Current Projects
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...
Return of Afghan Refugees to Afghanistan Surges as Country Copes to Rebuild
This is seriously aggravating the government's capacity to absorb refugees in an already difficult environment of high unemployment and internally displaced people after decades of conflict. While the Afghan government works to strengthen internal coordination and strategic planning, the international community also needs to play a vital role in providing financial and humanitarian support to avert a crisis and limit the damage to Afghanistan’s already challenging social and security conditions, and development prospects. From trickle to flood Aid officials estimate that more than 700,000 refugees returned to Afghanistan in 2016. Afghans—the second largest refugee group after Syrians, according to the UN’s refugee agency—are primarily returning from Pakistan, often not voluntarily. There are also returnees from Iran and to a lesser extent from Europe. Analysts project that up to 2½ million will follow over the next 18 months, which will add nearly 10 percent to Afghanistan’s population (see infographic below). To put this in perspective, this would be akin to 50 million migrants entering the European Union over a two-year period. Many of the Afghans who lived abroad for decades are returning to a country facing conflict, insecurity, and widespread poverty. Given the difficult economic climate, prospects for returnees are generally poor. While there are also wealthier returnees, a typical returning refugee has a high risk of falling into poverty—they are typically laborers and workers in the informal economy with limited savings, or small business owners who are forced to liquidate their assets at fire sale prices. Moreover, the prospects for absorbing returning refugees are further complicated by the existence of more than one million internally displaced people, the number of which significantly increased in 2016 as the insurgency intensified. Together with the large number of people who already live in poverty in Afghanistan, these problems will severely stretch...
Moscow Move Heralds No Grand Strategy
There are many conflicting views why Russia has returned to Afghanistan, more as an ally of Taliban rather than a partner of the coalition government of Afghanistan in seeking peace and stability. Within the Afghanistan establishment, there is a strong negative reaction, criticizing the rationale of holding a trilateral meeting (with China & Pakistan) in Moscow on Afghanistan on December 27. Though the meeting did not include any party from Afghanistan, it was viewed as "alarming" and anti Afghan "interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan". The Afghan Government spokesperson lamented the exclusion of Afghanistan and slammed the meet saying how could it facilitate an Afghan solution. “MOFA spokesperson said, "We are worried about what the reasons behind the meeting are and want the relevant parties to explain.” Seemingly, the said move was caused by the on-going geostrategic developments impacting China, Pakistan and Russia. The meeting was not designed to formulate a grand strategy to firm up support for Taliban who have been in contact with Russia and China for sometime now. Also, three countries had met twice already and discussed Afghanistan. In the wake of a change in the US administration and the ground reality that despite repeated attempts by the international community failed to effect political reconciliation, the attempt by three nuclear countries bordering Afghanistan was to explore how to bring the parties to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Russia is also supporting Iran’s entry into the relatively new process. Tehran has been Moscow’s ally in the fight against IS in Syria. In a separate troika, Russia, Iran and Turkey reaffirmed “their determination to jointly fight the IS”. Some statements from Russian officials generated misgivings. For instance Ambassador Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s top Afghanistan hand, expressed concern over a long-term U.S. military presence in the region, stating that there is no “clear-cut answer” as to why the...
Pakistan, India, and Kashmir
The House of Commons debate on Kashmir and the resulting motion in which Indian excesses on the Line of Control were noted, dialogue between the Pakistan and India for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute was encouraged and the Kashmiri right to self determination according to the United States Security Council resolution was reiterated is indeed a diplomatic victory for Pakistan. This message coming from the United Kingdom’s parliament is a significant rebuke for India, which has felt that it can continue to deny the Kashmiri people their basic rights with impunity. Indeed, as the violence following the killing of BurhanWani showed India, even if governmental apathy to Indian actions continues to exist in the international stage, its actions would not go unnoticed in the foreign media. And it was precisely this fear that drove India to engage in bellicosity in Pakistan, as it shifted focus away from Kashmir through its war mongering rhetoric. Now that those tensions, precipitated by the Uri attack, have simmered down, the signal by the UK House of Commons has come at an opportune moment. Perhaps, this would put the necessary international pressure on India to consider the possibility of dialogue with Pakistan, which it has rejected repeatedly despite Pakistan’s insistence on numerous occasions. However, the signal from the UK House of Commons must not be taken as something that it is not. It is a diplomatic victory for putting outside pressure on India to bring it to the negotiating table, but it is nowhere near sufficient to guarantee that India budges from its present position on the dispute, let alone compel India for talks. In any case, it must not be forgotten that no foreign power can solve the Kashmir dispute for India and Pakistan. At most, it can act as a mediator. And at the moment no one seems willing to embroil themselves in a dispute that has very slim chances of getting resolved. Hence, the initiative needs to come from the two countries in which...
