Current Projects

End of Second Round of Talks – Pak-Afghan Regional Security Working Groups

The second Track II Meeting of Pak-Afghan regional security experts ended in Islamabad on Wednesday. Experts from both sides discussed various issues including peace and security and possible areas of cooperation between the two governments. The second day of meetings, in addition to discussions on opportunities for regional cooperation, included candid meeting with Lt. Gen (retd.) Nasir Janjua (Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security Affairs). Gen. Janjua welcomed the delegation and said: “Pakistan wants a stable Afghanistan and stands ready to cooperate with the Government of Afghanistan in all areas of mutual interest. We have to work together to promote security in the region.” Addressing the concluding session, Former Ambassador Riaz Khokhar said that “Pakistan and Afghanistan have a lot in common and both sides should work sincerely for peace in this region. Both countries face common challenges and the in their best interests it is vital that they effectively tackle these challenges together.” Both delegations also discussed the role of media, state of implementation of Pakistan’s development projects for Afghanistan and possible new initiatives which good promote good will between the two countries. The Afghan Delegation was led by Ms. Mahbouba Seraj (Director, Organization for Research in Peace and Solidarity, Senior Women’s Rights Advocate). Other members include: Gen. Javed Kohistani (Advisor to CEO Dr. Abdullah Abdullah / Senior Military Analyst); Mr. Abbas Noyan (Former Member of Parliament); Mr. Ahmad Saeedi (Former Diplomat); Mr. Mohammad Nateqi (Political Analyst, Former Afghan Diplomat, Member of Afghan Peace delegation to Pakistan); Mr. Qutbuddin Hilal (Presidential Senior Advisor on Peace); Ms. Suraya Parlika (Senior Advocate, Women’s Political Participation); Ms. Wazhma Frogh (Founding Director, Institute for Women, Peace and Security); Mr. Haroon Mir (Political Analyst), Ms. Elay Ershad (Member of Parliament) and Mr. Mirwais Yasini...

Pakistan’s $2 billion LNG pipeline project hits a snag

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s two-billion-dollar LNG pipeline project has hit a snag with Washington slapping a set of sanctions on the Russian firm designated to work on the scheme. Earlier, Pakistan was unable to execute the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project because of sanctions slapped on Tehran by the United States and the European Union. The Russian government had signed a deal with the Pakistani administration to lay a $2bn North South Pipeline from Karachi to Lahore to transport imported LNG, nominating the firm RT Global Resources (RTGR) to execute the project. Russian President Vladimir Putin was to visit Pakistan to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the project. “Now we have found out that the US has imposed sanctions on RTGR, causing bottlenecks in executing the LNG pipeline project,” a Pakistani official said, adding that the US had also stopped Pakistan from executing the IP gas pipeline project. After the latest development, Pakistan and Russia are facing an uncertain situation as regards awarding the contract to RTGR. The two countries had signed a government-to-government deal, and RTGR and Pakistani firm Inter State Gas Systems were to sign a commercial agreement to execute the project. An official said the Russian government was evaluating the sanctions imposed on the Russian firm while Pakistan was yet to make a decision. The two governments had signed a deal in October 2015 to construct a pipeline to transport liquefied natural gas from Karachi to Lahore. Moscow had agreed to lend Islamabad $2 billion for the project. In return, Islamabad would award the contract of laying the pipeline to RTGR without holding a bidding process. The firm, which is a Russian state corporation, would lay the 1,100km pipeline with a capacity of 12.4 billion cubic metres per annum to connect LNG terminals in Karachi with those in Lahore. Pakistan has worked on a similar model with China under which a Chinese firm would lay an LNG pipeline from Gwadar to...

