Current Projects
Gas Pipeline – Regional Stabilisation Factor?
Background Pakistan currently finds itself at the heart of two major gas pipeline projects, both conceived in the early 1990s. One involves import of at least 750 mcfd (million cubic feet per day) of gas from Iran Pars gasfield to the southern Pakistan. The other one envisages about 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from Turkmenistan Daulatabad fields to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India through a 1,640 km pipeline (also called TAPI). Both are critical to the growing energy needs of south Asia, particularly of energy-deficient Pakistan and India but progress on both seems hostage to multiple competing interests. Old rivalry over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and a contest for influence in neighboring Afghanistan hardly helps both south Asian neighbours to close ranks for a joint and mutually beneficial strategy on both projects. Iran, on the other hand, has its own problems and vice versa. Both Teheran and Washington are locked in a perennial acrimony ´ ranging from allegations of Iranian support for radical, anti-US Islamist groups to its pursuit of nuclear weapons -. This acrimonious Washington-Teheran relationship does not augur well for both Iran and Pakistan to mobilize funding for the project. India, on the other hand, has recently struck a bilateral price deal with Turkmenistan, thus upsetting Pakistan. Status of Iran-Pakistan Pipeline The discovery of gas reserves in Sui in Balochistan in the 1952 helped Pakistan use gas as a primary means of energy security. Gas now accounts for more than 43 percent of the country total energy generation. But Pakistan gas supplies now seem to stagnate at around 4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), while the demand has risen to 6.5 bcfd, expected to rise to 8 bcfd in three years. Iran has an estimated 982 trillion cubic feet (TCF) or 27.8 trillion cubic meters (TCM) of proven natural gas reserves which are the world second largest after Russia but has been finding difficult to develop them because of...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (August 15 – 21, 2011)
Executive Summary: In his address to the nation in connection with the celebration of 65th Independence Day of Pakistan on August 14, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that the government had decided to release all political prisoners in Balochistan. He added that in the light of 39 points listed in the Aghaz-i- Haqooq-i- Balochistan Package, major changes would be brought about in constitutional, political, administrative and economic matters of the province. The prime minister expressed his readiness to visit and meet all angry Baloch leaders as part of reconciliation policy of the government, and to bring the dissident elements back into the political fold. Provincial assembly in Balochistan on August 19 adopted the Balochistan Police Act 2011, granting more powers to district magistrates in regulating police service in the province. As many as 10 mutilated bodies, including leaders of Balochistan National Party (BNP), Baloch National Movement (BNM), Baloch Republican Party (BNP) and activists of Baloch Student Organisation-Azad, were recovered from different parts of the province. As part of ongoing sabotage and subversion campaign in the province, a gas pipeline of 12 inch in diameter was blown up in Killi Satakzai, Mach town on August 15, and it resulted in disruption of gas supply to parts of Bolan districts and Quetta city. Moreover, two power pylons of 220 Kilowatts transmission lines were blown up in separate explosions near Dera Allah Yar on August 15. Five NATO oil tankers passing through Balochistan were set ablaze by unknown gunmen in Dasht area of Balochistan on August 19. The gunmen managed to escape unhurt. Week in Review a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion As Balochistan is passing through deteriorating law and order situation, and strident ethnic and sectarian violence, there are elements capitalizing on this prevalent unrest. Recent reports suggest that property dealers are creating panic among non-Baloch residents by sending them...
Deputy parliamentary leader of German Bundestag (Parliament), Dr. Frithjof Schmidt, visit to CRSS.
Deputy parliamentary leader of German Bundestag (Parliament), Dr. Frithjof Schmidt, belonging to BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN ´ The Greens, interacted with CRSS advisory board, civil society members and politicians at CRSS office on August 17, 2011.
