Current Projects
Afghan Weekly (Feb 03 - Feb 09, 2017)
The peace measures in Afghanistan, most often prove to be in shadows, but the recent peace accord of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar with Afghan Government is being considered as a silver lining in the cloud. With these rapidly moving developments, different maneuvers to expedite the peace process are being employed by Russia, China, Pakistan and other regional and international actors. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Afghanistan now has been formally invited to another round due in mid-February in Moscow, where high level representatives from China, Iran, India and Pakistan will be present.[1] Lavrov made this announcement on February 07 in Moscow after talks with his visiting Afghan counterpart, Salahuddin Rabbani, revealing that most of these countries had already confirmed their participation. China, too, is engaging both the Afghan Government and Taliban for a settlement through dialogue. Deng Xijun, China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has said to the Afghan Government that negotiations with the Taliban is the only way forward. The Chinese envoy also said that during their talks with the Taliban they had encouraged them to do the same.[2] The internal actors and stakeholders in Afghanistan are disparately trying to impress upon their mantras for truce. The High Peace Council (HPC) has said that it has defined a new peace process strategy which they hope will influence Taliban insurgents to join peace negotiations with the Afghan Government. The new peace process strategy ought to be indigenous and will seek no involvement of others.[3] A somewhat similar notion was shared in a separate conference in Kabul which was organized by Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS). In the conference, former National Security Advisor Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told the participants that Afghanistan has to break away from the reliance on certain nations and work on new concepts.[4] A multipronged policy will help Afghanistan to be in more...
Sabawoon Showcase – February 07, 2017
Regional Review of 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, health, sports, and developmental projects in different parts of KP. The show contained reports on: Problems faced by students of Government Primary School, Mohmand Agency, due to the lack of proper building and other basic facilities. The international skiing competition in Malam Jabba, Swat, organized by Pakistan Army to promote peace and tourism in the region. Upgradation of 17 government schools in Dera Ismail Khan District and the demand of local people to boost the literacy rate and increase the teachers’ attendance at schools. KP’s Governor, Mr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra’s visit to North Waziristan Agency and announcement of developmental schemes for the region. The strike by Para Medical Association of Kohat District because of the non-payment of salaries since August 2016. Listeners’ Response: Three listeners from North Waziristan Agency shared their feedback in the show through live calls. They appreciated the initiation of developmental schemes but lamented that after the commencement, such projects were usually not covered by financial backing. They urged the government to ensure the sustainable working of these schemes in the long run. 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....
A NATO Rethink on Afghanistan?
Moscow invites the regional players to discuss peace mid-Feb Is a US-led NATO rethink on Afghanistan and Pakistan underway? Has the Indian policy of “isolating” Pakistan outlived its temporal utility following some immature moves by the Indian prime minister and the Afghan president? These critical questions flow from a flurry of some overt and covert high-profile foreign diplomatic visits to Islamabad between Jan 27 and Feb 7. They brought with them many questions, and wondered whether and what Pakistan can do to help revive the Afghan peace process, whether high-level changes in the Pakistani security establishment offer a window of opportunity for the Afghan peace talks, and will Pakistan tag along Russia and China to pursue the Afghan reconciliation process? Another big question emerging from the interactions with foreign dignitaries revolved around continued western support for the Afghan government; is unqualified US-NATO support for Afghanistan and the unchallenged acceptance of the Kabul narrative on Pakistan resulting in “indifference and inaction” from the current government? It looks like we shall have to convey in categorical terms that the Trump support for and the NATO commitment to Afghanistan’s security and development is not an open-ended affair, said one US official. Most visitors also wondered whether brazen terrorist attacks reduce pressure on Ashraf Ghani to take action on the peace front. Terrorist attacks are condemnable, we expect Pakistan to curb the flow of militants and criminals from its side, said one European official, but it certainly cannot be an “excuse for inaction” by Kabul. And can the government really sustain itself by refusing to indulge in talks with the Taliban as political opposition or can it really afford to play on the military option? Also, another realization that one could discern from these interactions was that, “we can hardly change the Pakistani security establishment’s matrix.” “We tried it for over a decade but...
