have spent many years ‘localising’ their fight in the north, recruiting local fighters and commanders and keying in to Afghan Uzbek madrassa networks in Pakistan and the north. That drive has paid off; in the Uzbek-majority provinces of Faryab and Sar-e Pul, the Taleban have gained significant ground against the government. In this second dispatch on non-Pashtun Taleban in the north, AAN’s Obaid Ali looks in detail at the movement’s recruitment and force strength and at the threats it poses to both the Afghan government and the pre-eminent Uzbek power-holder, First Vice President General Abdul Dostum (with input from Thomas Ruttig). A previous dispatch looked at the Taleban in the Tajik-dominated province of in Badakhshan. Before looking in detail at how the insurgency has played out in the Uzbek majority provinces of Faryab and Sar-e Pul, it is worth looking at how Uzbeks fared when the Taleban were in power, as the comparisons are useful. Uzbeks before and during the Taleban’s Islamic Emirate The Taleban movement was founded by Pashtuns in Kandahar in the summer of 1994 as a local force; its initial recruits came from the south, from ‘Greater Kandahar’, the provinces of Kandahar, Uruzgan and Helmand. Many of the early Taleban had studied in Afghan madrasas, and most of the movement’s leaders had fought against the Soviets as members of various mujahedin factions. Often, they were part of specific ‘taleban’ fronts (taleban is the Dari/Pashto plural of taleb which means a student of a religious school or madrasa) (see this AAN paper for more detail: p 10-1). However, as early as 1995, Tajik and Uzbek religious scholars and students from northern Afghanistan who were based in Pakistan as refugees reached out to the nascent movement. These scholars and students were members of a religious organisation called Jamiat-e Tulaba-ye Afghanistan (Religious Students Association). (1) Members of Jamiat-e Tulaba (who wished not to be named) explained to AAN that...
Afghan Weekly (Mar 10 – Mar 16, 2017)
At least 40 Taliban killed along with 16 ISIS militants This week, at least 40 Taliban were killed in Afghan security operations conducted in Chora district of Uruzgan, Central Ghazni and Helmand provinces. Sixteen ISIS militants, including seven Pakistani nationals reportedly, were killed in Nazian and Kot districts of Nangarhar. A suicide bomber packed with explosives, on Monday, ran into a crowded minibus in Kabul, killing one and wounding 23 persons. It was the second severe attack in Afghan capital within the margin of a few days. The following day, two cops were shot by unidentified gunmen in Kabul. Meanwhile, 3 US soldiers also got injured in attacks on US forces in Nangarhar as a reaction of the counter-terrorism operations in the area. International efforts to seek a solution to the Afghan conundrum Russia indicated last month that at some stage it would also make efforts in persuading the Taliban to engage in the consultative dialogue and discussions over Afghan peace process in a bid to make it more inclusive. Afghanistan, however, disagrees with the idea, for the time being at least, as this would effectively legitimize the insurgent group and undermine the elected Afghan Government. Contrary to Kremlin’s approach, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg still considers Taliban as the real threat to Afghanistan’s peace. This divergence in approaches is likely to make any energies futile in achieving peace in the war-ravaged country. Meanwhile, two US senators, John McCain and Lindsay Graham, urged the US administration to intensify their fight against terrorism in Afghanistan on the same lines as it is confronting the ISIS, claiming that the whole of Afghanistan may also be lost as the Afghan government had lost 15% of its territory to insurgents since last year. Earlier this week, the Chinese Government also reassured the Afghan Government and its people that China will continue to steadfastly support the Afghan Government’s fight against...
KP Police Reforms Promoting Crime-Free and Just Society: SP Investigation, Charsadda
The vision of KP police is to promote the society free of crimes and injustices. The KP police reforms are historical; and no such efforts have been made in the past to benefit the general public with community policing initiatives across KP. The Public-Police partnership is crucial for the crime-control and KP police reforms augur well for their cooperation in the future to eradicate crimes and other menaces from the society. The reforms have and are expected to bring massive behavioral change in the police. The public information sharing with police enables early intervention and preventative work to safeguard and promote welfare and for wider public protection. These were the notions expressed by Pir Shahab Ali Shah, SP Investigation, Charsadda Police during a public forum on KP police reforms. Prof. Bokhari Shah, Govt. Post Graduate College, Charsadda and Dr. Altaf Ahmed, Tehsil Naib Nazim, Charsadda also spoke during the event. The forum was part of the project “Ulasi Police” an awareness and advocacy campaign undertaken by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – as part of USAID Small Grants and Ambassadors’ Fund Program – to strengthen the rule of law in KP province by promoting and disseminating the significant police reforms aimed at incorporating local communities’ policing needs and international human rights standards. The endeavor aims to tackle the trust deficit between the public and police, help KP police become an accountable and community-focused police force. Pir Shahab Ali Shah said that specialized institutions were direly needed for the human capital development and capacity building of KP police. In this regard, several specialized schools have been established and operating successfully to improve the capacity of police on investigation, intelligence, tactics, IT, explosive handling, riot management etc. The KP police reforms have greatly helped controlling crimes in the society. Police cannot tackle the crimes alone, without...
Bordering on insanity
Top businessmen from Afghanistan and Pakistan went into a huddle this past week to raise a collective voice about the consequences of closing the border on Feb 17. The consensus that emerged from the meeting, organized by a private sector think tank under the intervention known as Beyond Boundaries, was an emphatic demand for it to be unsealed as soon as possible. Initially, said the declaration, the border should be opened at least until all the cargo stranded on either side of the fence is cleared, while both governments try to sort out their political and security issues directly or otherwise. Nearly 5,000 containers remain stranded, mostly between Karachi and Torkham and Chaman. Hundreds of them are carrying egg and milk aligned items, which take an additional charge of 55 dollars a day for refrigeration. Most of the cargo is Pakistani food exports for Afghanistan or Afghan transit trade. Members of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industries pointed out that at least half a dozen closures within the last 12 months is debilitating for business and people on both sides. The ensuing delays in clearance, demurrage or detention charges, or costs of inspections (in case customs officials decide to conduct a random check of a container) have often been crippling for the Afghan importers, they pointed out. They claimed that customs at Karachi use the threat of consigning containers for random checks as a blackmail tool to extract gratification. If we refuse to pay some Rs20,000 to Rs25,000, we eventually have to pay nearly double the amount if a container is marked for a snap check, they said. Arbitrary increases in the taxes on seasonal fruits and vegetables, Afghan traders underscored, only add to the costs of doing business through Pakistan. The impact of abrupt closures, corruption between the port and the two border crossings, as well as inconsistent taxation can be gauged by the fact that the number of Afghan transit/commercial containers...
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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.