Current Projects
Afghan Weekly (Jan 20 – Jan 26, 2017)
This week on January 20, Donald John Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. Donald Trump cautiously did not give any roadmap for the Afghanistan challenge or make any other significant mention in his campaign except for a telephonic conversation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier in December 2016. Trump had vowed to help unearth Afghanistan’s massive natural resources which include some of the world’s rare earth elements. He had also pledged support to review Kabul’s requirements in security related issues and assist the Afghan government accordingly. Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah welcomed Donald Trump’s commitment made to the US forces based in Afghanistan. The Chief Executive further added that he is hopeful that the relations and cooperation between the two countries will further enhance under the administration of President Trump.[1] Meanwhile, Taliban also responded to the power change in United States. The group has asked President Donald Trump to review the Afghanistan policy and not to follow the previous approaches. In a statement released following the US presidential inauguration, Taliban said the violence in Afghanistan will continue if the Trump administration continued to follow the approaches of the previous US administrations led by Barack Obama and George Bush. The Taliban have called on President Donald Trump to withdraw US forces from the Afghan morass.[2] The statement by the Taliban came as the Trump administration has still not unveiled its policy in Afghanistan so far. On the contrary, recognizing Trump’s different perspective on Russia, the former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that the US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin must work together on Afghanistan for peace and regional stability. Amid rapidly changing developments, Islamabad is preparing for tough talks with Kabul in the upcoming General Qamar Bajwa’s visit to Afghanistan soon; the...
Women, Peace, and Security: Afghanistan-Pakistan Women’s Policy Brief
The Pakistan-Afghan Women’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PAWFPD) was established in 2012 to enhance cross-border cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This initiative engages and empowers women from both countries to participate in processes that help to build peace in the region. In October 2015, the United Nations Security Council convened a High-level Review to assess 15 years of progress at the global, regional and national levels on resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Through the Afghanistan- Pakistan Women Policy Brief, PAWFPD will build on the review of this document and utilize it as an opportunity to gather women’s perspectives on solutions to security issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The policy brief will seek to assist decision-makers navigate similar security issues facing Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as provide guidance to the respective governments. Since 2001, militancy and terrorism have grown in Afghanistan and Pakistan destabilizing all socio-political and economic efforts at bringing stability and prosperity to both countries and the region. To prevent the rise in escalation of violence and ultimately bring an end to the conflict, the Afghan government launched a peace process engaging the Taliban in 2010. In Pakistan, talks with Taliban militants in 2014 failed because of intransigent attitudes and unacceptable demands by the latter. The military then launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb in June 2014, mostly targeting militant hideouts in North Waziristan. As a reaction, the militants attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar, claiming the lives of 144 school-children. This gruesome attack galvanized the civilian-military leadership and, as a result, the counter-terror National Action Plan with preemptive, prevention and punitive elements were adopted. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are trying to bring forth a political solution in tandem with military efforts in tackling terrorism and bringing peace to the border region....
Security Sector Reform: Long Overdue in Afghanistan
More than 38 people were killed in twin bombings in Kabul. Another blast in Kandahar claimed at least seven lives and injured over a dozen, including the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador, who was visiting the city to inaugurate multiple projects. Afghanistan’s failure to bring reform to its security apparatus has been central to the continuation of unabated and enduring violence in the country. In 2016 alone, Afghan security forces lost more than 15,000 personnel in battle and more than 1,600 Afghan civilians were killed. At the leadership positions from the beginning of the new government, commanders have often integrated their ethnic militias into the Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP), and National Directorate of Security (NDS). An overwhelming number of ANA and ANP officers are ethnic Tajik former Jamiat-e-Islami militias and represented disproportionately. Even though there is a policy in place to represent all ethnicities proportionately, the criteria is fulfilled by the rank and file. Men lacking even high school degrees rose to the highest military ranks overnight. Afghanistan today has nearly 1,000 generals, more than the U.S. active duty military — the strongest military in the world. A staggering number of those generals have acquired these ranks through ethnic or family patronage. Each one of these generals has dozens of bodyguards and great compensation and logistical needs, sucking a great sum of resources from the national budget. Since its invasion in 2001, the United States alone has spent more than $64 billion in building up Afghanistan, including its police and military. Yet all of that has not bought the Afghans sustainable security institutions. The Afghan Air Force still runs on a few dysfunctional helicopters. Afghan security forces are struggling on, all owing to a lack of good leadership, coordination, and widespread corruption. Leaders of the security forces, former Northern Alliance militia, have never received...
