Current Projects
Sabawoon Showcase [January 31, 2017]
Show Title: Regional Review of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) The latest episode of the Da Simay Jaaj (regional review) focused on two major public issues i.e. education, health, agriculture and the state of health in some parts of province. The show contained reports on a) Technical education and the hurdles faced by students due to transformation of Technical Board into Trade Testing Board. b) The demands of locals in Miranshah, North Waziristan Agency, to revitalize agriculture sector in the region. c) Increase in cases of Hepatitis-C in KP and FATA and the role of Hepatitis Control Program in dealing with this disease. d) Problems faced by the residents of Kohat because of the booming unlicensed medical stores. 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 in Ranra on Thursday.
Rallying Around the White Flag: Taleban Embrace an Assertive Identity
The Taleban appear to have woken up to the importance of organisational symbols and their political meaning. Compared to how little they cared about their image during the 1990s and the initial years of the insurgency, the Taleban now project an increasing consciousness of their ‘brand’. This is seen in both their media and the actions of fighters and officials on the ground. Borhan Osman traces this change through one phenomenon – the Taleban’s use of their flag. This piece is part of series looking at the Taleban in transition. Read previous pieces of this series: This dispatch discusses the heightened importance that the use of the flag has gained among the Taleban as a possible indicator of the movement’s increased self-awareness of its political brand. It first describes the different fields in which the Taleban now assertively showcase their flag and then analyses the apparent reasons for this. The proliferation of the flag: from the Qatar office to the battlefield One area where the Taleban’s sense of a political identity has become most visible is in the use of their flag, which has a white background inscribed with the shahadah, the Islamic statement of faith and sometimes, also, the movement’s official name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The flag is now on display wherever there is a Taleban presence. This is in sharp contrast with the movement’s years of rule. During the 1990s, the core of the emerging Taleban movement was drawn primarily from the students of village madrasas who had rarely had any exposure to concepts of protocol used by modern political organisations. Neither fighters or commanders wore uniforms or carried symbols of affiliation. Their clothing was that of any other man from the south – black turbans, worn by most men in provinces such as Uruzgan, and loose trousers with particularly long shirts, again normal for southern Pashtun village men. Former fighters recalled in conversations with the author how, on the frontlines, they...
Husna Khan: How a Female Police Constable Strives to Improve Female Rights in KP.
Husna Khan, Lady Constable in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Police, joined law enforcement force in 2010. She believes that like health and education, women have a critical role to play in the police. “I joined police force not just to serve the public, but to resolve the issues of our sisters facing domestic and gender based issues,” she says. “A woman cannot express herself clearly and confidently in front of my male counterparts. It is my duty to help such women articulate and flag their problems”. Women desks in model police stations are playing a vital role. When an aggrieved female comes to the police station, she is provided consolation and a positive environment so that she may express herself clearly. Female constables listen to her plight and report her complaint to higher ups. This chain allows women to express themselves without feeling like they are being marginalized or discriminated against. “It was thought that women cannot serve in police, which is dominated by men. But we are proving this wrong, and I stress that lady police officers should do well to bring a about constructive social change,” says Khan. She believes that she has a duty to uplift and improve the lives of women in Pushtun society. Ms. Khan says the job is not all sitting behind a desk. She is occasionally involved in raids and search operations. “As a female police officer it is my job to enter that house first. We ask the ladies of the house to move aside so we can do our job.” Khan says that even in such tense situations, it is important that the police show tolerance and respect. “Harsh words are exchanged sometimes, and people get upset, but our job is to maintain peace and calm.” The issues faced by females are multifaceted and permeate every aspect of society. Khan believes that the addition of women into the police force has the potential to alleviate problems for women at the societal level. “I request my sisters to join police, because authority empowers women to overcome gender...
Afghanistan Weekly Field Report | 22 to 28 January 2017
The total number of individuals displaced by conflict in 2016 has risen to 636,503, as joint teams continue to finalise assessments of those displaced last year. In 2017 so far, 2,864 individuals have been verified as displaced. Around 42 per cent are located in hard to access areas. Northern/North Eastern: Military operations including airstrikes in areas surrounding Kunduz city continued for the sixth consecutive week, with 1,470 individuals displaced in 2016 (located hitherto in inaccessible areas) verified in the past week. In Faryab, 455 IDPs were verified in Maimana city. In 2017 so far, over 1,114 verified IDPs have been displaced from the Northern/North Eastern region; approximately 39 per cent of the country total. Central: Following military operations in Kapisa, 1,288 IDPs have been verified in Tagab district, with a reported further 281 unverified IDPs in Kabul to be assessed next week. In Kabul, undocumented returnees from Pakistan continue to arrive, with 826 individuals verified in the past week. Southern: The overall security situation remained static in Uruzgan, Hilmand and Zabul, with NSAG maintaining frontline positions. In Uruzgan, 3,206 individuals displaced in 2016 were verified in Tirin Kot. In Qalat district, Zabul, heavy rains destroyed homes, with 231 individuals affected. Assessments for rain-affected families in Kandahar is ongoing. In 2017 so far, 1,211 verified individuals have been displaced from the south; around 42 per cent of the country total. Eastern: Military operations including airstrikes continued in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Nuristan. While there were no new reports of displacements, local officials in Nuristan raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation. Western: The security situation in the Western provinces remains unstable, with reports of small numbers of displacements. In Hirat city, 63 individuals were verified displaced from Jawand district in Badghis, and 35 individuals from Sangin in Hilmand....
