Current Projects
Post Ayman Al Zawahiri: Will The Taliban Learn Lessons From Its Past?
On August 1st 2022, the Afghan press reproduced a Twitter message of the former director the Afghan security Rahmatullah Nabil, claiming that he had spotted the American drones in Kabul’s airspace that had attacked various locations in Kabul. The Taliban spokesman for the Kabul Police Khalid Zardan, quickly issued a press release confirming that a rocket [not a drone attack] had struck a vacant house on July 31, that caused no injury[1]. The subject was closed. No panic, no fury, and no condemnation of USA for violation of Afghan’s sovereignty. Probably, the Taliban were either not fully aware of what had already happened or they were simply awestruck at the incident and were now looking for a face-saving strategy that could be suitable for both – internal and external consumption. The next day, the world press was flashing a lead report claiming that the Al-Qaeda Chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri, had been eliminated in Kabul by US drone attacks. The US blamed the Taliban for ‘grossly’ violating the Doha agreement by sheltering al Qaeda’s Zawahiri; the Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, called the attacks a violation of both national sovereignty and the Doha Agreement, but refrained from admitting the identity of the victim. After staying silent for a couple of days, the Taliban came out with an official statement denying the death of Al-Qaeda chief on Afghanistan’s soil and even refused to admit if he had ever arrived and stayed in Afghanistan. But then who had been the target of US drone attacks? Instead of answering this Hanafi opted for the rhetoric of the government’s resolve that is based on no use of Afghan soil against others. This wasn’t the first time that the Afghan Taliban were blamed of providing shelters to terrorist groups. A day before the American drone...
Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan: Has the US Gone for the Jugular?
China and US are once again on the contending grounds. On August 3rd, 2022, a visit by the US House of Representative Speaker, Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, further strained the already deteriorating ties between the U.S and China. The visit took place in defiance of China's warnings to refrain from taking such a step, creating an extremely dangerous situation with the possibility of armed conflict between the two countries. At the heart of this divide is that China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will ultimately be part of the mainland. Taiwan however regards itself as a sovereign nation, unwilling to reunite. Their self-declaration of independence has been fully supported by the U.S, much to the opposition and disapproval of China, which considers reunification with Taiwan as their internal matter and ultimate national goal. Although the U.S officially recognizes the One-China policy, it has pledged to support Taiwan’s independence and supports it through the supply of military hardware and aid. This visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, a staunch opponent of China, was not officially sanctioned by the White House but has been a mistake and a dilemma for the Biden administration. Why? Firstly, China today is a much stronger country than they were, 20 years ago, economically and militarily. The China of today is not afraid to flex its muscle (in the context of Taiwan) and can, if necessary, invade Taiwan. The repercussions of that move would surely result in a military confrontation with the U.S. Suffice to say that it may lead to another world war, with respective allied nations getting involved in the conflict. Secondly, the ongoing Russian- Ukrainian conflict has already sent ripples across the world and the U.S economy is on the verge of a recession. Therefore, an armed conflict with China is the last thing the Biden administration wants. With energy prices soaring and inflation rampant in almost every country, the world and the U.S cannot afford the...
Pakistan’s Political Chaos and Relationship with Neighbouring Countries
Pakistan is going through an internal political crisis which is translating into and deepening our economic crisis, to the point that further chaos could push the country into default. At the same time, the geo-strategic reorientation in the region and Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors is another challenge to stand up to. Pakistan is undoubtedly going through one of the worst crises in its recent times: the economy is in shambles with fears of default looming around, and the political circus keeps giving every single day as the dominant political parties are in a bid either to capture power or to stay in power, the judiciary is being sought to interfere at every point and their decisions are further increasing the polarization within society. And while the musical chair of power within Punjab is the center of gravity, and the contradictions of the system are on the display, there is no popular alternative discourse to make inroads and shape a different political, social, and economic reality. The result: While the elite is playing power politics, Pakistan is suffering, and common people are bearing the brunt of the instability fuelled by all the pillars of the state. Amidst all this, there is a geo-strategic challenge of improving relations with its neighbors in an unstable regional environment, a problem Pakistan has had for much of its history. Take the example of Afghanistan which has been the breeding ground for imperial wars for decades now, with Pakistan being a part of that. We have had an adversary in Afghanistan for their claim of the Pashtun region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but averted that picture by becoming part of the anti-communism war in Afghanistan. We then used our relations with the Afghan Taliban for “strategic depth”. The policy has been in effect since the 90s and thus but there was a general hope that Pakistan will have considerable influence on the new Afghan government following the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, for the Pakistani...