How to Pull Afghanistan Back From The Brink
Nearly 2,400 American service member have died during the war in Afghanistan. Along with so many of its sons and daughters, taxpayers sacrificed almost a $1 trillion to hold the country since 2001. Not all that cash went to war, of course. The United States spent around $115 billion of it to reconstruct a country the Taliban had ravaged. Now, with sequestration cutting into the military budget and a new president coming into office, Afghanistan’s fate hangs in the balance. The Taliban is resurgent, and though they fell short of capturing a provincial capital in 2016, they still made inroads in a country Americans and Afghans have died to keep safe. According to a recent report from John Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, “only 63.4% of the country’s districts were under Afghan government control or influence a reduction from the 72% as of November 27, 2015.” Congress formed SIGAR and appointed Sopko in 2008. It’s the biggest governmental body providing oversight of the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan and what it discovers often isn’t pretty. The most recent report, published in January 2017, is an assessment of the high-risk areas threatening Afghanistan today. Washington and Kabul are losing Afghanistan. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Systemic corruption, a waning security force and a unhealthy relationship with the counternarcotics is destroying Afghanistan and its military. If America wants to stay in Afghanistan and beat the Taliban, it can. But that’s a big if. Another option is to negotiate peace with the Taliban, something Kabul has attempted since the war began. But there are contentious issues neither side will relent on, such as the Taliban’s insistence on changing Afghanistan’s constitution to reflect sharia law and what form any kind of power sharing between Kabul and the Taliban would take. There’s another way, one that would be the Taliban’s preference — the complete withdrawal of coalition forces from...
Sabawoon Showcase: Regional Review of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
January 24, 2017, Peshawar: The latest episode of Sabawoon[i] , flagship radio program of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), was presented under the theme of Da Semi Jaaj (regional review) on Tuesday. This program reviews the top news from the region and provides crisp analysis. Following reports were included in the program: Traffic management issues and the performance of traffic police district Dera Ismail Khan. Issues faced by residents in Lachi of Kohat district FATA reforms, the future of FATA’s merger with KP and the role of Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). The aftermaths of the bomb blast in Kurram Agency. Packages for FATA’s martyrs of Khasadar by the political administration in Mohmand Agency. 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 of law, equal citizenry, democracy, governance and accountability. It airs four times a week, under four themes. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and issues, coupled with government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Semi Jaj gives a holistic regional overview of the most important stories across the length and breadth of KP/FATA. On Wednesday, Jwandei Jazbay covers issues most important to youth, students and females. Finally, on Thursday, Ranra covers social issues that have a cultural angle and/or impact.
Return of Undocumented Afghans (Weekly Situation Report 15-21 January, 2017)
Situation Overview IOM is responding to a substantial increase in the return of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. Since 1 January 2016, over 721,000 undocumented Afghans have returned due to diverse push factors, including deteriorating protection space in Pakistan. Many of those returning have lived outside of Afghanistan for decades, and will need support from the government and humanitarian actors both on arrival and as they seek to reintegrate into a country already struggling with widespread conflict and displacement. While returns have declined in line with seasonal trends during winter, previous surges in returns have been unpredictable and an estimated 1.1 million Afghans still remain in Pakistan. IOM is prepared to respond to increased needs and is appealing for additional funding to continue its emergency response programming. Highlights 1,562 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan 7,729 undocumented Afghans returned from Iran 252,973 total returns from Pakistan since 1 January 2016 468,841 total returns from Iran since 1 January 2016 85% of returnees from Pakistan (1,332 individuals) assisted 4% of returnees from Iran (305 individuals) assisted Returns from Pakistan From 15-21 January 2017, a total of 1,562 undocumented Afghans spontaneously returned or were deported from Pakistan through Torkham border (Nangarhar province) and Spin Boldak border (Kandahar province), according to the Border Monitoring Team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DoRR). This is roughly equal to the number of returns during the previous week. Of the total, 1,423 were spontaneous returnees in family groups and 139 were deported individuals. This brings the total number of undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan to 252,973 since 1 January 2016. During the reporting period, IOM assisted 1,332 (85%) undocumented Afghan returnees from Pakistan, including 91 members of single parent families and 22 special cases. The support provided includes meals...
Integrity and Character
On January 20, immediately after Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Obama family moved to a rented apartment after spending eight years at the White House. Also, Obama paid for groceries from toothpaste to toilet papers and dry cleaning from his own pocket. Even the family vacation was not free. Similarly, after the ceremony, Joe Biden, Obama’s deputy, carrying his own brief case, took the famous Amtrak Acela Express train to get back to his hometown Wilmington. Poor people! Aren’t they? Incredible examples of personal integrity by two highest ranking office holders of the sole superpower; Biden held public office for 43 years following his first election to the Senate at 29. Nearly 35 years in the Senate and eight years as the Vice President yet he couldn’t afford to pay for the expensive cancer treatment of his son anymore. And who was the son? The Attorney General of his State of Delaware. He also had been an Iraq war veteran before becoming the Attorney General. But the cancer treatment ate up all his savings. Then came his father to the rescue. But even that was not enough. And just when he planned to offer his house for sale to mobilise funding for the son’s treatment, President Obama loaned him funds from his personal savings to prevent him from selling his home. Biden himself recounted this before a TV audience with tearful eyes. Unfortunately the son died but not after the father had given all his best. Neither Obama nor Biden boast tonnes of money, multiple houses and fleet of cars, escorted by massive security after all these years at top posts. And with heads held high, they walk out of their official residences to private homes and public transport. Do or can these examples shame the rulers of this unfortunate country? Can they match their lofty and hollow rhetoric with the humility of these two statesmen? Certainly not. There, the retiring heads of governments leave the 1st House in personal vehicles. Here, our leading lights deem it below their...