ACTIONAID-CRSS BALOCHISTAN RIGHTS FORUM
Potential of Natural Resources and State of Various Agreements in Balochistan As a part of ongoing campaign to raise awareness among people regarding Balochistan Rights Package, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad in collaboration with ActionAid, Pakistan organized a roundtable discussion on 'Potential of Natural Resources and State of Various Agreements in Balochistan,' at its office premises on August 17, 2011. Mr. Sheikh Asad Rahman, Director Programs at Sungi Development Foundation and Mr. Naseer Gilani, National Program Director for Drought Recovery System at Planning Commission of Pakistan was speakers at the occasion. A Norwegian senior social scientist, Mr. Atle Hetland participating in the roundtable emphasized that the government ownership of the development process in Balochistan is the key to better exploitation of natural resources of the province. The successful case of state and non-state enterprise for equitable and efficient exploitation of natural resources in Norway was pointed out as the best example for the government of Pakistan to emulate. Addressing the roundtable discussion Mr. Sheikh Asad Rahman said that the government pretension of lack of technological development as the excuse for poor exploitation of natural resources does not pass the test of scrutiny. He said it were local Baloch laborers, engineers and experts, who started and developed Saindak gold project back in 1975. But due to pathetic government response later on, the project was folded. Then again during General Musharraf regime Saindak was handed over to a Chinese company on a 10-year lease without consideration of the Balochistan government. The distribution of profits is according to a formula that is incomprehensible. The Chinese company takes 75 per cent; the Federal Government 23 per cent and only 2 per cent of revenue is passed onto the Balochistan Government. Also, the vast copper and gold reserves of Koh-i-Dalil have been similarly leased...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (August 8 – 14, 2011)
Executive Summary: The current week saw sharp spike in violence compared to the previous ones as a result of a spate of blasts and acts of subversion around Balochistan. The deadliest of all was orchestrated by the hitherto unknown Baloch Liberation Tiger, at a local hotel on the National Highway in Dera Allah Yar, some 400 kilometers southeast of Quetta, on Sunday, August 14, which killed at least 13 people and injured 23 others. In total as many as 41 people fell to the unabated terrorism and violence this week. During raids on the residences of Jamil Akbar Bugti, the eldest son of Nawab Akbar Bugti, and former chief minister Humayun Marri in Bugti Boldak in Quetta suburbs on Saturday, police seized a large amount of arms and ammunition. Meanwhile, security forces arrested 150 suspects during a house to house search operation in connection with the killings of Station House Officer (SHO) Manzoor Tareen and two constables. Armed men intercepted a passenger van heading to Chamman from Quetta near Gulistan on August 8, and abducted 15 persons of Suleman tribe. Also unidentified gunmen kidnapped Paramedical Association (PMA) finance secretary Khuda Bakhsh Lehri from Kalat (located in the center of province) on 13th of August. Moreover, a bullet-riddled body of one of the earlier detained person, Amir Khan Marri, was found dumped in the industrial town of Hub (capital city of the Hub Tehsil, located in the Lasbela District) on Tuesday, August 9. Balochistan High Court Bar Association urged the government and the superior judiciary on Wednesday, August 10 to play an effective role for the safe recovery of missing persons and to speed up the pace of investigation to resolve murder case of former Balochistan Chief MinisterNawab Akbar Bugti. Earlier on, the Supreme Court on Tuesday also asked the government to urgently appoint the head of the commission, probing missing persons– cases in Balochistan. The post of the chairman of the commission is lying vacant after its...