Afghanistan Weekly Field Report | 22 to 28 January 2017
The total number of individuals displaced by conflict in 2016 has risen to 636,503, as joint teams continue to finalise assessments of those displaced last year. In 2017 so far, 2,864 individuals have been verified as displaced. Around 42 per cent are located in hard to access areas. Northern/North Eastern: Military operations including airstrikes in areas surrounding Kunduz city continued for the sixth consecutive week, with 1,470 individuals displaced in 2016 (located hitherto in inaccessible areas) verified in the past week. In Faryab, 455 IDPs were verified in Maimana city. In 2017 so far, over 1,114 verified IDPs have been displaced from the Northern/North Eastern region; approximately 39 per cent of the country total. Central: Following military operations in Kapisa, 1,288 IDPs have been verified in Tagab district, with a reported further 281 unverified IDPs in Kabul to be assessed next week. In Kabul, undocumented returnees from Pakistan continue to arrive, with 826 individuals verified in the past week. Southern: The overall security situation remained static in Uruzgan, Hilmand and Zabul, with NSAG maintaining frontline positions. In Uruzgan, 3,206 individuals displaced in 2016 were verified in Tirin Kot. In Qalat district, Zabul, heavy rains destroyed homes, with 231 individuals affected. Assessments for rain-affected families in Kandahar is ongoing. In 2017 so far, 1,211 verified individuals have been displaced from the south; around 42 per cent of the country total. Eastern: Military operations including airstrikes continued in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Nuristan. While there were no new reports of displacements, local officials in Nuristan raised concerns about the deteriorating security situation. Western: The security situation in the Western provinces remains unstable, with reports of small numbers of displacements. In Hirat city, 63 individuals were verified displaced from Jawand district in Badghis, and 35 individuals from Sangin in Hilmand....
Fourth Generation War and The Intelligence Arm
In the evolving security paradigm across the world, intelligence arm has assumed the role of an important component in statecraft. Their tasking however vary in accordance with the political system in place. In mature democracies the input of these organizations is considered with utmost seriousness especially in matters relating to national security. With nuclear weapons on their inventory, the belligerent countries now mostly resort to soft power to subdue the opponents and further their national interests. Soft power application in the fourth generation war primarily by the intelligence organizations is now considered as the main effort in executing state policies. It will not be out of place to say that in the current environment the intelligence arm forms truly the first line of defense. Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, ISI, rose to prominence as a consequence of international response against Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Becoming a front line state, courtesy its geography, Pakistan found itself in the eye of a storm and the next in line of Soviet expansionist designs. Financially supported by the US and gulf countries the entire resistance movement was operationalized and managed by ISI that ultimately led to the defeat and subsequent break up of Soviet Union in 1989. Thence onwards this agency remained close to the hearts and minds of both its enemies and friends alike. With Kashmir still remaining as unfinished agenda of Partition, Pakistan perpetually remains under constant Indian covert and overt threat. The very recent open overtures by Indian National Security Advisor Mr. Ajit Doval to unleash its fourth generation offensive against Pakistan compels the country to remain prepared and alert on all fronts keeping its intelligence capability at all times ready. With turmoil in Afghanistan in its 16th year and hardly any hope for improvement in situation visible, Pakistan continues to suffer its direct fallout especially on internal...
Afghanistan: Perceptions
No country can exist in isolation in the age of globalisation. It has to prioritise its own interests and engage accordingly with other countries. Due to its strategic location, weak economy and decades-long rivalries with a strong neighbour, Pakistan needs cordial relations with its neighbours and other countries in the periphery. Being a superpower, the US has special importance for Pakistan. Similarly, the importance of Iran and Russia cannot be ignored. China, a rising power, has not only been a strategic friend but has also become an economic partner. India – a historical foe and one of the largest countries in South Asia – also has to be on our priority list. However, Afghanistan – which is, comparatively, a weak and poor neighbour – is of greater importance to Pakistan. The reasons for building stronger ties with Afghanistan are manifold. First, both countries have strong social, political and strategic links. Pakistan’s stability therefore depends on stability in Afghanistan. Second, the West views Pakistan within the context of Afghanistan. Third, Afghanistan’s situation directly affects and defines Islamabad’s relation with the US, Russia, China, India and Iran. Fourth, Pakistan has involved itself for many decades in Afghanistan and made a social and political investment that no other country can match up to. The decade-long instability in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan has compelled me to explore and understand the situation in Afghanistan. I have travelled extensively to Afghanistan in my quest to develop a stronger understanding on the subject. From time to time, I have reported, written and used my TV show to highlight Afghanistan’s crises with the hope of resolving them and bringing the two countries closer. I paid a huge cost, both mentally and physically, for pursuing this aim and was even arrested by the Taliban in 1998. At this crucial stage, when relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have touched the lowest ebb, I consider it...
