Current Projects

CRSS Signs Important Milestone Agreement with CIIT

The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad signed a milestone agreement with the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) on Friday. The collaboration will help facilitate the Pakistan Center for Excellence (PACE) program that CRSS is launching in February, 2016. Under the agreement, CIIT will generously extend human resource and logistical support to PACE. CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul with CIIT Rector Dr. S. M. Junaid Zaidi. PACE is a CRSS CVE initiative, designed to trigger critical thinking through a discourse anchored in fundamental global values such as socio-political diversity, tolerance, rule of law and equal citizenry. The concept of PACE sprang from nearly a decade of CRSS team’s research and advocacy experience in radicalization and extremism, and security studies. PACE will prepare a cadre of future leaders who will be trained in critical concepts such as equal citizenry, fundamentals of democracy, respect for fundamental human rights, good governance, and tolerance for diversity and opinions as the basic principle for rationalizing the dialogue on extremist ideologies and dissecting the causes of socio-political polarization.

Takeaways from Islamabad

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in Islamabad on December 9 to discuss the revival of peace talks in the ‘Heart of Asia Conference’, when Taliban gunmen wearing uniforms stormed the Kandahar airport. At least 37 people were killed in pitched gun battles that followed. On December 7, the Taliban had carried out a brazen coordinated attack on the police station in the city. The apparent attempt to sabotage the conference in Pakistan – which shows that Pakistan does not have complete control over the insurgent group – did not stop Islamabad and Kabul from agreeing on making efforts to revive the reconciliation process in Afghanistan as early as possible, under international watch. According to Pakistani officials, this comes out of the unusually long consultations of Army Chief General Raheel Sharif in Washington last month. Insiders say he told the US interlocutors that Pakistan could take lead in the negotiations if: Afghan leaders would publicly ask Pakistan to do it, or at least publicly welcome “any Pakistani effort that could help promote the intra-Afghan dialogue”, and The reconciliation process takes place under the watch of mediators – such as the United States, the UK and China – because of the acute mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has reiterated its resolve of a reenergized action against terrorist sanctuaries in the border regions. Demands from Pakistan to do more on the Taliban front kept resonating in the bilateral, trilateral and multilateral meetings. Pakistan was told to draw lines between terrorists and nationalist insurgents. Ghani questioned the leverage Pakistan has with the Afghan Taliban. “Is it an insurgency or something else?” he asked. Pakistan and India will resume the composite dialogue But the most important outcome was the presence of the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, and the accompanying signaling that she had come to Islamabad to promote the bilateral relationship between India and Pakistan. She met...

Donald Trump and American Democracy

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump's insistence on his incendiary proposal to ban entry of all Muslims into the United States in the aftermath of San Bernardino massacre has received rejection and condemnation from across the broader political divide. Most of Trump's Republican running mates were quick to reject his proposal, a day after President Barack Obama laid out his plan to defeat the ISIL and its supporters wherever they may be. In a statement released to the media on December 7, Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown” of the country’s borders to Muslims in the wake of the San Bernardino terrorist attack. “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” said Trump, whose recent statements, calling for tough measures against Muslim Americans have caused deep anxiety among human rights groups and the Muslim community. About seven million Muslims call the United States their home. Muslims are not the only community facing Trump's tirade. He has also offended women, Jews, Mexicans, Chinese and immigrants by targeting them at different times during his campaign. The real estate mogul has in the recent past advocated the closure of American mosques and recommended special IDs and databases for American Muslims, in a flagrant disregard to American values. The values to which President Obama referred to in a televised address on December 6. While outlining his plan to defeat ISIL and threat of terrorism at home, Obama used significant part of his speech to remind Americans that the country's Muslim population should be enlisted in the fight against extremism and terrorism rather than targeted with hate and suspicion. "ISIL does not speak for Islam. They are thugs and killers, part of a cult of death, and they account for a tiny fraction of more...

