Current Projects
Elon Musk Visit to China-Expanding Business Ties
Elon Musk, a product of the American capitalist system doing business with Communist China. Simply put businesses don’t care about politics and ideologies. Mr. Musk is smart enough to know that after the U.S., China is the largest market for his Tesla electric vehicles, and he has plans to further capitalize on this market. Amid ongoing US-China tensions, and after three years, the multi-billionaire and Chairman and owner of Tesla Motors and Twitter, Mr. Elon Musk, recently visited China on 30th May 2023 for a three-day trip. A visionary American entrepreneur and one of the richest in the world, the visit was purely private and business-like. Upon his arrival, he received a warm reception with full protocol from Chinese government officials. He was also scheduled to visit Tesla’s massive production plant in Shanghai, and he spoke with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang shortly after his arrival. It is believed he also met with Chinese Minister of Industry Jin Zhuanglong later that day. Musk’s unannounced trip was the latest by a major U.S. CEO to China since the country reversed its zero-COVID policy and reopened its borders. Elon Musk is visiting Communist China! What’s going on? A caption circulating as stated in a series of tweets that have gone viral since then. You can imagine the American public’s reaction when photographs of his visit and meetings with high-level government officials appeared in the media, utter confusion, with Americans trying to figure out what exactly is going on. A product and idol of the American capitalist system doing business with Communist China? Simply put businesses and big bucks don’t care about politics and ideologies. Mr. Musk is smart enough to know that after the U.S., China is the largest market for his Tesla electric vehicles, and he has plans to further capitalize on this market. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Musk, as comparing US-China interests to conjoined twins and as saying Tesla opposed...
Can Pakistan Ever Have Impartial Political Leadership?
Parochial and short-term concerns have dominated the attention of Pakistan's political leadership, leading to frequent confrontations and crises of the sort we're living through right now. Can a shared vision of progress ever guide our politics? In a recent column published in various English newspapers, President Arif Alvi expressed his views on the history of Pakistan and addressed the prevalent issue of false allegations of treason against political opponents. I quote an excerpt from this column because it is from a top official in the country whose choice of words is significant. Delving into the history of Pakistan and exploring the oft-repeated allegations of treason against political opponents, he made this observation, “I have learnt from experience and history both, and state that no political party today has ever been anti-Pakistan or that it comprises of traitors.” While his observations shed light on the endemic weaknesses that plague the political landscape, it is important to critically examine such statements in light of potential biases favoring a particular party or its leaders. As responsible citizens, we should strive for an objective understanding of political dynamics and avoid disregarding actions and allegations faced by any party or its leadership. However, it is worth noting that the President’s column did not delve into another commonly raised allegation in Pakistan’s political sphere – corruption charges against prime ministers. Over the years, several prime ministers have faced corruption allegations, with some losing their premierships as a result. The recent political turmoil in the country also stems from corruption charges against the leader of the President’s own party. While momentarily setting this point aside, let’s examine the prime ministers who have been subject to such allegations during their tenure. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a former Prime Minister, faced accusations of financial misconduct and corruption during his time in...
Let the world hear women’s voices
It can be seen as both irony and a mockery that a male Foreign Minister of Pakistan was selected to attend the first International Women’s Day conference on the rights of women in Islam that was hosted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the United Nations (UN) on 8 March 2023. It is possible that his selection had valid reasons, such as his involvement in conceiving and pursuing the idea of the conference. Nonetheless, the decision may have sent the wrong message, especially on International Women’s Day, a day that celebrates women’s achievements and calls for gender equality. Two days later, the Foreign Minister chaired another high-level event at the UN General Assembly that commemorated International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It was indeed a very wise move on the part of the Foreign Minister to use both events to voice concerns on issues that affect the Muslim world. Discrimination and hatred against Muslims are global problems that require the attention of policymakers and leaders around the world. International Women’s Day and International Day to Combat Islamophobia were both opportunities to reflect on the progress that has been made in addressing these issues, as well as the work that still needs to be done. The incidents of Islamophobia and misrepresentation of Muslim women’s status in the world are often related to a human tendency called hatred. It’s needless to say that over a period of time, cases of hatred against Muslims have become more frequent around the world. This doesn’t mean that Muslims are the only one have suffered such injustice, other communities like Black Americans (better called Afro-Americans), Jews, and Asians have also been victims of hate-related acts, particularly in the western world. Hatred and discrimination are not limited to any particular region, religion, or race. Every community and every country is vulnerable to such acts. Pakistan also had its share in losing thousands of people in sectarian violence...