Taliban, Warlords, Kuchis and Stability
The opponents of the Kabul regime believe that the government has failed on almost all accounts. In this context, mention is often made to the growing tension between the two power pegs within the government, increased financial corruption of government functionaries, the declining control of provinces and their leaders, absence of national resolve to enforce the rule of law, reliance of listing local militia to enforce government law and the failure to deal with surging Taliban, etc. They try to project that the government has been busy merely reiterating stale, hackneyed, and already proved ineffective stratagem. While there is neither legal, nor religious restraint to implement good governance, at least in areas under government control, no effort on the part of ineffective Kabul politicians is in evidence for a national common vision. A few of them realize that perhaps Afghans themselves could have handled the situation, were there no other countries and their strategic games including proxies. Apart from dealing with the bloody outcomes of 20 years of war-like situation and 15 years of active war fought by foreign powers, the government is fractured along ethnic fault lines, fully exhausted. In such a situation, any amount of financial and military support would be inadequate for the government to overcome its myriad challenges. At the same time, the government must realize that it has no option to fail in Afghanistan, which has re-emerged as the new theatre of the new great game, dominated both by economic and civilizational conflicts. This time, the world is marked by assertive multi-polar powers and their fast shifting positions on old and new issues of world order. The incursion of religious extremism coupled with terrorism make this mixture more lethal and deadly. As a result, Afghanistan has become an interesting place to test their geostrategic games. It does not matter whether big powers win or lose in Afghanistan. The war was lost in Vietnam but it...
Sabawoon Showcase – February 6, 2017
Adulteration in Food Items and Its Legal Implications The latest episode of Jarga Maraka (debate and council) took up the issue of adulterated food items in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), its legal implications and measures adopted by the government to curb this menace. Other points of discussion included the role of district administration in controlling the debasement of food items, rules and regulations about hygienic food in KP, laboratory tests of food items, health hazards caused by adulteration of food items, and penalties imposed against the offenders by the district government in Peshawar. The show also highlighted the role of government and media in educating public about the importance of safe and hygienic food. Mr. Ateeq Humayun, a senior journalist, was the in-studio guest while Mr. Kashif Uddin, a Peshawar based journalist, shared his views through live call. Mr. Humayun said: “The KP government must empower the health department and devise an effective mechanism to curb the dilution and adulteration of food items. This problem has already caused many health issues in the entire province.” Mr. Kashif said: “The current penalties for adulteration do not conform to the type of contamination crimes being perpetrated. Rules should conform to the level of the threat.” A radio report shared data about the culprits found involved in mixing of chemicals into milk in district Peshawar. Three callers participated live in the program. They urged the food control department to expand its checks and control to the far flung districts 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...
Trump Vs. Pakistan
What will President Trump’s foreign policy be like, and how will it affect Pakistan? His inauguration speech broadly pointed to an anti-globalization, anti-internationalism, and strongly nationalistic stance, but gives no policy clues. For that, we need the help of more tangible evidence that should include but not be limited to the executive orders he has issued during the first week of his presidency. Trump 101 Four general impressions of Trump jump out of these executive orders. First, he is abysmally ignorant about how the world works and has a tendency to ignore or deny what he does not know. Second, he is a man whose formative influences in foreign affairs are based on long entrenched prejudices and biases — as evidenced by his talk of the trade deals he has allegedly always known were ripoffs. Third, he is someone who will remain wedded to his base for reasons of politics as much as for holding sway over adulating millions to validate his superego, which is typical of a strongman psyche. And lastly, he is a complex personality, thick-skinned on criticism of his policies and thin-skinned on personal slights. That makes him a poor politician and a bad diplomat. But we need to go beyond these impressions and look at more evidence to make any informed guesses about his foreign policy, which these executive orders touch only tangentially. The evidence would be, on one hand, Trump’s long-lasting campaign rhetoric, of which the inauguration speech was the finale, his tweets, personal background and business career; and on the other what his secretaries of state and defense have said at their confirmation hearings. Their remarks are so much at odds with Trump’s own statements that we are tempted to presume they would not have so spoken if they believed this would not be reflected in policy. In all likelihood, Trump’s primary focus will be on domestic issues like the economy, jobs and security; and in foreign policy on hybrid issues – foreign policy issues with high...