From China to Everywhere

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a hugely important project for Pakistan. It has the potential to bring enormous economic dividends to the country besides creating jobs, developing a vast infrastructure of rail, road and port networks and giving Pakistan interconnectivity to the globalized world for trade and energy flows. Pakistan is important but it is by no means the indispensable star in the overall scheme of things. Should Pakistan falter the broader Chinese strategic vision will sidestep Pakistan and go for the alternatives that exist. It is important that Pakistan does not falter. The “One Belt One Road” strategy plus the ports and sea lanes that will link South East Asia to the Mediterranean is China’s strategic response to the US vision of a pivot to the east, a new Silk Road and the game changing Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) that China was not invited to join. China’s broad strategic initiative includes the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank (AIIB) that has already raised $ 100 billion almost twice of what was initially envisaged. Fifty seven countries that includes Iran, Israel, Britain, Germany. Australia, South Korea, India, Pakistan and Poland, have already signed on even though the US has not. In fact without actually opposing the Chinese venture the US has indicated its concerns over the Chinese sponsored and controlled bank. China already has an Export and Import Bank and a Development Bank and recently the international Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved China’s Renminbi (RMB) as part of the internationally approved currencies bringing it at par with the Dollar, the Euro and the Japanese Yen. Small wonder then that the US thinks that the Bretton Woods institutions may have a challenge even though China has offered assurances even saying that it will continue to support those institutions. In the 2008 economic crisis China’s actions were positive and stabilizing. China is also likely to make sure that it conforms to...

Pakistan, China to Develop e-Corridor for Greater Connectivity

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and China on Tuesday agreed to develop an e-corridor to establish greater connectivity in the region, keeping in view importance of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Both the sides agreed when a high-level Chinese delegation led by China Investment Promotion Centre Chairman Yan Lijin called on State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Anusha Rehman here. IT Secretary Azmat Ali Ranjha, Telecom member Mudassar Hussain, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Managing Director Asim Shehryar and National Telecommunication Company (NTC) Chairman Viqar Ahmad were also present. The state minister apprised that Pakistan's information technology and telecom sector has a lot of potential and now we have to explore ways to reap this potential in an optimal way. “We believe in "Digital Pakistan" and Chinese cooperation and collaboration will help us to materialize this vision of accelerated digitization,” she said. "We are awarding tech-city project on January 7 next year. It is an incubation project meant for training of young entrepreneurs likewise we are intended to establish a research and innovation center of international standard,” Anusha added. She said the ministry was already collaborating for development of e-commerce gateway framework so that online commercial ventures could flourish further and consumers and companies could get more confidence in online payment systems. “Then we would like to invite international companies to establish their set ups here in Pakistan as well,” she said. The delegates appreciated vision of the government and hailed initiatives being taken by IT Ministry for uplifting of the sector. Yan Lijin agreed to work with Pakistan's government for establishment of IT parks on land of the Ministry of Information Technology in Karachi and for licenses for e-commerce gateway. He agreed to send Chinese delegations to Pakistan to visit land for the IT Parks. Courtesy: Daily Times...

A Perilous State of Denial

The Heart of Asia Conference is about Afghanistan’s multiple pressing political and economic problems. That is why leaders from over two dozen countries gathered in Islamabad to help one another understand the possible way forward. The United States, which provides the bulk of funding for maintaining the Afghan National Security Forces, and other major nations such as the UK, Germany and China are eagerly pursuing the reconciliation in Afghanistan. They are urging Pakistan to leverage its clout with the Afghan Taliban. That is why US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard G Olson spent some time in Kabul, in an apparent attempt to convince the Afghan leadership to participate in the Heart of Asia conference. Strangely though, when Olson was still in Kabul, Afghanistan’s army chief of staff General Qadam Shah Shahim blasted Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy and pulled out all invectives against Islamabad. Consider the following excerpts from his speech reported by Tolo News: “The enemies of the Afghan people, the spy agency in the region, had decided to capture major parts of Afghanistan’s soil and create a parallel government, talk from a powerful stance and implement their nefarious ends on the Afghan nation, but they were unaware of the courage of the Afghan people, and they failed. Waziristan’s operation was a symbolic one and you will witness such operations in future as well. Why did they not launch such operations in Peshawar, Quetta and other areas instead of Waziristan? Quite interestingly, as major powers are pushing for negotiations, Shahim told the Afghan Senate that “winter is the best time to eliminate the Taliban and other militant groups associated with Daesh”. Shahim made the statement on the eve of the Heart of Asia, following Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the CEO of the Unity Government, who took the lead role in announcing the possible death of the Taliban chief, Mullah Mansoor. Earlier in November, Dr Abdullah Abdullah had told a...

