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CRSS welcomes UN panel’s support for Pakistan’s resolution on drones

A little over three months after the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had unanimously spoken against the controversial US drone campaign in foreign territories, the 47-member Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on March 28, too called on all states to ensure that the use of armed drones complied with international law. Of 47 members of the Council, 27 voted in favour of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, understandably aiming at the United States but not singling out any state. The co-sponsors of the resolution included Yemen and Switzerland. The United States, Britain and France opposed the resolution while 14 other members abstained from the voting. The United States, Britain and France said it was not appropriate for the forum to put weapons systems on its agenda. 'The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach,' Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram told the UN Human Rights Council. 'It is about supporting a principle.' The resolution said: 'The UN Human Rights Council urges all states to ensure that any measures employed to counter terrorism, including the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, comply with their obligations under international law [...] in particular the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality.' It raised concern at civilian casualties resulting from the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, as highlighted by the UN special investigator oncounterterrorism Ben Emmerson in a recent report. It also called on UN human rights boss Navi Pillay to organise expert discussions on armed drones and report back in September. Akram, speaking before the vote, said: 'Opposition can only lead to the conclusion that these states are guilty of violating applicable international law and demonstrate that they are afraid of being exposed in the expert panel.' Earlier, it was on December 18, 2013, that the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had...

CRSS welcomes UN panel's support for Pakistan's resolution on drones

A little over three months after the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had unanimously spoken against the controversial US drone campaign in foreign territories, the 47-member Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on March 28, too called on all states to ensure that the use of armed drones complied with international law. Of 47 members of the Council, 27 voted in favour of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, understandably aiming at the United States but not singling out any state. The co-sponsors of the resolution included Yemen and Switzerland. The United States, Britain and France opposed the resolution while 14 other members abstained from the voting. The United States, Britain and France said it was not appropriate for the forum to put weapons systems on its agenda. 'The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach,' Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram told the UN Human Rights Council. 'It is about supporting a principle.' The resolution said: 'The UN Human Rights Council urges all states to ensure that any measures employed to counter terrorism, including the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, comply with their obligations under international law [...] in particular the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality.' It raised concern at civilian casualties resulting from the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, as highlighted by the UN special investigator oncounterterrorism Ben Emmerson in a recent report. It also called on UN human rights boss Navi Pillay to organise expert discussions on armed drones and report back in September. Akram, speaking before the vote, said: 'Opposition can only lead to the conclusion that these states are guilty of violating applicable international law and demonstrate that they are afraid of being exposed in the expert panel.' Earlier, it was on December 18, 2013, that the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had...

CRSS welcomes UN panel's support for Pakistan's resolution on drones

A little over three months after the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had unanimously spoken against the controversial US drone campaign in foreign territories, the 47-member Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on March 28, too called on all states to ensure that the use of armed drones complied with international law. Of 47 members of the Council, 27 voted in favour of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, understandably aiming at the United States but not singling out any state. The co-sponsors of the resolution included Yemen and Switzerland. The United States, Britain and France opposed the resolution while 14 other members abstained from the voting. The United States, Britain and France said it was not appropriate for the forum to put weapons systems on its agenda. 'The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach,' Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram told the UN Human Rights Council. 'It is about supporting a principle.' The resolution said: 'The UN Human Rights Council urges all states to ensure that any measures employed to counter terrorism, including the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, comply with their obligations under international law [...] in particular the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality.' It raised concern at civilian casualties resulting from the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, as highlighted by the UN special investigator oncounterterrorism Ben Emmerson in a recent report. It also called on UN human rights boss Navi Pillay to organise expert discussions on armed drones and report back in September. Akram, speaking before the vote, said: 'Opposition can only lead to the conclusion that these states are guilty of violating applicable international law and demonstrate that they are afraid of being exposed in the expert panel.' Earlier, it was on December 18, 2013, that the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had...