Security Situation in Afghanistan and Events in Kabul (2016 – 2017)
“Afghanistan is an Islamic republic.”[1] “The U.S. government estimates the total population at 32.6 million (July 2015 estimate).”[2] “Further hindering Afghanistan is that its economy and society are still fragile after decades of warfare that left about 2 million dead, 700,000 widows and orphans, and about 1 million Afghan children raised in refugee camps outside Afghanistan. More than 3.5 million Afghan refugees have since returned, although a comparable number remain outside Afghanistan.”[3] State and Non-State Actors “Since December 2014, when the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) ended its combat role in Afghanistan, the ANSF has performed reasonably well in face-to-face encounters with the Taliban. However, it failed spectacularly in defending Kunduz. Some 7,000 security personnel could not hold the city against an assault by a few hundred Taliban fighters. It lays bare the ANSF’s weakness in fighting in urban settings. Analysts observe that the fall of Kunduz is not so much the outcome of the Taliban’s fighting abilities as of the ANSF’s failures, poor leadership, and low morale.”[4] “As casualties mounted to dramatic levels in 2015, even according to official figures that are most likely underestimated, the Afghan National Army (ANA) has for the first time begun experiencing serious problems in recruitment. The army also experienced a resurgence of ghost soldiering (soldiers who are listed as being on active duty, but who do not serve)—a problem which had been largely contained by 2010. The units most exposed in the fighting were seriously depleted and under-strength by November. The withdrawal of the mentors/advisers from the ANA tactical units in 2014 exposed a range of weaknesses in logistical capabilities, planning, procurement, equipment maintenance and administration. The resulting paradox is an ANA less mobile then the insurgents, despite the fact that it remains more or less in control of the main highways of the country. […] The...
Pakistan's Repatriation and Management Policy for Afghan Refugees Revised
The cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday approved a new policy on the repatriation and management of Afghan refugees. The policy: - Permits an extension in the stay of registered refugees in Pakistan from March 31 to December 31, 2017. Beyond this date, they would be required to obtain visas to enter Pakistan again. - All registered Afghan refugees would need to surrender their Proof of Registration (POR) cards before going to their country. The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, has welcomed: The revised policy calling it a step change for Afghan refugees and those Afghans living in Pakistan without documentation with potentially transformative impact on people’s daily lives. Vowed to continue to seek robust international support for voluntary repatriation and more equitable responsibility-sharing to fully support Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan. Sources: http://www.dawn.com/news/1313278 https://www.dawn.com/news/1313489/strict-implementation-of-immigration-laws-on-afghan-border Disclaimer: Views expressed in the article are not necessarily supported by CRSS.
Pakistan’s Repatriation and Management Policy for Afghan Refugees Revised
The cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday approved a new policy on the repatriation and management of Afghan refugees. The policy: - Permits an extension in the stay of registered refugees in Pakistan from March 31 to December 31, 2017. Beyond this date, they would be required to obtain visas to enter Pakistan again. - All registered Afghan refugees would need to surrender their Proof of Registration (POR) cards before going to their country. The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, has welcomed: The revised policy calling it a step change for Afghan refugees and those Afghans living in Pakistan without documentation with potentially transformative impact on people’s daily lives. Vowed to continue to seek robust international support for voluntary repatriation and more equitable responsibility-sharing to fully support Afghan refugees and host communities in Pakistan. Sources: http://www.dawn.com/news/1313278 https://www.dawn.com/news/1313489/strict-implementation-of-immigration-laws-on-afghan-border Disclaimer: Views expressed in the article are not necessarily supported by CRSS.
Sabawoon Showcase [February 2, 2017]
Show title: Significance of Civic Sense for Society The latest episode of Ranra (light) highlighted the importance of civic sense to make our society more progressive. Other points of discussion included the definition and scope of civic sense, lack of education and tolerance, absence of proper content on the subject of social responsibility in text books, mass awareness about rights and responsibilities, role of parents and government institutions in teaching civic sense, and the need for capacity building initiative to instill the spirit of civic sense among youth. Mr. Aziz Ullah Bangash, a Peshawar-based social activist and trainer, was the show guest. Mr. Bangash said: “Civic education is the need of the time. It reflects the fact how much a person or a nation is civilized. The role of parents, society, and government institutions is critical in promoting the true sense of social responsibility among citizens.” The show also contained a radio report which underscored the lack of the sense of self-responsibility in public. Seven callers took live part in the program. They echoed the view that our society as a whole lacks the sense of social responsibility. They argued the main reason behind this issue was illiteracy. The callers agreed that parents and educational institutes can have pivotal role in promoting the civic sense among youth. 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....
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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.