Current Projects

Warming Up To Russia

The regional geopolitical dynamics are changing, and a growing China-Russia proximity is a major indicator of that transformation. The week-long military drills that began along the coast of Russia’s Primorsky region in the Peter the Great Gulf on August 22, reflect the growing collaboration between the two countries. Some 22 vessels, 20 aircraft, 40 armored vehicles and 500 marines from Russia and China are participating in the active phase of the ‘Joint Sea 2015 II’ drills in the Sea of Japan, off the coast of Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok. The goal is to strengthen anti-sabotage, anti-submarine, anti-vessel and anti-aircraft defense. Gunnery drills with various types of surface, underwater and aerial targets are also part of the games. Earlier in May, Moscow and Beijing held a joint nine-ship naval exercise in the Mediterranean, “to consolidate and develop China-Russia all-round strategic coordination and partnership, to deepen the pragmatic and friendly cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries, and… to further enhance their capability of jointly coping with maritime security threats,” according to a press conference by the Chinese Defense Ministry. Deep defense cooperation with India weighed heavily on Moscow Pakistan’s planned acquisition of advanced Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters and the Russian offers of support in the power sector may also be seen as a reflection of the growing China-Russia cooperation. The move may be seen as a significant shift in Moscow’s policy towards Pakistan. Clearly, the deep defense cooperation with India weighed heavily on Moscow for decades, but the expanding India-US corporate sector cooperation perhaps works to the advantage of Pakistan, which is desperate for economic revival and development. Primarily designed for attack and military transport missions, the Mi-35 ‘Hind E’ multi-role gunship helicopter is manufactured by Rostvertol, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. Moscow’s decision is probably...

MP’s Appreciate CRSS Radio Shows

During a recent meeting of selected Members of Parliament (MP), CRSS radio shows on public accountability of MPs and their engagement with their constituents figured prominently. The occasion was a gathering on August 26, 2015 of members of Young Democrats Academy (YDA), an initiative by the International Republican Institute (IRI), a partner of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The consultation with the members of the YDA was held in Islamabad to collect their feedback vis-à-vis challenges and successes in the project so far. All the YDA MPs unanimously endorsed reinforcing electronic social media while appreciating the efficacy of CRSS radio programs in strengthening citizens’ engagement and enhancing dialogue and linkages amidst them to ensure accountable, responsive and transparent system of governance. The CRSS has so far aired 21 syndicated radio programs covering a wide range of local issues and governance challenges being faced by the citizens of the five selected districts. The endeavors aim to connect the constituents of the target areas with their MPs through a dialogue on their issues and ensure citizen’s active political participation as a measure of enhancing standards of democratic governance at the constituency level. Supported by the IRI, the CRSS radio campaign includes five live radio programs per month; one each in Mardan, Chardsadda, Sargodha, Bahawalpur and Karachi with the respective MPs as guests. CRSS has thus far produced and aired more than 3,500 live/recorded radio shows on issues such as counter-radicalisation, rule of law, fundamental rights, public accountability of the MPs and the government from a broad network of radio stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.

MP's Appreciate CRSS Radio Shows

During a recent meeting of selected Members of Parliament (MP), CRSS radio shows on public accountability of MPs and their engagement with their constituents figured prominently. The occasion was a gathering on August 26, 2015 of members of Young Democrats Academy (YDA), an initiative by the International Republican Institute (IRI), a partner of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The consultation with the members of the YDA was held in Islamabad to collect their feedback vis-à-vis challenges and successes in the project so far. All the YDA MPs unanimously endorsed reinforcing electronic social media while appreciating the efficacy of CRSS radio programs in strengthening citizens’ engagement and enhancing dialogue and linkages amidst them to ensure accountable, responsive and transparent system of governance. The CRSS has so far aired 21 syndicated radio programs covering a wide range of local issues and governance challenges being faced by the citizens of the five selected districts. The endeavors aim to connect the constituents of the target areas with their MPs through a dialogue on their issues and ensure citizen’s active political participation as a measure of enhancing standards of democratic governance at the constituency level. Supported by the IRI, the CRSS radio campaign includes five live radio programs per month; one each in Mardan, Chardsadda, Sargodha, Bahawalpur and Karachi with the respective MPs as guests. CRSS has thus far produced and aired more than 3,500 live/recorded radio shows on issues such as counter-radicalisation, rule of law, fundamental rights, public accountability of the MPs and the government from a broad network of radio stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.

