Current Projects
An Uncertain Path: Pakistan’s Push for Nuclear Power
Pakistan is eager to expand its use of nuclear power with a fleet of new plants by 2050, backed by support from China. However, this has caused jitters among some, who fear the country could be looking to increase its nuclear arsenal. Adam Peters reports. According to a World Nuclear Association country profile, updated in April, Pakistan currently has 725MWe of installed nuclear power capacity. However, if the country's leaders manage to realise their goals, this will increase substantially in the future. Looking back, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Committee was created in 1955 to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but it wasn't until 1966 that construction of the first nuclear power plant began in Karachi. Although there was interest to build more, it took another 20 years for work on a second plant, Chasma 1 in Punjab province, to be put into action. According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, this was "due to an unfavourable international environment coupled with lack of indigenous technological and industrial capabilities for design and construction". With the assistance of the China National Nuclear Corporation, construction finally began in 1993, and the plant was connected to the grid in 2000. This was followed by Chasma 2, a third and improved plant, in 2011. The fourth and fifth, Chashma 3 and 4, which are largely financed by China, are expected to be online by 2016. In July 2013, The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) also approved 3.5GWe of new power projects, of which 2200MWe is nuclear. On top of the Chasma sites, China has also agreed to construct two reactors near Karachi, using the ACP-1000 reactor design, which costs approximately $5bn to build and was developed from previous designs in China. China-Pakistan: an evolving partnership The heavy reliance on Chinese support for these projects has drawn criticism from multiple sources. "China's expanding civilian nuclear cooperation with Pakistan raises...
October Rage In India: Surprising?
A string of events in recent weeks — mostly involving Shiv Sena and RSS activists — shook not only outsiders but also a large number of Indians. Invariably, many have begun questioning whether this attack on the ‘unwanted citizens’ within India amounts to an assault on the secular foundations of the country, or does it reflect a genuine push for establishing the grandiose Hindutva vision across India? Dozens of Shiv Sena zealots, for instance, stormed the BCCI office in Mumbai on October 19, chanting slogans in protest against BCCI President Shashank Manohar’s meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shahryar Khan and demanded the guests go back. The same day, members of a Hindu extremist group threw black ink on a Kashmiri lawmaker, Engineer Rashid, outside the New Delhi Press Club. A week earlier on October 14, Shiv Sena activists doused the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni in black paint for hosting the launch of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book. They went to the extent of describing Kulkarni as a bigger threat to India than the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack. In Mumbai, the police brutally assaulted two Muslim teenagers — Asif and Danish Shaikh — and told them to go “back to Pakistan”. An angry mob, lynched a Muslim compatriot, Mohammad Akhlaq, on September 30 for allegedly eating beef. Elsewhere, RSS and BJP activists and leaders want a total ban on beef and are openly advising beef-eaters to leave India. As the list of religious militant absurdities grows, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged caution, drawing — justifiably so — the ire of Congress President Sonia Gandhi (on October 18) who said, “The prime minister says Hindus and Muslims should not fight. I say that they do not fight on their own, they are made to fight.” Should we be shocked and surprised over the juvenile exuberance, misplaced arrogance, overplayed pretence of innocence and an over-projected sense of self-righteousness currently flowing out of India?...
Pakistan Connected China to the Rest of the World
KARACHI: Pakistan helped connect China to the rest of the world by operating the first international flight from Karachi to Beijing, said former federal minister Dr Javed Jabbar. Before that, China did not have international flights, said Jabbar during a lecture on ‘Pak-India Relation: Issues and Prospects’ on Thursday at Karachi University. In the year 1971, Pakistan facilitated America’s secret link to China, claimed Jabbar. This allowed the then communist state to get United Nations’(UN) membership, he said. Hostile relations Pakistan is termed as a security state, but in Jabbar’s opinion, it is the most insecure state. “At the time of its creation, Pakistan was the most insecure state of the region,” said Jabbar. Its two neighbouring countries, India and Afghanistan, were not willing to accept its existence, he said. “The Indian leadership in 1947 claimed that Pakistan will not survive more than six months,” he recalled. On the other hand, Afghanistan opposed the membership of Pakistan in UN, he said. “When one of your neighbours is making statements against your survival and the other is not ready to accept your existence, naturally you will seek some form of security.” This is why Pakistan felt the need to seek military aid from United States of America, he added. Understanding 1971 “People use the example of 1971 to point out that it signifies the failure of the Two-Nation Theory,” said Jabbar. However, they need to realise that Bangladesh did not join India, he claimed. “Now it’s two nations and three states.” When asked who should be held responsible for the 1971 events leading to the break-up of the country, Jabbar said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was adamant to rule and his ‘aggressive’ behaviour escalated the violence. But his stance was legitimate, he claimed. Soviet invasion Speaking on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Jabbar said that till today, Pakistan continues to suffer from its effects. Due to the invasion, 15 million refugees came to...