CRSS Condemns attack on Journalist

Pakistani journalists Saturday observed protest meetings and brought out rallies to condemn what seemed a reprisal for prominent and liberal intellectual/ tv anchor Raza Rumi outspoken views on terrorism and militancy. CRSS management condemns the dastardly attack and reiterates its support for unconditional and unfettered right of expression and assembly. The attack on Friday, March 28, took place just a few hundred yards away from the Express TV Lahore office which Rumi had just left after hosting his programme ¿Khabar Se Agay–. Unidentified gunmen fired at least eleven shorts on the car, injuring Rumi and his guard, while fatally wounding his his driver, who later succumbed to his fatal injuries. A number of outspoken writers, journalists and anchors have drawn criticism from all of those socio-political and religio-political who support talks with the Tehreeki Taliban Pakistan ´ a militant outfit proscribed by the government as a terrorist organizations. This was the fifth attack on the Express Media group, leaving Rumi driver dead. In one of the earlier strikes, three of Express TV staffers had been killed in a brazen gun attack in Karachi in January. These repeated attacks have raised serious questions about the government ability to provide security to media houses in Pakistan and ensure that the media operate freely in the country. Talking to Express News after the attack, Rumi said that doctors had termed his driver Mustafa condition critical. Mustafa succumbed to his injuries later. Rumi himself received minor injuries from glass shards which flew at him when the windscreen of the car shattered. When asked, he said that although he had not received any direct threats, he was reportedly on the hit-list of some extremist groups. 'Was fired at near Raja MarketÎ“Ã‡Âª I was dreading this day,' Rumi tweeted soon after the attack. Meanwhile, the Punjab Union of Journalists announced that it would hold a protest in front of the Punjab Assembly on Saturday. In...

Analysis: Putting talks in context

The government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan sat down on Wednesday to find a mutually agreed way to peace. This first, direct contact is nothing short of the first major step towards legitimising a group that is proscribed by both Pakistan and the US. The government committee consists of former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand, Additional Chief Secretary Fata Arbab Arif, Secretary Ports and Shipping Habibullah Khattak and Additional Secretary to the prime minister Fawad Hasan Fawad. They are supported by a former ISI official, retired Major Mohammad Amir. The TTP intermediaries include Maulana Samiul Haq, who heads his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Jamaat-i-Islami Prof Ibrahim, and JUI-S spokesperson Maulana Yousuf Shah. The Taliban shura is represented at the talks by Qari Shakeel, Maulvi Bashir, Azam Tariq and Maulvi Zakir. How much influence these four wield within the shura is not known. The shura is headed by TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah, a rabid Salafist who wants a Sharia-based Islamic emirate. Sheikh Khalid Haqqani is TTP deputy chief and head of the group supreme shura. Number three in the hierarchy is Shakeel Ahmed Haqqani (alias Qari Shakeel) who heads the TTP political shura. A pan-Islamist, militant Al Qaeda ideology is what primarily bonds the three. Although ideologically close to the Haqqani Network, they do not appear to share the network spare-Pakistan policy. Abdul Wali (alias Omar Khalid Khorasani) from Mohmand Agency is also a vocal opponent of the Pakistani state. Another important, albeit with far less political clout, member of the shura is Khan Said Mehsud (alias Khalid Khan Sajna), a commander of the TTP in South Waziristan, once known for his differences with the late TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud and who probably remains at odds with the TTP Mehsud proponents. He was reportedly averse to attacks on Pakistani interests. Other shura members include Shehryar Mehsud (alias Shahbaz), commander, North Waziristan TTP, Shahidullah...

Consultative meeting with Karachi Press Club

A consultative meeting on 'Policing and Role of Media' was held at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Monday March 24, 2014. The meeting was held in partnership between the Center for Research and Security Studies and the KPC. The objectives of the meeting were: to ascertain the position of media personnel on their perceptions and matters of interest vis-a-vis the Sindh police force, its working, capacity development, problems and difficulties; sensitize media personnel on an urgent need for new legislation and revision of the police laws of 1861; minimizing prejudices against police; and urgemedia to advocate professionalism and accountability of the police vis a vis the public. Former Capital City Police Office (CCPO) Tariq Jamil apprised the participants of the difficulties and the problems faced by the police force in Sindh and pointed out the areas where reforms were needed. The meeting was attended by editors of newspapers, columnists, senior reporters and the KPC office-bearers. Mr. Jamil, while stressing the need for better police force, maintained that the Police Order 2002 was still a legally applicable law asit had not been repealed. He said this order addressed most of the complaints the people had and provided for accountability in police department besides blocking political and other pressures on police. The speakers stressed that police must be people-friendly and should be independent to work for the rule of law. They also called for better education, training and salaries with strong accountability arm for the police department.

