Current Projects
Challenges and Risks Faced by Trade Transporters
Land and border trade is considered the most successful and inexpensive way of business among neighboring countries across the world. Traditionally, almost all of the trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan is being done through land routes using trucks and containers, supporting the livelihood of thousands. Impeding operational and bureaucratic challenges at the border crossing points continue to trouble the transporters. Though Pakistan has taken substantial steps to facilitate trade, it is essential to mitigate the challenges faced by transporters to materialize the maximum potential of trade between the two countries. https://youtu.be/bdw2TgnNDXY
Medical Tourism Vital to Pak-Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity
Medical tourism between Pakistan and Afghanistan has flourished in the last two decades and played a significant role in improving people-to-people and people-to-state connectivity between the two countries. However, in the last few years, the number of Afghan patients visiting Pakistan has reduced significantly. In addition to COVID-19 restrictions and the volatile security situation post regime change in Afghanistan, the problems faced by patients happen to be the leading cause for the decline in the industry. If the loopholes are taken care of, the increasing economic connectivity between both countries can lead to better bilateral ties. YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa739ngNbjs
Dreams of Murder
HORRIFIC as it was, the cold-blooded murder of a seminary teacher in D.I. Khan by three of her students on allegations of blasphemy is yet another sign of the increasingly toxic social environment we live in. The incident was not the first of its kind, nor will it be the last unless the state decides to stop accepting, cajoling and using religiously inspired extremists for short-term political gains, and, instead, punishes them and their leaders for taking the law into their hands. What sets this incident apart from similar atrocities linked to blasphemy accusations, is its frighteningly surreal dimension. The three young girls aged 17, 21 and 24 — barely adults themselves — who allegedly murdered their teacher told the police that a religious personality had appeared in a dream to their 13-year-old relative to tell her that the teacher had committed blasphemy. It is a terrifying thought that the suspects had no qualms about going ahead with their deed — in fact, deeming it necessary. Further investigation will reveal the truth — was it a case of being brainwashed by the anti-blasphemy narrative or was there another reason? Sadly, others too have resorted to murder in similar situations. Both those accused of committing blasphemy, such as university student Mashal Khan and Sri Lanka factory manager Priyantha Kumara, and those defending the accused against such allegations, including Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer and lawyer Rashid Rehman, were killed. No doubt the killers were emboldened by the inaction of the state. Otherwise, blasphemy-related accusations would not reach such high numbers — 1,300 between 2011 and 2021, according to the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies. Meanwhile, in instances where the accused are acquitted of false charges, as in the case of Asiya Bibi, the extremist culture makes it very difficult to ensure their safety after their release. Blind extremism will keep on taking lives unless the authorities take radical...
Women Promoting Regional Economic Connectivity
Afghan women are considered to have strong nerves both physically and mentally as forty years of hardships and revolutions have taught them to stand on their own feet and solve their own problems. They excel at carpet-weaving, have cottage industries set up and are doing massive work with meager facilities. The governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan should facilitate and promote women-run businesses so women can play a greater role in the economy. At present, such steps can prove crucial and momentous for Afghanistan while the country faces a severe economic crisis.
Experts Urge Multitrack Dialogue to Improve Pakistan-Afghanistan Transboundary Water Cooperation
Pakistan and Afghanistan share waters of nine big and small rivers, with millions of people on both sides depending on shared water resources, but it is really unfortunate that there is no mutually agreed mechanism such as a water treaty to regulate the matters of water sharing and joint management of shared water resources. To avert the future water crisis, it is really important and only underlines the need for policy intervention and more research on the issue. These remarks were made by the member of Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Ayesha Bano, during the first round of dialogue series on Pakistan-Afghanistan Transboundary Water Relationship organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), in partnership with USAID and IWMI. Ms. Ayesha Bano urged both countries for advances in their water relationship with a mutual benefit sharing approach as a core consideration. We should not let the political side of relationship affect the water side of it, and enhance water cooperation for accurate data and research around the water flows on both sides. She shared her plans to table a resolution in the KP assembly; urging the federal government to discuss the transboundary water sharing issues with Afghan government and maximize mutual benefit sharing. She said that while expecting parliamentarians to speak on issues of communal and national concern in the upper and lower houses of parliament, we must first sensitize them to enable them for policy intervention. In this regard, the role of organizations working on these issues with research and advocacy is extremely critical. While appreciating Center for its efforts to generate traction around the transboundary water issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan, she noted that the dialogue on the issue was an eye opener for her and other parliamentarians also need to be involved. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zubair Khan, Chairman, Department of Water Resources Management, University of Agriculture,...
Pakistan Close to Polio-Free Status?