Critical Thinking Must for Objectivity in Journalism
The importance of objectivity and critical thinking in journalism is paramount as it separates truth and facts from propaganda and dogmas. As a matter of impartial reporting on issues of communal and national concern, the journalists must not convey their own opinions, feelings or biases in their reporting to ensure dispassionate coverage. These ethos of journalism were discussed during a training workshop “Working for Collective Peace and Development: How to Defeat Fake News”, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) for Baloch journalists representing different districts of Balochistan. Mr. Zaigham Khan, Political Analyst and Columnist, The News, noted that only through access to credible sources of information and critical mindset, can a journalist inform the public opinion positively. A huge onus lies on the broader journalism fraternity to prevent the truth from being distorted and separate their biases from profession. Mr. Iftikhar Shirazi, Bureau Chief, Dawn TV, emphasised how the proliferation of fake news on social media has become a major concern in recent years. An alarming trend in this regard is how people tend not to critically evaluate news which happens to resonate with their preexisting beliefs. Responsible journalism – as well as citizenship – demands verification of the sources of news and only share ones with evidential support. Given how the adversaries of Pakistan have been systematically promoting dogmatic narrative and fake news and information to polarize Pakistan’s minority groups, religious sects, and ethnic communities, the regulation of social media becomes crucially important to safeguard the sociopolitical fabric of the country already dealing economic and security challenges. Mr. Sabookh Syed, President, Digital Media alliance of Pakistan, stated that the role of journalism goes way beyond merely helping with the flow of news and information where it can effectively deter hate speech and foster an environment...
Work Together Towards a Peaceful and Stable Afghanistan
H.E. Special Envoy Dr. Yue Xiaoyong made a speech at the International Conference on Afghanistan held in Tashkent on 26th July, 2022. In his speech he emphasised the need to continue raising worldwide awareness of the Afghanistan situation, helping the country in achieving peace, stability, and reconstruction while moving towards good governance. China, along with its regional partners, established the Mechanism for Coordination and Cooperation among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan, to shape the international community's engagement and regional efforts to stabilise Afghanistan. Also, in March 2022, China announced its 1 billion yuan of humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan and provided 50 million RMB yuan’s worth of urgent humanitarian assistance at the earliest possible time. H.E. also highlighted that frequent natural catastrophes, unilateral sanctions by multiple major nations, and a sharp decline in foreign aid have all had detrimental effects on the country's economy and standard of living. At the moment, nearly 23 million Afghans are experiencing a food scarcity, 38% is unemployed, and 72% live below the poverty line. However, stability is increasing in Afghanistan as a result of international cooperation from its neighbours, and there hasn't yet been any significant refugee exodus. The meeting produced concrete and significant results, including Joint Declaration, which emphasised ongoing support for Afghanistan, and the Tunxi Initiative, focusing on economic reconstruction and practical cooperation. H.E. further emphasised that China wants to improve coordination and collaboration with all national, regional, and international partners in the following categories listed below, to help Afghanistan address issues such as governance, stability, the economy, and people's livelihood. Offer Afghanistan necessary guidance for its internal and external policies so that it may establish a fair, inclusive form of government and effectively carry...
Ukraine War and its Impacts on Asia
Ukraine war has had multilateral effects on geopolitical scenario of the world. One of them is the global polarization forcing nations to make new alliances based on their situation. It has led European Union, United Kingdom and USA to take side with Ukraine while Iran, Turkey, and China (all from Asia) are overtly or covertly siding with Russia. The war has further strengthened the European unity and their reliance on USA for their protection under the umbrella of NATO. Russia, on the other hand, escalated its efforts to establish its relationship with other countries on new terms and conditions. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia made a special trip to Iran on 19 July 2022 to muster Iran’s support to its war against Ukraine. The New York Times reported, “He (Putin) met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, who issued a declaration of support for Mr. Putin’s war in Ukraine of the kind that even other countries close to Russia have so far stopped short of making. Mr. Putin also held a three-way summit meeting focusing on Syria with the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, and their Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was also in the summit. Mr. Khamenei’s endorsement of the war went well beyond the much more cautious support offered by another key Russian ally, China, embracing Mr. Putin’s claim that the West had left the Kremlin no choice but to act[1].” A war in Europe is now leading Asian countries to form new alliances that can act as a counter-force against the US and European powers. The new alliances couldn’t hold Iran from warning Turkey against its military attack in northern Syria. Iran and Russia have been staunch supporters of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria during more than a decade of civil war while Turkey has backed armed groups fighting against Mr. Assad and has...
China’s endeavors for self-reliance: Lessons for Pakistan
The COVID-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine have turned the table against the United States as Russia and China are competing more dominantly. The United States and China are employing multiple tools and policies to maintain their stronghold. The battleground to conquer is surely Asia as both sides are intensifying their positions in the region. China’s rise is threatening the position of the United States in the South Asian region due to which the country is engaging more rapidly with its allies such as South Korea and Japan and at the same time, it is developing new initiatives to gain more supremacy. China’s growth is a prime example for Pakistan to follow rise in multiple domains ranging from military to economy. One of the major reasons for China’s rapid growth is its upgradation of industrial capacity. Through the “Made in China 2025 Strategy”, the country is moving towards self-reliance by reducing export-led growth. The hi-tech industry of China is expanding abruptly as the country is creating awareness for its companies and aims to meet green development targets. However, China has not completely neglected the international sector rather the country is actively integrating itself into global affairs through free-trade agreements. It recently signed the world’s largest free-trade agreement with 14 Asia-Pacific countries through Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Similarly, in September 2021 China applied to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership after President Trump left the initiative. Despite being termed as a competitor of the BRI, China does not see PGII through skeptical lenses. It has welcomed the investment initiatives from the G7 countries and seems to follow a cooperative approach. Thus, China is committed to strengthening its internal and domestic industries but at the same time, it maintains a healthy global engagement due to which the country is strongly deterring the United States. The model adopted by China is indeed a road...
