Current Projects

Sabawoon Showcase: Regional Review of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)

December 13, 2016, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon’s latest episode was under the theme of Da Semi Jaaj (regional review) on Tuesday. This program consolidates the most significant news in the region, and provides crisp analysis. Included in the program were reports that highlighted: the problems faced by the locals in Shabqadar bazaar due to the excessive road traffic and lack of traffic police in the bazaar the issues faced by local government (LG) representatives in Tehsil Lachi of Kohat the problems faced by students in Government High School in Yaka Ghund, Mohmand Agency the opening ceremony of electricity production project by a nonprofit organization in district Swat the strike of doctors in Dera Ismail Khan due to a recent attack of political workers on the Gynecology Department in the district’s Government Hospital About Sabawoon 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.

What is Modi up to? 10 pieces of advice

Modi would do well to listen to the spectrum of opinion at home and in the region Indian hardliner party Shiv Sena, according to an editorial in Saamana, wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban Pakistani film and artists. “Can the government declare that those who give work to Pakistanis are the enemies of India,” the editorial read. (In September, the party had given Pakistani artists a 48-hour deadline to leave the country). Home Minister Rajnath Singh threatens that “Pakistan has been divided into two countries (in 1971). If it does not stop cross-border terrorism, it will soon be in 10 pieces.” His premier, Modi, plus National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are threatening to wage a water war on Pakistan and to turn Balochistan into Kashmir (by offering support and asylum to dissidents such as Brahamdagh Bugti). And a good number of Indian intellectuals and former civil-military officials concur; one can glean from bilateral interactions that they endorse Modi’s rhetoric on water and Balochistan as “expanded strategic options” that he is exercising to rein in and teach a “reticent and wayward” Pakistan a lesson. This cacophony of statements against Pakistan smacks of a strong sense of self-righteousness that borders arrogance. It invariably reminds me of a conversation I had with the former Israeli prime minister Shimon Perez a decade ago at his office back in April 2006: You will see the benefits if Pakistan enters into even a working relationship with us. He asked, probably rightly, what was the point in acrimony if Pakistan had no direct dispute with Israel. He pointed to Israel’s business relations with the UAE and Turkey. He also pointed to the utility of Pakistan-Israel relations for their impact on Pakistan-US relations. There are enormous benefits out there, Perez had told us during his meeting with a German media delegation. Many Indians frame their responses in more or less similar way by pointing to the “dividends of peace” that “Bangladesh Nepal...

EU Ambassador To Afghanistan 'Eager To Work' With Trump

Franz-Michael Mellbin: Afghanistan is facing a war. There is a determined enemy, which is challenging the state and which has a military ambition. It has not been able to fulfill this ambition by taking over parts of Afghanistan. But many observers would use the terms "war-like conditions" or "armed conflict" for what is happening in Afghanistan. The enemy decides what is going on there. The enemy's ambition is to gain permanent territorial control. Last month, Taliban militants attacked the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif. As a consequence, the diplomats have permanently shifted to NATO's Resolute Support mission's Camp Pamir. What signal does that send to the Afghan public? I think it sends a very positive signal that Germany has decided to keep the consulate running in Mazar. It would have been preferable to move back in the same premises, but the attack has made that impossible. It is clearly not possible to continue working there because of the damage to the building. It is less than an ideal situation though. After so much effort and billions of euros spent, how could this mission go so wrong? I would not say it went wrong. I think it has been a very important international effort in Afghanistan. We could have achieved more with the enormous resources that we had. Certainly, the results do not measure up to the resources that we put into Afghanistan. For a long time, the emphasis from the international side was on who was winning the war. But at the recent Brussels conference, we made a shift; now we are trying to "win" peace. The new strategy will allow Afghanistan to move decisively towards peace. We are now trying to align our security, economic, developmental and regional efforts towards the goal of peace. Do you think Afghanistan is safe enough for Afghan refugees and migrants to return to from Europe? The security situation varies from place to place in Afghanistan. You cannot go everywhere, but you can certainly go to a lot of places, especially...