Discord over CPEC & selfish motives

The raging discord over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)symbolises one of the many symptoms of the disease that our political economy suffers from — an arbitrary, non-inclusive, narrow and selfish vision of national development. Even sadder is the intervention by the Chinese embassy in Islamabad on January 10: “China hopes that the relevant parties in Pakistan could strengthen communication and coordination on the CPEC to create favourable conditions for the project.” This amounted to a direct rebuke of the province-centred “development visions” of Asif Ali Zardari and the Sharifs. For these leaders, initiating the CPEC meant concentrating development in their home provinces. The embassy statement, in fact, resonated similar concerns that Chinese interlocutors had been expressing earlier. One had expected that following the agreement at the All-Parties Conference (APC) on May 28, 2015, the western alignment of the CPEC — from Attock to DI Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and to Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Pishin and Quetta in Balochistan — would take precedence and thus allay reservations of the two provinces. But this turned out to be a misplaced expectation. Now we see the K-P chief minister threatening revolt against the CPEC plans and accusing the Sharif government of being unmindful of the problems of conflict-affected regions such as Balochistan and K-P. The political parties of the two provinces are demanding the construction of motorways, economic and industrial zones, oil and gas pipelines and fibre optic lines through their respective provinces. The issue has roots in the history of mistrust between the Centre and the smaller provinces. Even the Pakhtun nationalist Awami National Party has reservations, but it understands that opposition to the CPEC may jeopardise the project. The PPP, too, alleges that most CPEC projects are concentrated in Punjab. The party even plans an APC in Gilgit to press for the inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan in the CPEC...

Discord over CPEC & selfish motives

The raging discord over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)symbolises one of the many symptoms of the disease that our political economy suffers from — an arbitrary, non-inclusive, narrow and selfish vision of national development. Even sadder is the intervention by the Chinese embassy in Islamabad on January 10: “China hopes that the relevant parties in Pakistan could strengthen communication and coordination on the CPEC to create favourable conditions for the project.” This amounted to a direct rebuke of the province-centred “development visions” of Asif Ali Zardari and the Sharifs. For these leaders, initiating the CPEC meant concentrating development in their home provinces. The embassy statement, in fact, resonated similar concerns that Chinese interlocutors had been expressing earlier. One had expected that following the agreement at the All-Parties Conference (APC) on May 28, 2015, the western alignment of the CPEC — from Attock to DI Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and to Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Pishin and Quetta in Balochistan — would take precedence and thus allay reservations of the two provinces. But this turned out to be a misplaced expectation. Now we see the K-P chief minister threatening revolt against the CPEC plans and accusing the Sharif government of being unmindful of the problems of conflict-affected regions such as Balochistan and K-P. The political parties of the two provinces are demanding the construction of motorways, economic and industrial zones, oil and gas pipelines and fibre optic lines through their respective provinces. The issue has roots in the history of mistrust between the Centre and the smaller provinces. Even the Pakhtun nationalist Awami National Party has reservations, but it understands that opposition to the CPEC may jeopardise the project. The PPP, too, alleges that most CPEC projects are concentrated in Punjab. The party even plans an APC in Gilgit to press for the inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan in the CPEC...

Discord over CPEC & selfish motives

The raging discord over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)symbolises one of the many symptoms of the disease that our political economy suffers from — an arbitrary, non-inclusive, narrow and selfish vision of national development. Even sadder is the intervention by the Chinese embassy in Islamabad on January 10: “China hopes that the relevant parties in Pakistan could strengthen communication and coordination on the CPEC to create favourable conditions for the project.” This amounted to a direct rebuke of the province-centred “development visions” of Asif Ali Zardari and the Sharifs. For these leaders, initiating the CPEC meant concentrating development in their home provinces. The embassy statement, in fact, resonated similar concerns that Chinese interlocutors had been expressing earlier. One had expected that following the agreement at the All-Parties Conference (APC) on May 28, 2015, the western alignment of the CPEC — from Attock to DI Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and to Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Pishin and Quetta in Balochistan — would take precedence and thus allay reservations of the two provinces. But this turned out to be a misplaced expectation. Now we see the K-P chief minister threatening revolt against the CPEC plans and accusing the Sharif government of being unmindful of the problems of conflict-affected regions such as Balochistan and K-P. The political parties of the two provinces are demanding the construction of motorways, economic and industrial zones, oil and gas pipelines and fibre optic lines through their respective provinces. The issue has roots in the history of mistrust between the Centre and the smaller provinces. Even the Pakhtun nationalist Awami National Party has reservations, but it understands that opposition to the CPEC may jeopardise the project. The PPP, too, alleges that most CPEC projects are concentrated in Punjab. The party even plans an APC in Gilgit to press for the inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan in the CPEC...