Pakistan: Caught between defiance and diktat
"We will guard our interests, come what may," says a top Pakistani general. His posture indicates the defiant mood in the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani's response to the suspension of $800 million US military assistance to Pakistan must be seen in this context. The underlying message was that the army will not compromise on how it perceives Pakistan's interests. Pakistan Army wants an Afghanistan that is not ruled or dominated by non-Pashtun power-brokers. It is also concerned about New Delhi's growing influence in Kabul. The biggest threat to Pakistan's interests, the GHQ fears, stems from the expanding India-Afghanistan-US alliance on Pakistan's western borders. The proof of which is the setting up of Indian consulates in the cities adjoining the Frontier and Baluchistan borders of Pakistan i.e. Kandahar and Jalalabad. ISI, for long, has opposed such Indian establishment across the border. It fears these consulates in the border regions are a potential source of destabilization and violence in Baluchistan and the northwestern parts of Pakistan. The military establishment is equally worried about Indian trainers helping and training the Afghan army and police. Kabul also cold-shouldered Pakistani offer to training Afghan military officers. Since Gen Kayani made the offer to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his army chief Gen Bismillah Khan more than two years ago, only one Afghan officer has been sent to Pakistan. In a recent statement, Afghan Ambassador to US, Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, did not rule the possibility of his forces being trained by the India Army in future, if the 'necessity' arises. It is also encouraging to notice that the ambassador, unlike his predecessors, acknowledged Pakistan role and importance in development process of Afghanistan. At least seven recent militant as well as military incursions from Afghanistan into Pakistani border villages ring new alarm bells in Rawalpindi. A high level meeting was held...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (August 1-7, 2011)
Executive Summary: The week in focus was less violent compared to the previous one. Pakistan Army Chief of Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visit to Balochistan and the inauguration of the Garrison Sports Academy and Institute of Medical Sciences in Quetta on Monday, August 1 was the salient feature of the week. During the visit, Kayani underlined that the army had no role in abductions, dumping of mutilated bodies of Balochis and extra-judicial killings in the province. US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, also visited the provincial capital Quetta this week and met with Balochistan Assembly Speaker, Mohammad Aslam Bhotani and Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani in Quetta on August 4. He highlighted the regional importance of Balochistan, announced financial assistance worth $100,000 to the SOS village in Quetta. The village is host to 70 orphans. Munter also offered condolences for Akmal Raisani, the nephew of chief minister Raisani. Quetta Electricity Supply Company Chief Engineer Operations and Maintenance, Abdul Rauf Baloch, who was abducted by unknown armed men from Satellite Town about two months ago was released on August 4. On the same day, security forces - police, anti-terrorism force and the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) conducted a major search operation against criminals in Killi Kamalo and Killi Qambarni areas of Saryab in Quetta and arrested more than 50 suspects. The operation was launched in the area after the sectarian clashes on July 29 and 30. In its report, Amnesty International (AI) appealed for urgent action to save the lives of 10 detained Balochis on August 7, who face death risk, according to the rights group. Earlier the dead body of one of the detained persons was found in the Jabal-e-Noor area near Quetta on July 16. He was identified as an activist of the Baloch Student Organisation-Azad. As a whole, as many as seven people fell to acts of terrorism and violence. And in acts of sabotage and subversion, two NATO oil tankers...
Balochistan Weekly Monitor (July 25- 31st, 2011)
Executive Summary: The week in focus witnessed a greater number of violent incidents and surge in target killings compared to the previous ones. A major sectarian clash erupted when a Sunni cleric of Jamia Albadar Mosque, Abdul Karim Mengal, was shot dead on 28th of July by unknown gunmen in Pishin district of Balochistan. Subsequently, banned militant outfit, Lashkar-e- Jhangwi (LeJ) gunned down at least seven people on following day, and 11 more were killed (all from Hazara Community) on 30th of July in Quetta. An incident of political assassination on July 28 saw the nephew of Chief Minister Balochistan, Akmal Raisani, killed in a hand-grenade attack while attending a football match in Mastung district. Moreover, a tribal leader Abdul Razzaq, his brother Dur Mohammad along with three body guards were shot dead on July 31 in Turbat (in southern Balochistan). In its report, the US based group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) blamed the law enforcement agencies in Balochistan for their role in orchestrating target killings and abductions in the province. In sum, a total of 30 people were killed this week. In addition, two bodies of missing persons were found in Liari area of Uthal city of Lasbela district. And in acts of sabotage and subversion 16 inch diameter gas pipeline was blown up near Goth Noor Khan in Dera Allah Yar, one NATO oil tanker was attacked on its way form Karachi to Kandahar on the National Highway near the Takri post area of Mach, and a passenger train, Bolan Mail came under attack near Marri Farm Tentaged village, in Dera Allah Yar town of Jaffarabad district. The situation requires that the government take the complaints and grievances of Balochis seriously because Pakistan is already entangled in FATA and the intensified and protracted conflict in Balochistan will prove extremely detrimental to the overall security of province and the federation. The explosive circumstance in Baluchistan underline the urgency for a negotiated settlement of issues...