EU Ambassador To Afghanistan ‘Eager To Work’ With Trump

Franz-Michael Mellbin: Afghanistan is facing a war. There is a determined enemy, which is challenging the state and which has a military ambition. It has not been able to fulfill this ambition by taking over parts of Afghanistan. But many observers would use the terms "war-like conditions" or "armed conflict" for what is happening in Afghanistan. The enemy decides what is going on there. The enemy's ambition is to gain permanent territorial control. Last month, Taliban militants attacked the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif. As a consequence, the diplomats have permanently shifted to NATO's Resolute Support mission's Camp Pamir. What signal does that send to the Afghan public? I think it sends a very positive signal that Germany has decided to keep the consulate running in Mazar. It would have been preferable to move back in the same premises, but the attack has made that impossible. It is clearly not possible to continue working there because of the damage to the building. It is less than an ideal situation though. After so much effort and billions of euros spent, how could this mission go so wrong? I would not say it went wrong. I think it has been a very important international effort in Afghanistan. We could have achieved more with the enormous resources that we had. Certainly, the results do not measure up to the resources that we put into Afghanistan. For a long time, the emphasis from the international side was on who was winning the war. But at the recent Brussels conference, we made a shift; now we are trying to "win" peace. The new strategy will allow Afghanistan to move decisively towards peace. We are now trying to align our security, economic, developmental and regional efforts towards the goal of peace. Do you think Afghanistan is safe enough for Afghan refugees and migrants to return to from Europe? The security situation varies from place to place in Afghanistan. You cannot go everywhere, but you can certainly go to a lot of places, especially...

Strengthening Key Public Service Institutions Critical for Good Governance, KP Police Reforms are Part of the Same Vision: KP Minister For LG&RD

Owing to the challenges of War-on-Terror (WoT) and realizing the Counter-terrorism roles of Police, reforming police in KP was crucial. Strengthening key public service institutions is critical for good governance and KP police reforms have been brought as part of the same vision. The idea was to reform KP police into an operationally autonomous organization which, at the same time, is democratically controlled. One of the top considerations for police reforms was easy access to justice for average citizen. The sacrifices made by the KP police – going above and beyond the call of their duty – are commendable and should be acknowledged by the public. We are proud of the police and appreciate how it is performing better than other provinces. These were the remarks made by Mr. Inayatullah Khan, Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a public forum on police reforms at press club, Peshawar. Mr. Faisal Shehzad, SSP Investigation, Peshawar and former KP Information Minister Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai also spoke on the occasion. The event was participated well by the members of community with diverse backgrounds including lawyers, local government representatives, media, academia and youth representatives. 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. Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai said that the police today in KP has been completely de-politicized and professionalized to meet the formidable contemporary challenges facing...

Strengthening Key Public Service Institutions Critical for Good Governance, KP Police Reforms are Part of the Same Vision: KP Minister For LG&RD

Owing to the challenges of War-on-Terror (WoT) and realizing the Counter-terrorism roles of Police, reforming police in KP was crucial. Strengthening key public service institutions is critical for good governance and KP police reforms have been brought as part of the same vision. The idea was to reform KP police into an operationally autonomous organization which, at the same time, is democratically controlled. One of the top considerations for police reforms was easy access to justice for average citizen. The sacrifices made by the KP police – going above and beyond the call of their duty – are commendable and should be acknowledged by the public. We are proud of the police and appreciate how it is performing better than other provinces. These were the remarks made by Mr. Inayatullah Khan, Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a public forum on police reforms at press club, Peshawar. Mr. Faisal Shehzad, SSP Investigation, Peshawar and former KP Information Minister Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai also spoke on the occasion. The event was participated well by the members of community with diverse backgrounds including lawyers, local government representatives, media, academia and youth representatives. 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. Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai said that the police today in KP has been completely de-politicized and professionalized to meet the formidable contemporary challenges facing...

Sabawoon Showcase: Violence Against Women (VAW) and the Significance of 16-Days Violence Against Women Activism Campaign

December 7, 2016, Peshawar: The latest episode of Sabawoon, flagship radio program of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), focused on violence against women and the importance of 16 days’ VAW activism campaign conducted by civil society organizations to end violence against women. The key points of discussion included an overview of the prevailing situation of violence against women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), gender discrimination in Pashtun society, women’s rights in the constitution of Pakistan and Islam, psychological subjugation of women by men and lack of government’s response to resolve family disputes. The program also underlined the importance of education for women and awareness campaigns about the restraint of VAW. The program was aired under the theme of Jwandai Jazbey (living spirits) on Wednesday. Ms. Nazra Syed, a female rights defender and Program Manager of Khwendo Kor (Sisters’ Home) Peshawar, participated as the studio guest in the show. A radio report on the central themes of the program was made part of the program. The report shared the views of a women rights activist about the problems of women in the region and the VAW campaign to generate awareness. Live Calls on the Show: Three callers took part live in the program. A caller Mr. Rizwan Ullah said: “In our society women are always neglected and are not given any role in the decision making process. We should give them due share in decision making process both at home and outside.” Another caller, Mr. Mukamil Shah said: “Unfortunately FATA has more domestic violence and gender discrimination cases as compared to the other regions. We should sensitize public to promote gender equality and give proper rights to women in society.” Ms. Nazra Syed, Program Manager Khwendo Kor Peshawar, said: “The 16-days campaign is launched by civil society to encourage gender equality, spread awareness about female rights both in constitution and...