Peace in Afghanistan will be the key to peace in Pakistan: Imran Khan

“Afghanistan has suffered for too long and the people in Afghanistan deserve peace as any other country. Pakistan should pursue a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, as stated by the government of Pakistan. Peace in Afghanistan will be the key to peace in Pakistan and all efforts should be made to pursue this objective. I am not pro-Taliban; I am anti-war - as war is never a solution for any country.” These were some of the remarks made by PTI Chairman Mr. Imran Khan in a meeting with Pakistani and Afghan regional security experts on the sidelines of bilateral Track 2 dialogue. He noted that Pakistan itself has suffered a lot due to terrorism. More than 60,000 people have died in Pakistan and over $100 billion worth of losses have been inflicted on the Pakistani nation. Both countries need to work together for peace and security in the region. He said that future of this region doesn’t lie in boundaries and hoped that in future there will be a time when Afghan and Pakistani citizens will have the right of free movement without barriers – similar to European Union. Mr. Abdul Qadir Baloch (Federal Minister for SAFRON Affairs and Inter-provincial Harmony) was the Chief Guest for the inaugural session. He noted that “People in Pakistan & Afghanistan want a bi-lateral relationship based on trust and mutual respect; both governments should sincerely work towards it. Government of Pakistan is sincere in its desire to cooperate with government of Afghanistan on all issues to bring peace and prosperity in the region.” Mr. Baloch Also observed that “Track 2 dialogues can provide an excellent opportunity for experts of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to discuss issues openly and frankly and remove any existing ambiguities. I strongly hope that the solutions provided by the track 2 working groups would enable both governments to take more meaningful actions for better bi-lateral relations.” Speaking on the occasion British High Commissioner...

Afghan Delegation of Regional Security Experts Arrive for Track 1.5/2 Dialogue

January 10, 2016: A ten-member Afghan delegation comprising members of parliament, politicians, government and former military officials, diplomats and security experts arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, January 10, 2016 for a land-mark series of Track 1.5/2 meetings/ dialogues. This initiative called “Beyond Boundaries” has been launched by the Center of Research and Security Studies (CRSS) - in partnership with its Afghan counterpart organization, DURAN Research and Analysis (DRA) and sub-national partner (Pakistan), the Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA) - is a major Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue, as part of efforts to help improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Beyond Boundaries comprises two working groups, the Regional Security Group, and Civil Society and Youth Group, aimed at facilitating and promoting people-to-people contacts. The fourth meeting in the series and the second meeting of regional security experts from Pakistan and Afghanistan is taking place from January 12-13, 2016 in Islamabad and has assumed an unusual significance because of the high profile formation of working groups from both sides and the context between the two countries. The arrival of the Afghan Regional Security delegation marks the continuity of dialogue - facilitated by CRSS - between the stakeholders from the two countries to the backdrop of a politically difficult and challenging environment. The Track 1.5/II is also important because the bilateral relationship has been fraught with mutual mistrust being the proxy battleground for complicated regional relationships. An unstable Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship is fundamentally detrimental to peace and development in the region. Initiatives like Beyond Boundaries will bring together influential government and non-governmental stake-holders who can help lessen tensions, address misconceptions, and revive some level of confidence. More importantly, they will eventually urge both...