Iran and Pakistan Inaugurate Two Key Infrastructural Projects at Borderline
In a significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and promoting regional connectivity, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan jointly inaugurated two important infrastructural projects at their shared border on May 18, 2023. The projects inaugurated were the Pishin-Mand Joint Border Marketplace and the Polan-Gabed Power Transmission Line. The inauguration ceremony was attended by H.E. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and H.E. Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, along with other high-ranking officials from both countries. This event marks a historic meeting between the officials of the two nations and holds great significance for the people residing in the border regions. The projects’ launch is the result of the determined efforts of the authorities of both Iran and Pakistan, as well as the consistent work carried out by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan under the leadership of former Ambassador H.E. Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini. The completion of these projects underscores the commitment to enhancing economic and trade relations between the two neighboring countries. The Pishin-Mand Joint Border Marketplace is expected to facilitate formal trade, boost bilateral trade volumes, and combat smuggling activities. The marketplace aims to foster entrepreneurship among both men and women, creating economic opportunities for the youth in the region. It is anticipated to improve welfare, upgrade living conditions, and contribute to sustainable development in the area. The Polan-Gabed Power Transmission Line is a vital infrastructure project that will provide a stable and economical supply of electricity to various sectors in Pakistan, including industry, agriculture, and services. The transmission line will enhance power accessibility for households and reduce the frequency of power outages, thereby bolstering economic activities...
Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis: A Desperate Struggle Amidst Taliban Rule
Nearly all Afghan citizens endure impoverished living conditions, and millions require urgent aid to survive, with six million children facing famine. Insufficient funding and the Taliban’s repressive policies pose immense challenges to aid delivery, necessitating a delicate balance between providing assistance and addressing human rights violations. While the world only looks at the Taliban as a hardliner group pushing their country into regression, Afghanistan remains ensnared in one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. In the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “The gravity of the situation in Afghanistan is of immense significance and should not be underestimated. Presently, it represents the most substantial humanitarian crisis globally. Nearly all Afghan citizens, amounting to ninety-seven percent, endure impoverished living conditions. Moreover, a significant portion of the population, totaling twenty-eight million people, will require humanitarian aid in order to survive this year. Among them, six million Afghan children, women, and men are on the brink of experiencing conditions resembling famine. Concurrently, financial support for addressing this crisis is rapidly diminishing.” The United Nations’ Humanitarian Response Plan, which seeks $4.6 billion in funding, has received an inadequate amount of $294 million, equivalent to a mere 6.4 percent of the total funds required. Shockingly, two-thirds of the population struggles with food insecurity, thrusting 875,000 children into the clutches of acute malnutrition. Moreover, the plight of women and girls exacerbates the dire circumstances. This ongoing crisis has thrust the United Nations into a delicate balancing act. On one hand, they must ensure aid reaches those in desperate need, while on the other, they must apply relentless pressure on the Taliban to halt their abhorrent human rights violations. The initial crisis erupted when international aid abruptly dwindled after the...
No Proxies of Great Powers
" The following article originally appeared in the German Foreign Policy, Germany." The EU seeks to forge an anti-China alliance at a meeting with riparian countries of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but encounters open opposition. STOCKHOLM/BRUSSELS (Own report) – In its attempt to forge an anti-China alliance with the countries in Asia and the Pacific region, the EU is encountering open opposition. This has become evident at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum convened by the EU held in Stockholm on Saturday. Thirty riparian states of the Indian and Pacific Oceans were invited – China was excluded. Referring to the EU’s anti-Chinese intentions, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi declared that the Southeast Asian nations “are not interested in being part of a new Cold War.” Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, opposed attempts to divide the world “into various blocs.” Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, criticized the growing economic isolation of the western powers and called for greater respect for the norms of the global “rules-based” trading system. In opposition to a unilateral world dominated by the West, India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, insisted on multipolarity. The EU snubbed its invitees, with 13 of its foreign ministers skipping the meeting – Annalena Baerbock was among the absentees. “Rivalry Everywhere” Already at a meeting in Stockholm on Friday, EU foreign ministers examined a refocusing of the EU’s foreign policy, based on a strategy paper presented by EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Josep Borrell. It envisages a significant escalation of the confrontation with Beijing. While the triptych “partner, competitor and systemic rival” has, until now, always been invoked, suggesting a relatively equal significance of business cooperation, economic competition and political power struggle, Borrell’s paper states, that “systemic rivalry is likely to be...
Climate Induced Security Threats to Pakistan
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) extends its sincere gratitude to the core research team members whose dedication and expertise were instrumental in this research report. We are grateful to Elsa Imdad for exhibiting exceptional leadership and a knack for innovation as the research lead; Zehra Zaidi for conducting the literature review and desk research with meticulous attention to detail and updated knowledge; Mustafa Malik for the skillfully crafted research questions, finalizing the study design, and creating informative infographics; Junaid Khan for providing invaluable peer review and critical feedback throughout the research; Ramsha Saghir for carrying out the key informant interviews with exceptional skill and insight; and Abbas Raza for doing thorough desk research that greatly enriched the findings. The Center is also grateful to the subject matter experts whose contributions greatly enhanced the quality and credibility of this report. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Salma Malik, Dr. Uzair Hashmi, Dr. Najam Khurshid, and Zahra Khan Durrani, whose participation in the key informant interviews provided insightful analysis and invaluable guidance throughout the research process. Finally, we extend our gratitude to Mr. Ali Tauqeer and Mr. Syed Amanullah Hussaini for their critical input and final review of the report. ACRONYMS PREFACE Little is known or deemed serious on the grassroots level about the nature of climate-induced social and political stresses and how they may interact with one another and with other endogenous to society to destabilize nations and regions, despite the growing consensus that climate change has the potential to disrupt societies’ milieu and ultimately threaten global security. For the past two decades, Pakistan has consistently ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable countries on the Climate Risk Index with 10,000 people dying from climate-related disasters and 173 extreme weather events causing financial damages...