Panel: U.S. Will Need Clear Policy, Continued Coalition Participation in Afghanistan

The incoming Trump administration needs to send “a clear message of continued commitment” to the Afghan government that the United States will continue to support its decades-long struggle with the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, a former ambassador to Kabul said Wednesday. James Cunningham, now with the Atlantic Council, told a Heritage Foundation forum that “there has not been that clarity of messaging” from the Obama administration. Such a message would also reassure the United States’ 38 coalition partners to continue their efforts to bring stability not only to Afghanistan but to the region. “Afghanistan is an expression of the broader conflict” with Islamic extremism being waged in “a zone of crisis” stretching from North Africa to South Asia, he said. Hamdullah Mobib, the Afghan ambassador to the United States, said he understands how his countrymen, the United States and the coalition are “weary of this fight” after 15 years, but “the rationale for United States involvement in Afghanistan remains the same” as it was following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The continuing “considerable threats from the Taliban … provide oxygen for other terrorist groups,” such as the Haqqani Network, operating from safe havens in Pakistan and now the Islamic State. “Afghanistan and its forces alone may not be able to defeat” them, Mobib said at the Washington, D.C., think tank event. The United States military estimates that about 10 percent of the population falls under Taliban control, 20 percent of the population live in contested areas and 70 percent of Afghanistan is under control of the National Unity Government of President Ashraf Ghani and its chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah. Political divisions in the unity government, though, “do have an effect on how [and where] security forces operate,” Scott Smith, senior mediation advisor for the U.N. Department of Political Affairs, said at the event. “Afghanistan national security forces are...

Afghan Taliban Release Profile of Chief Maulvi Haibtullah Akhunzada

The Afghan Taliban on Wednesday released a profile of Maulvi Haibtullah Akhunzada months after he was named the group’s chief. The profile detailed Haibtullah’s role during Afghanistan’s invasion in 2001 and after the deaths of Mullah Omar and Mullah Mansour. The new chief is a strong advocate of Islamic unity, disavowing differences of ideology between Shias and Sunnis, the profile added. Haibtullah was named chief by members of the group’s leading council following Mullah Akhtar Mansoor’s death in a US drone strike on May 21. Sirajuddin Haqqani alias Khalifa and Maulvi Yaqoob Mujahid, late Mullah Omar’s son, were appointed his deputies on the occasion. “It was the courage and strong determination of brave leaders like Sheikh Haibtullah Akhunzada and his faithful colleagues that encouraged and inspired mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate and the Muslim masses of our country,” the profile read. “This resulted in a humiliating and embarrassing defeat for superpower America as well as NATO, the greatest military alliance of crusade forces in the world,” it added. “All key figures and field commanders unanimously supported the new ameer [chief] while pledges of allegiance and oath of fighting against the invaders and their foreign allied and internal mercenary forces were received from all 34 provinces,” the profile read. The document, released in Pashto, English, Urdu, Dari and Arabic, dwells on Haibtullah’s commitment to justice with compassion during the years the international community accused the group of inflicting regressive and unforgiving punishments. Meanwhile, when asked as to why the Taliban released the profile nearly seven month of his nomination, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told The Express Tribune that it had been done to counter any move to disseminate erroneous information about the leader.“We prepared an informative piece to share correct information and stop the spread of false information,” Mujahid said. This article originally...

China Warns Trump Ignoring One-China Policy Could Hurt Peace

Any change in U.S. policy favoring formal recognition of Taiwan will "seriously" damage peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and undermine relations between Beijing and Washington, a Chinese government spokesman said Wednesday. The comments from the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office follow President-elect Donald Trump's remarks over the weekend that he didn't feel "bound by a one-China policy" unless the U.S. could gain benefits from China in trade and other areas. Under the one-China policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as China's government and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan, a former Japanese colony which broke from the Chinese mainland amid civil in 1949. Spokesman An Fengshan said breaching the one-China principle "will seriously affect peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." "The one-China policy is an important political foundation for relations between China and the U.S.," An told reporters. "If such a foundation is disturbed or undermined, there can be no talk of a healthy and stable development of U.S-China relations." Trump broke diplomatic precedent by talking on the phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Dec. 2, during which the island's leader congratulated Trump on his election victory. Then, this past weekend, Trump said he might use America's recognition of Beijing as leverage for gaining advantages in trade and other areas. That is placing him perilously close to touching on China's bottom line that brooks no formal recognition of Taiwan or challenge to its claim to sovereignty over the island. China's response has thus far been fairly muted, mainly blaming Tsai for placing the call. The last major crisis over Taiwan came in 1995, when China staged threatening war games and missile tests near the island in response to then-president Lee Teng-hui's visit to the U.S., which was seen by Beijing as a bid to solidify the island's de-facto independent status. The move was largely seen as backfiring, with Lee winning...