China-Pakistan Entrepreneurs International Seminar Opens in Beijing
Friday, October 16, 2015 - Islamabad—China-Pakistan Entreprenurs International Seminar opens in Beijing with an aim to integrate the resources of all the parties concerned through Think-tank platform to enhance China and Pakistan enterprise cooperation. The seven-day long seminar is co-sponsored by RDI international think tank project of the Chinese Academy of Social, Tsinghua University Real Estate Presidential Chamber of Commerce, Pakistan China Institute, International Green Economy Association and other agencies, says a statement received here on Thursday. Senator Saleem Mandviwala, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Khalid Masood, Pakistan Ambassador to China, Zhao Baige, member of NPC Standing Committee, Cai Fang, deputy head of RDI think tank project and others attended the seminar. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said in his speech, the Pakistani people know very clearly the strategic significance of CPEC for both countries. “Pakistan welcomed with open arms for China’s investment and President of China Xi Jinping has rolled out great vision for people from China and Pakistan, and now the key points lie in action and implementation and to achieve the vision” he added. Saleem Mandviwalla introduced in the RDI international think-tank platform, the joint efforts of think tank from both countries, entrepreneurs and relevant all walks of life have carried out a series of joint cooperation this year in Haikou, Karamay, Beijing and other places. He recalled that on August 11-12 this year, Pakistan economic corridor Karamay Forum (2015), initiated by RDI international think tank project, was a good practice. In the forum, China and Pakistan signed 20 cooperation memorandums worth a total of 10.35 billion Yuan, and adopted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor“Karamay Declaration”, attracting international attention. He said the China-Pakistan Entrepreneurs Seminar is one of the important outcomes to implement, bridge a direct communication platform between...
CRSS launches project ‘Beyond Boundaries’
Islamabad (October 19, 2015): The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) launched the project ‘Beyond Boundaries’ – Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II Dialogue 2015-16. The dialogue would comprise consultations between two working groups: 1. Regional Security Group (RSG), 2. Civil Society and Youth Group (CS&YG). Both groups will have eight members each from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The first orientation meeting for the two Pakistani groups was held today at Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad. Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, welcomed Pakistani participants from the two working groups. He noted that in the current geo-political scenario and the growing trust-deficit between Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is vital that initiatives are taken to bring people from both countries together. ‘Beyond Boundaries’ aims to provide a platform for key stakeholders from both countries – former diplomats, civil society activists, former military officials, academia, journalists, parliamentarians and youth an opportunity to discuss challenges faced by both countries. The consultations between both working groups are expected to produce policy recommendations for the governments – with the overall aim of identifying opportunities for better relations through better understanding. Mr. Aized Ali (Director, Media and Communications CRSS) gave a detailed presentation about the aims and objectives of ‘Beyond Boundaries’. Pakistani delegates lauded the initiative and underscored the need for a broader role of civil society and people to people exchanges between both countries – to improve mutual understanding and bi-lateral relationship. Pakistani members of the Regional Security Working Group include: Lt. Gen (retd.) Waheed Arshad, Lt. Gen (retd.) Masood Aslam, Mr. Shoaib Suddle, Dr. G G Jamal (MNA), Ambassador (retd.) Ayaz Wazir, Shazia Marri (MNA-PPP), Ms. Ayesha Gulalai (MNA-PTI) and Mohsin Shahnawaz (MNA-PML-N). Pakistani members of the...
‘As Karachi’s situation improves, monster of violence recedes in Sindh’
Karachi: Despite the apparent tug-of-war between federal law enforcement agencies and the Sindh government over matters pertaining to jurisdiction, the province which used to attract the fiercest criticism over its propensity for violence seems to be rising to the challenge. According to a report released by an Islamabad-based security think tank, Sindh is the only province in the country where fatalities from violence have declined sharply during the third quarter of this year. However, what is even more interesting is that the most peaceful province of the country, Punjab, has traded places with Sindh, the province whose government and law-enforcement agencies, only some months ago, used to be flayed for being unable to curb the rampant violence. During the third quarter of this year, from July to September, Sindh witnessed a steady and remarkable decline in the rate and prevalence of violence. Moreover, stated the report by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), some specific forms of violence also decreased drastically or did not surface during this time period. On the other hand, it was said, Punjab witnessed rising incidents of violence, and thus more number of casualties, from July till September, making it one of the most violent provinces of the country. “The federal government used to criticise Sindh government for its inability to control security situation in the province,” said Muhammad Nafees, a Karachi-based security analyst who prepared the report for CRSS. “But the rise of violence in Punjab should compel the federal government to focus now on its province.” However, a detailed study of the report shows that the decrease in violence is not that uniform across the province. With a total of 321 casualties reported across the province, very few districts in the province were affected by violence out of which except for two, all recorded fatalities in single digits. Interestingly, as violence in Karachi was seen to decrease considerably, no...
