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CRSS Research 2022
Executive Summary As a long-trusted and tested political friend, China wields significant influence in, and a central position in Pakistan’s foreign relations. However, due to certain cultural barriers and fewer peopleto-people interactions, people on both sides know relatively little about one another. In an attempt to evaluate this information deficit, CRSS conducted research on common Pakistanis’ perceptions and understanding of China’s culture and history. These findings are part of the first report. Based on a survey of 300+ individuals, it was found that most of young and older people have a positive view of China and are keen on learning more about the neighboring country. However, many young individuals lack awareness of some of the key facts about China; for instance, about 26 % did not know that China has achieved major watersheds in its economic development in the past two decades. Some of the recommendations of the report are: A special curriculum on China should be included for higher secondary and lower academic levels, as most of the individuals with these backgrounds either have a neutral or illinformed perception of China; There should be independent cultural exchange programs between youth which can be beneficial in learning about Chinese culture, and vice versa; Collaboration among organizations especially think tanks and NGOs of both countries can be very advantageous. Collective research projects will help in knowledge exchange as well as capacity building of both sides while bringing academics and researchers together; Besides track 1, multi-level diplomatic efforts must be started such as track 2 and track 1.5,an area that CRSS has considerable expertise and experience in. The second report focuses on Pakistan’s dated, expensive, and time-consuming Public Procurement Regime. A sound public procurement regime ensures transparency, cost-effectiveness, and swiftness and can help public sector institutions make better financial decisions. This...
Security Report First Quarter -2022
Casualties from Violence in Pakistan During the first quarter of 2022, some 344 people lost their lives and 405 suffered injuries because of violence and counter violence incidents. About 90 % of these victims of violence were from two regions of the country: Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s border regions. Sindh and the Punjab province experienced a very marginal number of casualties (Table 01). Fatalities from Violence by Region Since last year, violence has been on the rise. The first quarter of 2022 saw a 68% rise in violence in general. The KP province witnessed 173% surge in violence, followed by Balochistan (88%) and Sindh (5%). Punjab was the only region registered a decline of 56% in violence (Table 02). Fatalities from Violence by Month After a slight decline in January, violent incidents recording a 104% rise in February and 153% in March (Table 03). This sign of a growing trend that can be attributed to the TTP’s new tactics and alliances with some Baloch separatist groups. In December last year, the TTP had refused to extend the ceasefire it had agreed with the government and weeks thereafter saw an unusual surge in violence. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid had also admitted that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had escalated its attacks in the country[1]. Fatalities from Violence by Districts Major incidents of violence took place in Peshawar, North Waziristan, Balochistan’s Kech, Quetta, Sibi, Tank, Nushki districts, and some districts of Karachi where double digit fatalities from violence were recorded. Except Karachi, all other districts are from KP and Balochistan (Table 04). Figure: Fatalities by Districts – Q4 2021 VS Q1 2022 Comparative Fatality Data on Violence/Counter-Violence A comparative review of violence and counter-violence revealed that at least 13 counter-violence operations by the security forces resulted in fatalities of 18 persons. On the other hand, six terror attacks were thwarted with timely preemptive action by the...
Cultural Similarities Can Strengthen Pak- Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity
Being neighbors, Pakistan and Afghanistan do not only share a border but also have a common civilization, history, religion, and culture. People from both countries are connected through social values, norms, language, traditions, and religion. These commonalities can be used to benefit both the countries’ economies by promoting trade and tourism. CRSS spoke to cultural experts on both sides to get an insight into what cultural items could help in boosting trade on both sides.
Medical Tourism: an Impetus for Pak-Afghan Economic Connectivity
Medical tourism is a fast-growing industry globally, especially in the South Asian region. Poor healthcare facilities and the unavailability of certain technologies and expertise in Afghanistan have created an income stream for neighboring countries as Afghans cross their borders for medical treatments. Pakistan has generally been the most popular destination of Afghan medical tourists, at times accounting for around 90 percent of treatment-seeking visits. https://youtu.be/BRxNlhCHHV0
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...
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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.