For the first time, Pakistan has seen zero cases of polio in an entire year[i]. It is a monumental achievement, especially considering that Pakistan is one of the last two remaining polio endemic countries in the world, with over 20,000 children crippled every year in the 90s alone. The other endemic country is Afghanistan. This was achieved over nearly three decades of sustained effort. In 1994, the country recorded 25,000 cases. Despite incredible progress, and an expanded immunization program that operates with the help of a network of nearly 230,000 workers to help vaccinate 33.4 million children under the age of five in over 100 districts simultaneously, Pakistan seemed take several steps back, especially in 2014, and then again in 2017. It is a massive undertaking, one that requires a colossal amount of coordination, transparency and ownership for it to work properly. It finally seems to have paid off, with cases reducing from 84 in the year prior, to 0 this year. In a media inter-action, Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Adviser to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health spoke of Pakistan being close to complete eradication of poliovirus. He said that Pakistan has made significant improvements in polio surveillance and that the best strategy is to control the virus through sustained vaccination campaigns. Despite Covid since early 2020, Pakistan’s polio program has registered big success through excellent campaigns. During his visit to Dera Ismail Khan[ii] in the northwestern Khyber Pakthunkhwa province, he said that no polio case was reported during the last one year but there were still effects of poliovirus in the environment. All resources were being utilised for its complete elimination, he added. “We are close to eradicating polio. The government is already taking steps to address the legitimate demands and grievances of the people, so do not make these demands conditional with anti-polio vaccinations as anti-polio vaccines are also in public interest,” said Dr...
Blasphemy Cases in Pakistan: 1947 – 2021
a Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report by Senior Research Fellow Muhammad Nafees Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are controversial subject, with the public opinion in two distinct camps. One camp believes the laws to be absolutely essential, necessary for the protection of Muslims’ sentiments, especially as they apply to the finality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The other camp believes the laws to be draconic, leveraged by vested interested to primarily target minorities, and used to settle personal vendettas and disputes. With a sudden upsurge in blasphemy allegations and cases, especially within the last two years, and major incidents of both lynching and sentencing to death of those accused of blasphemy, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has put together a comprehensive report that looks at the history of blasphemy allegations in the country, the number of people killed by vigilantes and charged mobs, the spread of this data across provincial, religious, gender, and socio-economic lines, and the principal complainants in blaspheming cases. This report hopes to document the bulk of the data associate with blasphemy accusations and killings, and provide a concise snapshot of the depth and breadth of the problem, in the hopes that the government of Pakistan addresses this pressing issue, and works to alleviate the problem. Background: 1947 - 2021 Overview The debate around Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws and their socio-political consequences ranges from the argument “people disrespecting Islam should be punished” to “people are falsely accused to settle personal scores”. One segment of the society demands review of the blasphemy laws to prevent and discourage its abuse. Others deny any egregious misuse of the law for personal gains, albeit evidence suggests otherwise. The latter arguments that most of the cases are either influenced by ideological inclinations or religious dogma. Often personal grudges morph into societal outrage with...
Shagufta Gul Program Manager Ms. Shagufta Gul is working as a Consultant and Lead Trainer at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Peshawar. Before joining CRSS, she served at the Peace Education and Development Foundation for a tenure of five years in different capacities. Ms. Gul has been in the development sector for 18 years, and previously, she has also been an educationist. She has offered her services as a consultant, facilitator, content developer, and lead trainer for Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion), an intervention to address extremism in KP and conflict-ridden (erstwhile FATA) tribal districts, and Beyond Boundaries, an initiative for Pak Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity. She has expertise in Radio Advocacy with thematic areas of Democracy and Good Governance Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, Mainstreaming of NMD, erstwhile FATA, Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Female Political Participation, Curriculum Reforms, Project Management, Coordination, Training, Peace, Conflict Resolution, and Access to Justice for the marginalized communities. She has also been associated with UN Women, IOM, Islamic Relief World, and Islamic Relief Pakistan as a consultant for their interventions in the NMDs. Her op-eds on social issues are often featured in Daily Times Lahore..
Junaid Khan Director Programs Junaid Yaqoob Khan is a Director Programs at CRSS and currently leads projects on Pak-Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity, and Afghan Peace Support Mechanism. He has over 13 years of experience in project management and coordination. Junaid holds a master's in project management and a bachelor's in computer science. He has previously worked with notable organizations such as Safer World, GIZ, and Handicap International. Being a project management professional, his professional expertise includes project planning and execution, monitoring and evaluation, analyzing project risks and drafting mitigation strategies, etc.
Minha Rana Research and Program Associate Ms. Minha works at the Center for Research and Security Studies as a Research and Program Associate. She is currently working on an action research project called "Assessment of health-seeking behavior," which is being implemented across Pakistan in 19 High Risk Union Councils. The study focuses on vaccine hesitancy and health-seeking behavior among residents of the study areas. Her responsibilities include project implementation and line management of 40 field researchers, as well as the preparation of project documentation such as monthly and quarterly progress reports, work plans, risk logs, quality assured field reports, qualitative analysis of the information derived through FGDs and KIIs. While ensuring that the project adequately addresses cross-cutting themes such as gender, human rights, and safeguarding. Minha has a bachelor's degree in International Relations with a major in Public Policy from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. She participated in an International Summer School on International and European Studies at Eberhard Karls University in Tubingen, Germany. Previously she has worked for UNDP Pakistan, WWF Pakistan, and the British Council Pakistan. Her areas of interest include human rights, the effects of climate change on health and gender, and promoting peace and youth engagement through environment friendly activities.
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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.