CRSS OPINION POLL: THREAT TO PAKISTAN
Corruption, Deficient Rule of Law and Ruling Elite, the Biggest Threats to Pakistan As many as 85 percent of the Pakistanis polled by the Centre for Research and Security Studies believe that the biggest threat to Pakistan comes from 'corruption and deficient rule of law,'and the ruling elite. Some 63 percent pointed to corruption and deficient rule of law while nearly 22 percent considered 'the ruling elite (politicians, landed aristocracy, army and bureaucrats)' as the biggest threat to the country, followed by roughly 12 percent for whom Al Qaeda andTaliban constitute the biggest threat to Pakistan. Interestingly, less than three percent view the United States as the biggest threat, while not even one percent (0.48) percent look at India as the biggest threat. Spread over about two weeks (July 18 ´ Aug 1st), the CRSS Facebook Fan Page pollattracted about 414 responses to the question as to whom among oAl Qaeda and Taliban oCorruption and Deficient Rule of Law oIndia oThe Ruling Elite (Politicians, Landed Aristocracy, Army, Bureaucracy) oUSA, constituted the biggest threat to Pakistan. The votes were cast by the CRSS page followers as well as the friends added with the page Administrators. Although not representative for the entire Pakistani population, the responses dounderscore that almost all educated Pakistanis, particularly all those familiar with the FACEBOOK and Internet, have a very informed and logical analysis of the prevailing situation by pointing tocorruption, deficient rule of law, and the ruling elite (the collective percentage for both stands at a staggering 85 percent). (Facebook Poll Snapshot) Link: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=question&id=232177113482903 CRSS Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-for-Research-and-Security-Studies/163670947000187 The Poll: Following are the details of the CRSS-Facebook Poll: The question asked in the poll was: What is the biggest threat to Pakistan? In 2 weeks, the poll received a total...
Arab Spring: Relevance of Al-Qaida in the Arab World and Pakistan
Farooq Yousaf | CRSS Research Associate The public uprising against dictatorial regimes in some of the Arab countries is meanwhile known as the Arab Spring. It has become synonymous with protests against regimes in the Arabian Peninsula. The protestsbegan inTunisia in December 2010, and have since spread to Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco and Oman. The movement was successful in Tunisia and Egypt, where both President Bin Ali and President Mubarak were ousted amid growing pressure from the masses. The movement also led towards civil war in Libya coupled with civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria and Yemen. Many minor protests have also been witnessed in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Sudan. As masses began thronging the Tahrir Square in Cairo late January, many people around the world also began asking whether Pakistan could alsoface a spring of its own. The context obviously was the burgeoning sense of insecurity among the masses, terrorist violence, coupled with the crisis of governance and economy.These tumultuous events also raised a major question: was this all inspired by Al Qaeda or to what extent did this organization impact these events at all? Or was it a spontaneous outpour of craving for democratic rights´regardless of what Al Qaeda and its affiliates have been telling the people all around the world in general, and in the Muslim world in particular? Origin of the Crisis The self-immolation of Mohamed Bouaziziin Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, for his ill treatment by the police laid the foundation for the history books for a new chapter known as the Arab Spring[1]. The first revolution of its kind beganunfolding in Tunisia in January (2011), and was popularly dubbed as 'Jasmine' revolution. In this case, twenty six years old Mohamed, a vegetable vendorwas the sole earner for his family of eight. On December 17, 2010, a policewoman confiscated his unlicensed vegetable cart and slapped him forarguing over the issue. Bouazizi in response...
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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.