Sabawoon Showcase: Performance of Water and Sanitation Service Program (WSSP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
January 23, 2017, Peshawar: The latest episode of Sabawoon[i], flagship radio program of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), discussed the performance of WSSP with regard to sanitation, cleanliness and water supply services throughout the KP province. The main points of discussion included the water and sanitation services of WSSP, local government collaborations with WSSP, role of WSSP in eradicating pollution, cleanliness campaigns, and mass awareness campaign about rights and duties regarding cleanliness and green environment. The program also highlighted the issues faced by locals due to labor unions in WSSP and municipal committees in Peshawar. The program was aired under the theme of Jarga Marrakka (debate and council) on Monday. Mr. Ali Ur Rehman, Manager Operations WSSP, Peshawar, Mr. Muhammad Naveed, Chairman Municipal Workers’ Union, Peshawar, Mr. Riaz Khan, member of Local Government Federation, Peshawar, and Fakher-e-Alam, Zonal Manager WSSP, Peshawar, were the studio guests. A radio report mentioned the demands of workers of municipal committees in Peshawar and shared statistics about WSSP performance in different areas of the city. Mr. Ali Ur Rehman said: “The labor unions and pressure groups are a source of problem in the organization. Their issues have been forwarded to the board which will hopefully lead towards positive results in the coming days.” 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 of law, equal citizenry, democracy, governance and accountability. It airs four times a week, under four themes. On Monday, Jarga Marrakka covers current affairs and issues, coupled with government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Semi Jaaj gives a holistic regional overview of the most important...
Pakistan Aims For Water Treaty with Afghanistan
Pakistan is about to start talks with Afghanistan to secure a bilateral treaty for the use of water related to Kabul River. Well-placed sources told The Nation that efforts are underway to frame a draft to take up with Kabul to secure the treaty at the earliest. The move apparently comes after recent statements by Indian leaders that New Delhi wants to gift a water reservoir to Kabul over the river as a token of friendship with Afghanistan. The sources maintained that Pakistan wants to secure the bilateral treaty to prevent any future water dispute with the brotherly western neighbour, and in order to address Afghanistan’s concern over Pakistan’s using water of Kabul River without any formal accord. The draft of the treaty also includes the use of Pakistani waters from Chitral and adjoining areas which eventually make Kunar-Chitral River as one of major water distributaries of the Kabul River. According to the sources, Pakistan believes that Afghanistan was using some of its waters from Chitral and its adjoining areas that end up into Kunar-Chitral River which was the main source of water in the Kabul River. According to the sources, the PTI government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was of the view that Afghanistan was also using waters from Swat River. However, it could not be confirmed immediately from the PTI spokesperson. Pakistan established Warsak Hydroelectric Power Project about 20 kilometres in the North West of Peshawar city over the Kabul River in 1960 under the Colombo Plan financed by the Canadian government. It was completed in two phases. The first phase was completed in 1960 at a cost of Rs394.98 million, consisting of construction of the dam, irrigation tunnels, civil works, four generating units with a capacity of 40 MW each and 132 KV transmission system. In the second phase, two additional generating units each of 41.48 MW were added in 1980-81 at a cost of Rs 106.25 million. In general, the project consists of a mass concrete gravity dam with...
Afghanistan Imbroglio: Sane Voices from Pakistan
Since its inception, Pakistan has not been fortunate enough to have stable relations with Afghanistan. The relations are characterized by uncalled for ups and downs. In the post 2011 US invasion, the traditional pattern did not change much, perhaps as the factors of instability were mainly native in nature and called for indigenous solutions. Both sides claim that they are keen to promote regional peace. Their economic progress is interdependent nevertheless. Both governments, mostly Afghanistan did not issue statements which can prove conducive to this objective. In the past six months, we have observed that at least Pakistani leaders have issued very sober and constructive positive statements despite litany of provocative allegations from Afghan leaders. For instance, recently at the Heart of Asia conference in India, Ghani refused to accept Pakistan’s 500 million dollar aid for its development and said that they don’t need Pakistan’s help. “We need to identify cross-border terrorism and a fund to combat terrorism. Pakistan has pledged 500 million dollars for Afghanistan’s development, but we don’t need it. “Use the amount to contain terrorism in your country,” he said. Days after he rejected Pakistan’s aid, speaking to conference during a campaign held for the Afghan youths, President Ghani reiterated “Afghanistan will live with dignity and will not ask for charity from anyone.” UNGA, 2016 “After 15 years of the current war in Afghanistan, the international community agrees that the only road to a lasting peace in that country is through a dialogue between the Government in Kabul and the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has long proposed this as the most viable course to end decades of conflict and suffering in Afghanistan. Based on this belief in a negotiated peace, and in response to requests from President Ashraf Ghani, we have been facilitating the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan. There have been setbacks. That, however, is not a sufficient reason...
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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.