Sabawoon Showcase: Effects of Militancy on Hospitality and Hujra Culture
January 26, 2017, Peshawar: The topic of the latest episode of Sabawoon, the flagship radio program of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), was hospitality and Hujra culture and the negative impacts of militancy on this phenomenon. Other points of discussion included the distinct features of Pashtun culture, history of Pashtun literature, negative impacts of social media on cultural values and norms, lack of awareness among youth about their own culture, and the role of teachers and elders in revival of Hujra and hospitality culture. The show was aired under the theme of Ranra (light) on Thursday. Mr. Zaryab Yousafzai, a PhD Scholar and Lecturer at the Islamia College University Peshawar, was the studio guest. Mr. Yousafzai said: “Hospitality is one of the prominent characteristics of Pashtuns living all over the world, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We can inculcate our cultural traits in the young generation and make them aware about the advancement in the world through proper education.” A radio report highlighted the significance of Hujra and hospitality in Pashtun culture and the consequences of extremism for this tradition. Five callers participated live in the show. They discussed the subject from various angles and shared their views about the importance of Hujra and hospitality. About Sabawoon Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. 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 along with input from the 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...
CHINA WATCH [JANUARY 24-30] IRAN KEEN ON RELATIONS WITH PAKISTAN
Iran’s efforts to become part of China-Pakistan initiatives for cooperation and development was the top news of this week. A group of different political parties and civil society organizations has opposed the meeting of All Parties Conference (APC) on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A top Iranian official has hinted at the formation of four-nation alliance against the backdrop of regional and international developments. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has devised a plan to prevent the misuse of duty and tax concessions granted on import of goods for the CPEC projects. A top military official has sought that the fiber optic cables be laid down along the CPEC route for the security reasons. Iran’s Interest in CPEC: Iran has reiterated its interest in joining the CPEC. The country’s envoy to Islamabad, Mehdi Honordoost, said “Iran is ready to join CPEC with full capabilities, possibilities and abilities.”[1] He reckoned that Iran’s rich energy resources, well developed transport infrastructure and progress in other fields would contribute to the functioning of the corridor. As for Tehran’s amity with New Delhi – a country that has categorically opposed CPEC – is concerned, Honordoost downplayed this factor and noted that “[I]t is not important if some country is not keen to join it.” It is not the first time Iran has shown keen interest to be part of this multi-billion project. In September last, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had expressed the desire to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. China also had also welcomed Iran’s interest. However, Pakistan seems to be dragging its feet on all of Iran’s positive postures. Islamabad has been wary of Iran’s relations with India and has shown greater inclination towards Saudi Arabia – a staunch rival of Iran. Hence, in the foreseeable future, there is a lesser prospect for Iran’s joining the project. APC Opposed: A group of different political parties and civil society organizations, Corridor Front, has...
Job Opening: Project Coordinator – Pakistan Center for Excellence (PACE)
A project coordinator position for PACE, the flagship initiative from the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has opened up. Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE) is a major CVE project by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) designed to trigger critical thinking through a discourse anchored in fundamental global values such as socio-political diversity, acceptance of diversity, rule of law and equal citizenry, as well as the rights afforded within Pakistan’s Constitution (articles 8-28). This landmark project is running with the support of the government of Netherlands. The goal of PACE is to create a critical mass of young leaders equipped with critical/analytical skills to critically analyze issues, look at others as equal citizens, correct misperceptions about non-Muslims, and ask questions about their perceived reality. PACE will promote a socio-political discourse – the alternate narrative on democratic rights and responsibilities anchored in the globally accepted and practiced concepts such as rule of law, equal citizenry, secular governance as a primary condition for social cohesion and tolerance for, and acceptance of cultural diversity. Achieve Informed Message Multiplication: As part of this it, PACE hopes to mount a politically informed intellectual challenge to those exploiting religion through their narrow interpretations of faith. This would primarily be achieved through a structured interactive engagement with the selected cadre of young working professionals drawn from all over Pakistan – persons who are potential opinion multipliers, such as television anchors, radio jockeys and university professors and lecturers. Reconnect with Constitution - Empowerment Through Rule of Law: The initiative will attempt to reconnect people with the constitution of Pakistan and the fundamental human rights afforded therein (article 8-28). It will sensitize these participants on the virtues of universally acknowledged democratic values...
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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.