MP's Appreciate CRSS Radio Shows

During a recent meeting of selected Members of Parliament (MP), CRSS radio shows on public accountability of MPs and their engagement with their constituents figured prominently. The occasion was a gathering on August 26, 2015 of members of Young Democrats Academy (YDA), an initiative by the International Republican Institute (IRI), a partner of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The consultation with the members of the YDA was held in Islamabad to collect their feedback vis-à-vis challenges and successes in the project so far. All the YDA MPs unanimously endorsed reinforcing electronic social media while appreciating the efficacy of CRSS radio programs in strengthening citizens’ engagement and enhancing dialogue and linkages amidst them to ensure accountable, responsive and transparent system of governance. The CRSS has so far aired 21 syndicated radio programs covering a wide range of local issues and governance challenges being faced by the citizens of the five selected districts. The endeavors aim to connect the constituents of the target areas with their MPs through a dialogue on their issues and ensure citizen’s active political participation as a measure of enhancing standards of democratic governance at the constituency level. Supported by the IRI, the CRSS radio campaign includes five live radio programs per month; one each in Mardan, Chardsadda, Sargodha, Bahawalpur and Karachi with the respective MPs as guests. CRSS has thus far produced and aired more than 3,500 live/recorded radio shows on issues such as counter-radicalisation, rule of law, fundamental rights, public accountability of the MPs and the government from a broad network of radio stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.

Chinese Artists to Present Stage Drama at PNCA

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and China Cultural Centre will present on September 2, a stage play by Chinese artists to celebrate the year of 'China Pakistan Friendly Exchange Year 2015'. The play tilted "Cheng Ying Rescues Orphan" will be performed by China Henan Yu Opera Troupe in collaboration with Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and Pakistan's Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. It may be mentioned, that China-Pakistan Year of Friendly Exchanges 2015 was an initiative launched this year between Pakistan and China, with an aim to plan a series of activities throughout the year. These activities include trade, cultural cooperation, people-to-people contacts and a promising start with increased interaction at all levels and a lot more to follow, between the two countries. According to an official at PNCA, the Chinese performers will present the play based on fusion of Pakistani and Chinese culture and traditions with a focus on performing arts of both countries. A number of diplomats, civil society members, politicians, foreigners, students, media persons and PNCA officials are expected to attend the event, he informed. Published on www.dailytimes.com.pk

Education, Extremism And The Elite

Why shouldn’t young minds turn towards extremist ideologies — I’m not talking of terrorism — if they are marginalised, their basic rights grossly violated, or if they are under-paid or unemployed? What role are many private educational institutions playing in promoting extremist tendencies among young academics? Is the state attentive to this? Is education a market economy product determined by the demand and supply principle, or is it a government responsibility (as promised underArticle 25-A of the Constitution)? The state is the guarantor of the right to education, bound to provide decent livelihoods as well as protect the youth from exploitation. These are some of the questions that must be posed to the Sharifs, the Zardaris, the Shahs, the Khans and all those political luminaries who tirelessly speak of turning Pakistan around. Not to forget those members of mainstream political parties who are running educational institutions. These include the Kasuris, the Chaudhrys, the Syeds and the Niazis. Under-paying highly educated young people employed by high-flying institutions affiliated with Oxbridge and other leading systems, is a perennial issue. Exploitation of the educated youth — both as teachers and students — is prevalent even in Islamabad, the capital, but this curse is omnipresent in its most oppressive forms in under-developed regions and those where the ruling elite control education boards or sit in parliaments. Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has seen a proliferation of private universities and colleges, there has been little check on their fee and salary structures. The Abbottabad, Peshawar and Mardan boards seem to be hubs of corruption that are under the control of the political elite and their henchmen. Many of them are involved in issuing fake degrees and under-paying teachers, often invoking the demand-and-supply principle as if teaching were a commodity obtainable at a negotiable price. Some of Imran Khan’s colleagues in K-P are among those...