Wang Yi says South China Sea not a ‘fighting arena’ for great power games
Chinese foreign minister calls on Southeast Asian countries to resist involvement of ‘certain external powers’ in regional disputes The remarks come as military tensions with the US and its allies grow over naval exercises in the area Beijing has said the South China Sea is not a “fighting arena” for great power games and called on Southeast Asian countries to jointly resist the involvement of external powers in disputes. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday said issues in the South China Sea must be handled properly by countries in the region, which must not be a “hunting ground” for outside nations. He made the comments during a video conference to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), a guideline for China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on handling South China Sea disputes. Wang accused “some certain external powers” of “deliberately expanding conflicts and provoking tensions, jeopardising the legitimate rights and interests of coastal countries and the normal order of the sea”. “To that, China and Asean countries should make our positions clear: if you come for peace and cooperation, we welcome you; if you come for disruption and destruction, please leave!” Wang said. Wang’s remarks came as military tensions in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest waterways, continued to grow between China and the US and its allies. Beijing has claimed most of the waters, while Taipei and Asean members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam all have overlapping claims. Mainland China has significantly strengthened its control of the region over the last two decades despite an international court’s ruling against it. The US considers the South China Sea critical to its Indo-Pacific strategy and has been conducting regular “freedom of navigation” operations and increasing naval exercises in the area – sometimes with allies from outside the region,...
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): Are new alliances a threat to the existing world order?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit will be held in September among growing global concerns regarding the Ukraine war, the global commodity prices, the situation in the middle east, and a growing new alliance against the U.S. which calls for different rules of the business. The United States, being a hegemonic power, has been dictating terms of the world on trade, geopolitics and forming alliances to support/sustain that hegemony, and so on. But growing powers like China are now calling for a different mechanism for the functioning of the global order by launching their development programs and by forming alliances based on the idea of cooperation, democracy, and justice in the world, rather than that of a single country. SCO and BRICs and alternative platforms presented through which the status quo is challenged, and thus the SCO conference in September is much anticipated. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China at the beginning of February 2022 on a one-day visit to discuss global security and international relations. The joint statement was worth reading for it laid bare the case for new world order, as the statement read: “The sides [China and Russia] call on all States to …… respect the rights of peoples to independently determine the development paths of their countries and the sovereignty and the security and development interests of States, to protect the United Nations-driven international architecture and the international law-based world order”. And perhaps the most interesting part was: “Certain States’ attempts to impose their own “democratic standards” on other countries, to monopolize the right to assess the level of compliance with democratic criteria, to draw dividing lines based on the grounds of ideology, including by establishing exclusive blocs and alliances of convenience, prove to be nothing but flouting of democracy and go against the spirit and true values of democracy. Such attempts at hegemony pose serious threats...
Global Sanctions – A Chilling Effect On Afghan Infrastructure
Afghanistan has a deteriorating economy along with a hotchpotch of multifaceted perils. Food is available in Kabul marketplaces, but few people can afford it. Flour might cost as much as $30 per bag. Lack of access to bank accounts or foreign cash makes it difficult for businesses to purchase materials. Even if salaries for teachers and government employees have restarted, incomes are still lower. Cash is exchanged while selling silverware and furniture. This is Afghanistan in the months following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, the overthrow of the Afghan government, and the American withdrawal. The US and NATO-led 20-year war ended, but economic catastrophe soon followed. The western sanctions on the de facto Taliban government have made it worse for the Afghans to make both ends meet. However, the intervention of the UN in the aid processes has helped the Taliban handle state affairs to some extent. Adam Weinstein, Senior Researcher at the Quincy Institute, while speaking to Afghan Studies Center, said: Lifting sanctions is not going to resolve matters overnight. If sanctions are lifted today, we’d still be left with a landlocked country – is a crippling economy and an unattractive place for investors. Now, when I say lifting the sanctions, I mean the broad, sweeping sanctions. It might make sense to keep individual sanctions on individual Taliban figures. But, so far, as the way the sanctions work now, they were essentially intended for the Taliban as it was an insurgency, not for the Taliban as the de facto government of Afghanistan. And the effect of these sanctions has been a chilling effect on the country. “UN engages in the sanctions, but the U.S. is the leader in their application globally, and in some cases, they have been overdone. Afghanistan is the ideal illustration of a situation in which sanctions currently serve no purpose whatsoever. Due to realpolitik considerations, the Biden administration gladly collaborates with Saudi Arabia while ignoring...
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TESTIMONIALS
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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.