Regional Workshop on “Developing a Counter-Radicalization Policy for Bangladesh”

The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), Dhaka, organized a Regional Workshop on "Developing a Counter-Radicalization Policy for Bangladesh" on March 23, 2014. Participants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh gave presentations on their respective country's experience in counter-radicalization. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haq delivered the keynote address. Imtiaz Gul, the CRSS executive director, also gave a presentation on Pakistan's experiences and new policy measures envisaged in the National Internal Security Policy (NISP) approved by the federal cabinet on March 18. He explained to the experts' workshop that the NISP represented first formal legal-administrative framework to deal with counter-terrorism (CT) and counter-radicalization (CR) issues, though the policy is likely to undergo changes following a national consultative process.

Regional Workshop on "Developing a Counter-Radicalization Policy for Bangladesh"

The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), Dhaka, organized a Regional Workshop on "Developing a Counter-Radicalization Policy for Bangladesh" on March 23, 2014. Participants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh gave presentations on their respective country's experience in counter-radicalization. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haq delivered the keynote address. Imtiaz Gul, the CRSS executive director, also gave a presentation on Pakistan's experiences and new policy measures envisaged in the National Internal Security Policy (NISP) approved by the federal cabinet on March 18. He explained to the experts' workshop that the NISP represented first formal legal-administrative framework to deal with counter-terrorism (CT) and counter-radicalization (CR) issues, though the policy is likely to undergo changes following a national consultative process.

What China wants

During his rare visit to Kabul in February, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized categorically that 'the peace and stability of Afghanistan has an impact on the security of western China, and more importantly, it affects the tranquility and development of the entire region'. Most observers interpreted it as an expression of the Chinese concern for the Muslim separatist turmoil in Xinjiang. Yet, recent meetings with leading Chinese scholars and academics in Beijing and Guangzhou markedly went beyond these concerns. For the first time, Chinese scholars ´ essentially resonating governmental policy preferences ´ are becoming louder and assertive in their messaging on the role and vision of their country in regional cooperation. The new Chinese policy can be dissected into: Advocacy for a regional approach on Afghanistan as a core element of peace and stability Emphatic appreciation of Pakistan centrality, its sacrifices and equivocal support for it Desire for inclusion of Iran in the Afghan reconciliation Readiness to develop synergy of thought and action for close collaboration with India in the larger interest of the entire region Rejection of the US unilateral, interventionist policies (Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan) Discussions with Chinese experts and analysts on the sidelines of a trilateral dialogue entailed the Chinese desire that all neighbouring countries plus the United States should agree on a joint mechanism to deal with the post-withdrawal Afghanistan. This mechanism, they insist, must ensure political, ethnic and regional balance. Such an arrangement, they hope, will also help in continuing the Karzai policies. Secondly, one can discern an unmistakable and categorical sympathy, empathy and support for Pakistan. Former ambassador to Pakistan, Zhou Gang, who is now part of an advisory committee in the ministry of foreign affairs, was equally vociferous in his support for Pakistan as a 'centrally important to Afghan reconciliation.' 'We are very...

Monthly Report – February 2014

The upsurge in violence noticed last month continued on and left 571 persons dead during the month of February 2014, an increase of nearly 10% in death rate compared to last month figure and 20% rise when compared with the figure of February 2013. To grapple with the violent situation the government continued swinging between peace talk and military operation until the brutal killing of 23 FC men by the militants left no reason for the government to continue with its policy of negotiation. The ongoing negotiations were put on hold and the military was given a go ahead for a retaliatory operation resulting in escalation of the number of deaths due to security operation. The ongoing targeted operation in Karachi came under severe criticism this month from political parties as well as from the news media. However, it couldn–t desist the resolve of the Sindh government to continue with the operation. Conforming to the order of the Supreme Court, the Additional Inspector General, Shahid Hayat, submitted a report claiming 50% decline in target killings in Karachi from September last year. This was the second month in a row that no violation of Pakistani territory was committed by the infamous drones. Yet, the militancy continued taking its toll and no respite seemed predictable for the near future. All these events and other facts reported in the national newspapers are collected to make this report as informative and factual as possible. Errors and omissions, as always a possibility in all statistical works including this one, are expected. However, such mistakes do not grossly affect the basic objective of this report. This report analyzes the overall impact of the ongoing violence in the country and shows the areas that suffered the most in terms of deaths and injuries to the people due to violence. It also reports the number of people that were claimed to have been killed by the different outlawed organizations. The religious communities that became target of...