Pakistan Rescues Chinese Tourist Held by the Taliban

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Chinese tourist held hostage for more than a year by the Taliban in Pakistan has been freed by the country's security forces and intelligence agencies, authorities said. China's state-run Xinhua News Agency identified the hostage as Hong Xudong, who was abducted in May 2014 near the northwestern Pakistani city of Dera Ismail Khan. Hong, who is from central China's Hubei province, had entered the country from India and had been travelling around Pakistan by bicycle. Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced the rescue of a Chinese hostage late Sunday night, without naming Hong. Xinhua, citing a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, said Hong was rescued Saturday and handed over to their diplomats on Sunday, without elaborating. "Our intelligence agencies are proud of rescuing the captive," Khan said. "Chinese authorities, whenever we meet, would always ask about the captive. Thank God now we have him." The kidnapping was claimed by a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban. A video released in May showed a man identified as Hong asking the Chinese government to honor his kidnappers' unspecified ransom demands. The Pakistani Taliban have killed tens of thousands of people in Pakistan over the last decade. Security forces have been aggressively targeting militants since a Taliban attack on a military school in Peshawar killed 150 people, mostly children. Over 300 suspected members of different banned groups have been detained in recent days in central Pakistan, counterterrorism officer Shabana Saif said. Meanwhile Monday, the army said soldiers killed six militants in the North Waziristan tribal region's Shawal area, while a lieutenant colonel and a soldier also were killed. Published on http://news.yahoo.com , Associated Press writer Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Beyond Russian Attack Helicopters Sale to Pakistan

Pakistan's acquisition of advanced Russian MI-35 attack helicopters is a significant shift in Moscow's policy towards the South Asian nation. Islamabad is also purchasing Viper platforms from the US besides actively considering to acquire advanced Z-10 combat helicopters from China. Russia has ended its decades long self-imposed arms embargo on Pakistan by agreeing to sell four of its most advanced Mi-35 ‘Hind’ gunship helicopters. Primarily designed for attack and military transport missions, the Mi-35 is a multi-role combat helicopter manufactured by Rostvertol, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. “An agreement was signed between Pakistan and Russian authorities in Rawalpindi for the purchase of four MI-35 helicopters,” an unnamed senior military official told Pakistani daily The Express Tribune. Little is known about the deal, especially the exact cost of the helicopters. A Taiwanese news website had reported in June this year that in all Pakistan will be receiving 20 Mi-35s from Russia. “The two countries may also reach deals on the Pantsyr-S1 short to medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon system, the Mi-28E all weather attack helicopter and the 9K37 Buk Grizzly missile system,” said a report in Want China Times on June 26. The MI-35M is one of the modern combat helicopters in the inventories of Russia,Venezuela, Brazil, Azerbaijan, India and many other countries. India has at least 20 MI-35M helicopters in its inventory, some of which participated in the Kargil conflict in 1999. The deal is a major departure from Russia’s long denial of its military hardware to Pakistan. It is likely to bring discomfort to India, one of Russia’s closest allies and main arms supplier. In fact New Delhi has minced no words in expressing its opposition to the deal, that had been in the air for months. Moscow has remained India’s largest defense supplier for decades, with military sales crossing $40 billion since the delivery of MiG-21s in 1963...

Sabawoon Showcase: Female Medical Professionals

August 20, 2015, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies' (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon (New Dawn), on Thursday focused on the importance of female medical professionals in our society. Various other health diplomas, and the increasing participation of women in the medical profession were a part of the discussion. The program was aired under the theme “Da Ilam Ranra” (light of knowledge). Two specialized doctors, Dr. Ihsan Ullah, Director Peshawar Institute of Medical Sciences, and Dr. Wajeeha Naeem, Principal, Peshawar Instititute of Medical Sciences, participated in the show, and shared their views on a broad range of topics.

CRSS Airs Constituency Hour Radio Programs in Bahawalpur and Sargodha

The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has undertaken a series of syndicated radio programs - titled Constituency Hour (CH) - across five selected constituencies each in Charsadda, Mardan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, and Karachi. The endeavors aim to enhance the standards of democratic governance at the constituency level by involving the respective MPs of these constituencies in the programs and connecting their constituents with them through a dialogue on the local issues in these areas. As part of this ongoing radio series, the CRSS has aired two CH radio programs; one each at Bahawalpur and Sargodha on August 23, 2015. The programs were complemented by field based research research stories - radio reports - produced by the CRSS reporters with the community members in these areas. Qazi Adnan Fareed, PP-268, Bahawalpur-II, Punjab and Dr. Nadia Aziz, MPA, PP-34, Sargodha-VII, Punjab were the guest MPs in the shows. The constituents of PP-34, Sargodha-VII, Punjab lamented about the poor sewerage system and dilapidated roads which are causing serious inconvenience to the constituents of PP-34. The main issues under discussion with regard to the PP-268 were fake pesticides, infrastructure development in Bahawalpur, unhygienic food and poor sewerage system. Both the guest MPs expressed their firm resolve to stand up to the expectation of their respective constituents and solve the reported problems where possible.