Sino-Pak Ties 'As Pure As Ever-Flowing Water': Weidong

Islamabad, Dec. 6 : Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong, on Sunday drew a stark simile between 'ever-flowing water' and the friendship between China and Pakistan, saying 'it is as pure and sincere as the ever-flowing water'. Addressing a function here, Weidong said that the 'friendship between men of noble characters is as pure as water' and added that it was not only a summary of Chinese virtue but also the interpretation of friendship between the two nations. According to The Nation, Weidong cited a famous Chinese saying that the sea can hold the water stemming from numerous rivers and it is huge because of its inclusiveness. The Sino-Pak friendship is not only diplomatic but also extends to the common man. One fine example of the friendship between the two countries can be seen when the Pakistanis greet the Chinese with a 'ni hao' and 'xie xie'. Weidong also drew a comparison between a fresh water spring and the China-Pakistan friendship and said that standing on the shoulders of the veterans, the young generations from the two countries are bringing fresh water into the friendship. Published in http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-159338.html

Sino-Pak Ties 'As Pure As Ever-Flowing Water': Weidong

Islamabad, Dec. 6 : Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong, on Sunday drew a stark simile between 'ever-flowing water' and the friendship between China and Pakistan, saying 'it is as pure and sincere as the ever-flowing water'. Addressing a function here, Weidong said that the 'friendship between men of noble characters is as pure as water' and added that it was not only a summary of Chinese virtue but also the interpretation of friendship between the two nations. According to The Nation, Weidong cited a famous Chinese saying that the sea can hold the water stemming from numerous rivers and it is huge because of its inclusiveness. The Sino-Pak friendship is not only diplomatic but also extends to the common man. One fine example of the friendship between the two countries can be seen when the Pakistanis greet the Chinese with a 'ni hao' and 'xie xie'. Weidong also drew a comparison between a fresh water spring and the China-Pakistan friendship and said that standing on the shoulders of the veterans, the young generations from the two countries are bringing fresh water into the friendship. Published in http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-159338.html

Sino-Pak Ties ‘As Pure As Ever-Flowing Water’: Weidong

Islamabad, Dec. 6 : Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Sun Weidong, on Sunday drew a stark simile between 'ever-flowing water' and the friendship between China and Pakistan, saying 'it is as pure and sincere as the ever-flowing water'. Addressing a function here, Weidong said that the 'friendship between men of noble characters is as pure as water' and added that it was not only a summary of Chinese virtue but also the interpretation of friendship between the two nations. According to The Nation, Weidong cited a famous Chinese saying that the sea can hold the water stemming from numerous rivers and it is huge because of its inclusiveness. The Sino-Pak friendship is not only diplomatic but also extends to the common man. One fine example of the friendship between the two countries can be seen when the Pakistanis greet the Chinese with a 'ni hao' and 'xie xie'. Weidong also drew a comparison between a fresh water spring and the China-Pakistan friendship and said that standing on the shoulders of the veterans, the young generations from the two countries are bringing fresh water into the friendship. Published in http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-159338.html

Second Meeting Between Regional Civil Society Groups Concludes In Kabul

The second round of meetings between Pak-Afghan Regional Civil Society working groups - as part of CRSS-FIDA-DURAN project, Beyond Boundaries; Pak-Afghan track 1.5/ II initiative - was held in Kabul from December 02-03, 2015. This workshop was a follow up to the first meeting held under the same initiative in Islamabad from November 09-10, 2015. The inaugural session was chaired jointly by Mr. Fahim Dashty, Chief Executive of Afghanistan National Journalists Union, and Mr. Kawun Kakar, Managing Partner of Kakar Advocates. The chief guests were H.E. Karen Pierce, Ambassador of United Kingdom, and H.E. Sayed Abrar Hussain, Ambassador of Pakistan. The two day workshop of Pak-Afghan Regional Civil Society Working Groups included deliberations on the following themes: The Narratives – Continuing the Conversation Role of Civil Society in Shaping Narratives Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace - Building the Foundation for an Inclusive Peace Process Women Empowerment in Afghanistan Trade and Economic Cooperation The session on the narratives was chaired by Mr. Parwiz Kava, Editor in Chief, Daily 8AM. It included presentations by Mr. Nadir Yama, Deputy Minister, Independent Directorate of Local Governance and Member of Hamdeli Network on the role of Civil Society in Shaping Narratives, and Ms. Samira Hamidi, WG member from Afghanistan side on Afghan People’s Dialogue on Peace - Building the Foundation for an Inclusive Peace Process and Women Empowerment in Afghanistan. Mr. Nadir Yama emphasized on cultural exchange for creating empathy, acquaintance, build trust and create a conducive environment for concrete steps for peace building and added, “There are so many good stories of people to people. Just telling these stories will create empathy and awareness. To discuss the peace talks, we need culture of peace to be promoted and enabling environment. Our aim should not be only political side of it, but the actual peace process, peace culture and promoting...