What to Watch? Key issues to follow in Afghanistan in 2017
As in most years, the feeling in January 2017 is that this will be another crucial year for Afghanistan. The AAN team has identified several key themes that we think it important to follow this year. They range from crises in the Afghan government and how changes in global politics, particularly the change of administration in Washington, will affect governance and peace efforts in Afghanistan, to the Afghan government’s efforts in the field of basic rights and freedoms for all and, of course, migration, both Afghans leaving and returning. The list of issues reflects the worry that, in 2017, Afghanistan will be left increasingly alone to sort out its old and new challenges, despite commitments of continued international support. Key issues to watch in 2017: Internal crisis in the government The Afghan government has been in a state of relatively stable crisis. The set-up of the National Unity Government (NUG) and its complex power-sharing arrangements has paralysed governance in Afghanistan and this is likely to continue with several ongoing crises flaring up again in 2017. 2016 saw several attempts to reorganise the power-sharing arrangement, most recently through the removal of ministers by parliament (which has not yet been accepted by the executive); the negotiations between Balkh provincial governor and chairman of Jamiat-e Islami’s Executive Council Atta Muhammad Nur and the President Ashraf Ghani (which has, by design, undermined the position of Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah); the uproar around the alleged attack on former governor of Jowzjan Ahmad Ishchi by, or on the order of, Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum; and Hezb-e Islami’s demands for a greater share in power after its September 2016 peace agreement with the government. For now, there seems to be a lull in the various negotiations, as the various actors wait to see how the United States administration will pan out and what that will mean for their relative positions. The legality of the NUG,...
Sabawoon Showcase: Online Businesses and Jobs Opportunities
January 25, 2016, Peshawar: The latest episode of Sabawoon[i], flagship radio program of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), discussed the online businesses and employment opportunities for youth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The key points of discussion included the free lancing, web-based and telephonic jobs, virtual assistant and online service requirements, importance of social media in products and services marketing, social innovation and its impact on traditional businesses, and effects of globalization and technological development on businesses. Furthermore, the program highlighted on the trainings and capacity building programs offered by KP and federal government for the youth in KP and FATA and significance of business studies and entrepreneurship for creating business environment in the region. The program was aired under the theme of Jwandai Jazbey (living spirits) on Wednesday. Mr. Muhammad Ilyas, social activist and student of entrepreneurship studies at the Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, was the studio guest. A radio report shed light on the input of female entrepreneurs and experts in KP. Three callers took part live in the program. They urged the government and educational institutions to spread awareness about online businesses and jobs. Mr. Ilyas, observed: “There are many web based platforms where one can offer his/her services online for a wide range of companies and can earn money. Our educational institutions should impart such skills to the students so that instead of looking only for Pakistan-based jobs they can also offer their services to foreign companies while being in Pakistan.” Sabawoon airs Monday through Thursday on FM-101.5 Peshawar & DI Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. [i] Sabawoon is a flagship radio program by CRSS in the KP/FATA region, designed to highlight local issues, and promote fundamental global values such as women’s rights, rule...
Iran keen to join CPEC, says envoy
Iran on Thursday reiterated its desire to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and offered to commit its ‘full potential’ for the mega regional connectivity project. “Iran is eager to join CPEC with its full capabilities, possibilities and abilities,” Iran’s Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost said while speaking at the Oxbridge Lecture here. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani first expressed interest in joining the CPEC during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September last year. China welcomed Iran’s interest and its envoy in Islamabad Sun Weidong has said that his country is awaiting Iranian inclusion in the project. Pakistan too has described it as a “good step”. However, analysts fear that progress towards embracing Iran was being impeded by Pakistani concerns about Tehran’s close association with India and Saudi Arabia’s apprehensions about Iranian involvement in the project. Mr Honardoost, while responding to a question, acknowledged that Pak-Iran ties were not at the “best point”. He attributed the problems to an ‘external element’ affecting the relationship and the two neighbours not fully comprehending each other’s point of view due to lack of information. “We expect Pakistan to move forward. Trade should not be affected by other developments,” he said in a general comment. The envoy, who candidly responded to several queries, parried a question about how Iran planned to collaborate in CPEC, while having partnership with India that is not only opposed to the project, but is believed to be involved in sabotaging it. “It is not important if some country is not keen to join it,” he observed almost downplaying New Delhi’s opposition. Iran, he stressed, could contribute significantly to CPEC. He said Iran’s rich energy resources, well-developed transport infrastructure, and progress in other fields, including nanotechnology, would add to CPEC once it joins it. Moreover, Mr Honardoost...
Afghanistan: The risk of forgetting
As Afghanistan is falling off the global agenda the security situation there is continuing to deteriorate. This presents two key concerns for the international community – that once again the country could become a haven for extremism through Daesh and that huge numbers of Afghans may continue to become displaced and leave to become migrants. British Council policy analyst Elizabeth Cameron, who has worked in the country for several years, argues that it needs a renewed focus from Western policymakers. Most Afghans celebrate their birthdays on January 1st. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, international NGOs, agencies and armies entered to try and stabilise the country; bringing with them job opportunities and governance reforms. To apply for these jobs Afghans needed a date of birth - something that went largely unrecorded in the turbulence of the past - and what date is easier to remember than New Year’s Day? But this New Year, Afghanistan itself is struggling to be remembered. It has gradually fallen off the international agenda since entering a supposed ‘decade of transformation’ following its political, military, and economic transition in 2014. International governments hoped this transformation would bring it greater self-reliance after Presidential elections and the withdrawal of most international forces and much foreign aid. Journalists have moved on, the news and political agendas overtaken by other crises - not least in Syria. The once busy schedule of Afghanistan-based discussion events in western capitals has almost evaporated. Yet the conflict in Afghanistan continues and insecurity is increasing. Coalition troops, scheduled to be pulled out by the end of 2014, quietly remained, though reduced in numbers and with an ‘assist and advise’ role. The UK took on the responsibility of leading the training at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy, which has trained more than 1,300 graduates. This year, amidst a worsening security situation,...
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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.