Af-Pak Cooperation must for Regional Peace

January 11, 2016: The democratic institutions and their decisions can have a great impact on Af-Pak bilateral relations. Afghanistan cannot be stable without stable Pakistan. Pakistan - under any circumstances - would not allow any sort of terrorism in Afghanistan. We should focus positively on building friendly relations between the two countries. Harsh statements by leaders create divide and should be avoided. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan should pursue dialogue as sovereign states. Electronic media should be utilized to neutralize the negative sentiments that exist on both sides. These were the deliberations exchanged by the regional security experts from Afghanistan and Pakistan during their meetings with the political leaders at Senate of Pakistan including Chairman Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Awais Laghari, Chairman Senate's Standing Committee on Finance, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Senator Kamil Ali Agha and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) lawmaker Mehmood Khan Achakzai. This meetings were organized as part of the initiative “Beyond Boundaries” - launched by the Center of Research and Security Studies (CRSS) - in partnership with its Afghan counterpart organization, DURAN Research and Analysis (DRA) and sub-national partner (Pakistan), the Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA) - a major Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue, as part of efforts to help improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Chairman Senate's Standing Committee on Finance Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that Afghanistan was a brotherly country and thus they did not consider it as a foreign country. He also said that National Assembly and Senate were willing to address any issues of bilateral nature that could be solved at their level. Mr. Mirwais Yasini, First Deputy Speaker, Lower House of Afghan Parliament highlighted the issues of transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan and asked the Pakistani Parliament to facilitate their transit trade...

Monthly Updates on the Covert War

CIA drone strikes in Pakistan fall to lowest level in 8 years, Bureau’s annual report reveals Covert drone strikes by the CIA in Pakistan fell to their lowest level for eight years in 2015, according to new research by the Bureau, with a sharp reduction not only in attacks but also in the number of people reported killed. The drones hit Pakistan’s tribal areas 13 times last year, killing between 60 and 85 people – almost half the 25 strikes in 2014 and 10 times fewer than the campaign’s peak of 128 in 2010. But while the attacks in Pakistan have now fallen to their lowest level since five hit in 2007, the number of strikes in Somalia surged to unprecedented highs during 2015, the Bureau found. The 11 attacks reported there against al Shabaab dwarfed the three from 2014 – hitherto the most in Somalia in a year. Until 2015, there had been seven reported strikes in the history of the drone war in Somalia. The figures come from the Bureau’s annual drone report for 2015, which also found that for Pakistan – the main theatre of the CIA’s covert counter-terror war – there have now been seven times more CIA strikes under President Obama (370) than there were under George W Bush. The reduction in CIA operations in Pakistan last year could be down to a number of factors, including outrage over a catastrophic strike on January 15 that accidentally killed an Italian and an American, both al Qaeda hostages. It could also be down to stretched drone resources with greater needs in other theatres such as Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. 2015 was also the year the US was meant to scale back its operations in Afghanistan, leaving a relatively small number of troops and advisers for training and support, plus a small counter-terrorism force. The aim was to cut troop levels from 9,800 at the end of 2014 to 5,500 a year later. This move to a counter-terrorism focus, similar to US operations in Yemen, prompted the Bureau to start recording data on US air strikes in the country. But in...

100 Chinese Business Persons Due In Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: China, Pakistan’s major trading partner with volume of trade reaching an all-time high of $12.299 billion in 2014-15, is going to send a 100-member delegation comprising private sector entrepreneurs and investors to Pakistan for investment in arrears of energy, infrastructures, telecom and textile primarily to wriggle Pakistan out of economic morass. The visit of 100-member delegation would kick off with a Business Opportunities Conference on 18th-19th January in Islamabad, to be organised by the Ministry of Commerce with the support of Board of Investment (BOI), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and World Bank. The delegation will then travel to Lahore where business sessions with prominent CEOs and senior executives of top companies headquartered in Punjab will be organized by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on 20th January 2016. The government of Punjab will arrange field visits for the delegation to major industrial areas on 21st January 2016. At the last leg of the visit, the delegation would proceed to Karachi, where Pakistan Business Council (PBC), with support of government of Sindh and TDAP, would host an event, which would include B2B sessions with premier Karachi based businesses on 22nd January 2016. China, which is going to invest $46 billion in Pakistan under the umbrella of CPEC wants Pakistan to have energy sufficient to improve its economic muscle through maximum investment in various sectors of economy. The decision to send 100 investors has got significance knowing the fact that Pakistan has imposed regulatory duty (RD) on Chinese products. This means that China seriously wants Pakistan to improve its economic muscle. Though Beijing has expressed its annoyance over the regulatory duty (RD) on Chinese products imposed by authorities saying that the said initiative is tantamount to violation of the existing China Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), yet it wants to provide economic solace to Pakistan...