Kashmir Activists Highlight Human Rights Violations at CRSS/CPDR Event
Khurram Pervez, a Srinagar-based leading human rights defender and Kartik Murukotla, lawyer associated with Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society(JKCCS) speaker at the Discussion Forum organised jointly by CRSS and CPDR. Both speakers highlighted the human rights violations that have been systematically taking place in the Indian part of Kashmir in the presence of 65,6000 security forces. The JKCSS is about to launch a report on the human rights violations in Kashmir, which underscores how Kashmiris have endured a systematic denial of rights and political disempowerment through brute force and management of perceptions on their political struggle for the right of self-determination.Pervez bemoaned what he said decreasing Pakistani assertiveness on the issue of Kashmir which he said had encouraged India to increasingly harden its position on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Q3 Security Report – 2015
Third Quarter 2015 - Introduction Pakistan’s war on terror and criminal gangs continued to expand during the July-September quarter as security forces extended their operations to thus far untouched areas. Military/civilian law enforcement agencies unveiled alleged links among certain local and foreign non-state actors. In counterterrorism raids, security officials claimed to have tracked and nabbed terror financiers and agents of the Indian intelligence outfit Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) from various locations in Karachi, the country’s commercial and financial capital. While security forces claimed success on different fronts, terrorists and religiously-inspired militants retaliated with brazen attacks on security installations in the country and made their presence felt. These non-state actors also appear to have adopted new strategies and tactics to deal with the ongoing operations in the south (Karachi) and northwestern territories against them. But barring a few exceptions, Pakistan recorded a decline in violence during this quarter, especially the sectarian kind. The frequency of many forms of violence also declined during this quarter. As a whole as many as 1,208 people - civilians and security forces alike – fell to terror and crime, bringing the total fatalities in the first nine months to 3,869[1]. This report takes a close look at the ongoing security operations and the trend of violence in different parts of the country using the factual open source data collected from various national newspapers including The News, Dawn, and Express Tribune. Errors and omissions, a possibility in all statistical works, can occur in this report as well. Report prepared by: Mohammad Nafees Senior Research Fellow Center for Research and Security Studies NOTE: Readers can approach CRSS for source of any information included in the report. Please send your requests/comments/questions to: info@crss.pk. List of Acronyms # Acronyms (in alphabetical order) 1 ANP Awami...
Sabawoon Showcase: KP Local Body System and Role of Elected Members
October 12, 2015, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon (Dawn), that aired on Monday, focused on the local body system in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) and the role of elected members of the local government system. The key points discussed included the rules of business, powers of newly elected members, utilization of funds, transparency in the system, planning and development. This program aired under the theme “Jarga Marraka” (Public Dialogue). There were two guests on the show. The first guest, Mr. Muhammad Asim, represents the City District Government Peshawar, and the second, Mr. Khalid Khan, is a team leader from the Subnational Government Program, KP. The views of the new elected members from the KP local body system were highlighted in a report aired during the show. Mr. Himayat Ullah Mayyar from the district Nazim Office, Mardan said, “The present local body system has no rules for business while the elected members are lacking the potential. It will be beneficial if appropriate rules for business are given to the elected members.” There were four live calls during the show. The majority of the callers requested the elected members to improve the development of the province as it has been traditionally ignored. Anees, a live caller, said, “There is no genuine system to end pollution in Peshawar. The officials that are assigned this task are not performing their duties in an acceptable manner.” A second caller, Abdullah, said, “The road infrastructure in the city is at its worst and the government should work on this so there is an improvement in the traffic flow.” Mr. Muhammad Asim, Nazim of City District Government Peshawar “The local body system is an example of democracy because everyone has an access to their elected members. The elected members can find an easy solution as they are well aware of the problems being faced in the local context. There are limited funds but it is the right of the people...
China Jails Former Energy Chief for Corruption
BEIJING (Web Desk) – The former chief of China’s biggest oil firm has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for accepting bribes, state media said on Monday. Jiang Jiemin was previously head of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and its listed firm Petro China. He was arrested in 2013, shortly after taking a government job. Jiang was an ally of former security Chief Zhou Yongkang, the biggest official caught in the ongoing corruption crackdown in China. A statement from a court in Hubei province carried by local media said Jiang was found guilty of “receiving bribes, possessing large amounts of assets of unknown provenance, and abusing power as a state-owned company employee.” Media outlets said that Jiang had amassed a total of 14.8m Yuan (£1.5m, $2.3m) in assets. Besides his jail sentence, authorities have confiscated assets worth 1m Yuan from him, local media said. He received a lesser sentence after confessing his crimes and detailing the bribes he received in exchange for approving construction projects and offering personal job promotions. Jiang had risen through the ranks of state-owned CNPC, which is the parent company of PetroChina, in the late 1990s and 2000s to become chairman. He left CNPC in April 2013 to take his highest position yet, as head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission – a cabinet-level position. He was arrested a few months after assuming that position. Crackdown on Corruption China has been conducting widespread arrests of both low-ranking and high-ranking officials since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012. One of its biggest hauls was Zhou, the former head of China’s Ministry of Public Security, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption in June. China’s leaders use high-profile cases to prove they are serious about tackling government graft. However, many suspect that the downfall of Jiang and others can also be attributed to ongoing political infighting. Published October 12, 2015...
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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.