Countering Chinese growing footprint in the Middle-East
National Security Advisors of the US, UAE, and India met with the Saudi crown prince to strengthen relations between the countries. The timing of the meeting is interesting as it happened soon after China made headlines in the Middle East’s diplomatic scene by mending ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. On May 7, 2023, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman, and the National Security Advisers of India, the UAE, and the US met in Riyadh to look into strategies to make West Asia more “interconnected” with the Indian subcontinent. They discussed ways to “strengthen relations and ties between the three countries in a way that enhances growth and stability in the region,” according to the Saudi State news agency. Similarly, the White House issued a statement stating that the Saudi crown prince, along with his Emirati and Indian counterparts, met with Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, in Riyadh to “advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world.” Sullivan also reviewed significant progress on consolidating the now 15-month-long truce in Yemen and welcomed ongoing UN-led efforts to bring the war to a close. According to the communiqué, he also said he was looking forward to having more discussions with Ajit Doval, Indian Security Advisor, outside of the Quad Summit in Australia this month. Furthermore, Sullivan praised the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s assistance in assisting US citizens fleeing Sudan. The four delegates decided to maintain regular consultations and follow up on the key issues discussed throughout the day. It’s interesting to note the timing of the situation as the four nations came together soon after China made headlines in the Middle East’s diplomatic scene by mending relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with Washington left out of the discussion. Riyadh and Beijing are also working together more closely on China’s Belt and Road infrastructure...
Sri Lanka’s Proposed Anti-Terrorism Act: A Threat to Fundamental Rights and Civil Society Protests
The proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in Sri Lanka has been criticized for violating fundamental rights, targeting civil society protests, and granting authorities arbitrary powers. Opponents, including international organizations and opposition leaders, argue that the bill is undemocratic and authoritarian. The article suggests that the government should repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and impose a moratorium on its use until new counterterrorism legislation that upholds human rights is drafted. The infamous Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in Sri Lanka, put into effect in 1979 and widely blamed for widespread torture and arbitrary detentions, will be replaced by the new proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). However, the new bill has several features worse than the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) that it intends to replace. It appears to grant the President, Police, and Military, great authority to detain individuals without evidence, to make vaguely defined forms of speech a criminal offense, and arbitrarily outlaw gatherings and organisations without any judicial review. “The government has decided to present its proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to parliament for debate on April 25. The decision to delay calling for a vote on it, and not using the government’s majority to bulldoze its decision is to be welcomed, “said Jehan Perera, Executive Director at National Peace Council of Sri Lanka. (Colombo Telegraph). Safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights must always be a priority in any legal reform. According to the constitution, the government shares the people’s power with them for their benefit, but both of these goals are not met by the ATA. While some believe that the decision could be on April 25th, others are of the view that the timing is not in favor right now, considering the country is going through its worst economic crisis, witnessed several activities threatening its national security, and has received international pressure and...
China Declares its Afghan Policy, Calls for Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation
Post-Taliban takeover, many have speculated on China’s stance towards Afghanistan and the Taliban. China remained involved in Afghanistan vis-a-vis trade, investment, and setting up mining and other industries. However, since the Taliban took over, China has not openly declared its Afghan policy. The much-anticipated declaration of the Chinese position on Afghanistan is finally out, urging the de facto authorities for prudent governance, safeguarding human rights, and underpinning the need for bilateral and multilateral cooperation in economy, trade, counter-terrorism, refugee crisis, etc. On Wednesday, the Chinese embassy in Kabul issued a comprehensive statement depicting how it views and plans to deal with Afghanistan. According to the statement, first and foremost, China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It also respects the Afghan people’s right to make their own decisions and practice religion and customs. China “never meddles in internal affairs of Afghanistan, never seeks its self-interest in Afghanistan, and never pursues so-called sphere of influence,” said the communique. The statement further enlisted ten points: ● Supporting moderate and prudent governance in Afghanistan. ● Supporting peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan. ● Supporting Afghanistan in countering terrorism resolutely and forcefully. ● Calling for greater bilateral and multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. ● Working together to fight terrorism, separatism, and extremism in Afghanistan. ● Urging the US to live up to its commitments and responsibilities to Afghanistan. ● Opposing external interference and infiltration in Afghanistan. ● Strengthening international and regional coordination on the Afghan issue. ● Facilitating solutions to Afghanistan’s humanitarian and refugee issues. ● Supporting Afghanistan’s fight against narcotics. China hopes that Afghanistan would “build an open and inclusive political set-up, adopt moderate and...
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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.