Current Projects
Pakistan records 12% reduction in violence, FATA and KP suffer most from violence, accounting for over 50% of fatalities
Within the last year, Pakistan witnessed a further 12% drop in violence-related fatalities, continuing a trend from 2015, with 600 fatalities reported from terror and counter-terror related incidents. Erstwhile FATA suffered the most number of fatalities, followed by Balochistan and KP. KP and FATA combined account for over 50% of violence-related deaths in the country in 2020. This data was collated and compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad. Former FATA accounted for nearly third of violence-related fatalities this year at 191, a 63.2% rise from 2019. Although KP (excluding FATA) recorded 122 fatalities against 148 last year, the combined fatalities in KP and former FATA are more than 50% of the total fatalities from violence in the country this year. Balochistan recorded a 38.9% drop in violence from 226 to 138. There was a nominal drop in Sindh, and in Punjab, the fatalities dropped by more than half, from 82 in 2019 to 40 this year (table 1). [docxpresso file="https://crss.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Annual-Security-Report-2020-F.odt" comments="true" SVG="true"]
Collaborative Workshops and Debates-December 21-22, 2020, Quetta
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) conducted the seventeenth round of two-day PACE Collaborative workshops and debates for university students, on December 21 - 22, 2020, in Quetta. The workshop was conducted under the umbrella of the Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE), a counter-radicalization, pluralistic values focused project, in collaboration with the Dutch Government. Participants included students from University of Balochistan, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University. `A total of 80 students participated in the workshop of which 48 were female participants and 32 were female participants. Project Manager, Ms. Farhana Kanwal started off the workshop with an introductory session and welcomed the participants to the workshop. Ms. Kanwal said that PACE is a counter radicalization initiative by CRSS which was started in September, 2015 and completed its first phase in September, 2018. The core objective of PACE is to indoctrinate the habit of questioning and critical thinking among the youth of Pakistan. She added that the purpose of such activities is to bring together the youth at one platform and discuss about critical issues of multiculturalism, diversity, democracy and accountability. Youth is the shaper of future and whole objective of reaching out to them is to prepare a cadre of young people equipped with the tools of critical thinking. We believe that today’s younger generation has the ability to adopt new ideas and question preconceive narrative of intolerance. She stressed on questioning to start the process of positive transition of a society. She also stressed on including all the marginalized groups for a greater cause of peacebuilding and social cohesion. Ms. Farhana elaborated on the success and achievements of PACE in its first phase and also the objectives of PACE Evolution. The first formal session of the event was kicked off by Mr. Jahangir...
Islamabad’s policy making machinery working hard to improve relations with Kabul
There is certainly a positive trajectory with regards to Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations. In the last few months both sides have achieved significant progress, though there is a lot still to be done. For the first time, the parliaments on both sides are playing a very active role in addressing issues of mutual interest. Complex issues accumulating over years would take some time for resolution. This was said by Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. He was speaking to the 7th Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC) meeting, spearheaded by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP). Trade is and should always be the connecting link between the two nations. It also promotes people to people contacts, along with a lot of economic opportunities for the people, particularly the ones residing in border areas. We are also looking into investing into each other countries, which reinforces our push for increased trade, paving way for shared stakes and mutual interests. This in turn would materialize into durable peace and sustainable development in the region, stated Sadiq. He further stated that Islamabad’s seriousness in mending trust deficit and starting a new chapter in the bilateral relationship with Kabul reflects in the number of steps the Government of Pakistan have initiated within last six months. These include: introduction of liberal and friendly visa regime for Afghanistan, making it easy for Afghans to do business and open bank accounts inside Pakistan, decision to open 12 border markets with Afghanistan, and pipeline projects like tele-medical centers in Afghanistan and railway link between the countries. Sadiq assured that the progress on bilateral front would pick pace in coming months. Later in the afternoon, PAJC members called on Dr. Moeed Yusuf, SAPM on National Security and Strategic Policy Planning. He was of the view that Track II...
Women’s Role in Recruitment for ISIS/Islamist Networks in Pakistan
Historically, women in Pakistan’s northwestern territories bordering Afghanistan have played a critical role in providing money and men to jihadist organizations such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” (ISIS). Lack of education, too little exposure and a male-dominated conservative milieu constitute some of the ingredients of support for these outfits. This was true for over three decades and the phenomenon remained restricted to the rural, backward northwestern regions. But since the early 1990s, outfits such as the Al-Hudda Foundation – an exclusively women-focused organization – began serving as the initial hooks for middle- and upper-class women whom the Foundation targets. It brainwashes women into using hijab, and also into believing that they need to forge an alliance against the West and work for an Islamic, Sharia-based state. This advocacy turns many affluent women into religious radicals who can potentially work as the first line of recruits for extremist outfits like Daesh/IS. However small their numbers, these women represent a big threat to the global liberal values of society. The author Imtiaz Gul is the Executive Director, Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad, Pakistan. The paper was published in International Annals of Criminology (2018), Cambridge University Press.
Pakistan-Afghanistan trade and economic connectivity, positive vibes flowing from both sides
Islamabad has issued around 80,000 visas to Afghans and a few are for less than a year. Students are getting visas for the entire time period of their scholarship. This shows things are moving in the right direction, though we have to be patient. Complex issues accumulating over years would take some time for resolution; we should not lose any gains made so far, stated Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. He was speaking at the fifth Pak-Afghan Trade and Economic Connectivity Focused Group Discussion (FGD) in Islamabad, spearheaded by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI). Pakistan and Afghanistan have taken some principled decisions within last six months, in order to move forward in an organized way. Trade diplomacy should continue irrespective of political environment, reciprocity should be in the positive, a tit for tat approach be avoided, and the common man should not bear the brunt of something done by an individual or a group. Moreover, parliaments of both sides are now on-board, PM Special Representative added. Pak-Afghan traders highly appreciate the recent swift and positive developments, between Pakistan and Afghanistan, over the course of last few months. Islamabad and Kabul now seem committed more than ever to resolve issues of mutual interest in a structural manner. It is the beginning of new chapter of economic connectivity and enhanced trade between two countries, stated Khan Jan Alokozai, Chairman PAJCCI and Vice Chairman Afghanistan Chambers Federation. He further stated that appointment of special envoys to expedite the progress on bilateral front well reflects the seriousness being showed by the leadership on both sides. Though, he cautioned that such positive gains should not be short-lived. Both sides have to continue bilateral engagements with the goodwill to move forward and not be the prisoners of history....
Parliamentary Networking Meeting With Af-Pak Parliamaentarians To Discuss Bilateral Issues And Accentuate Women’s Voicesparliamentary Networking Meeting With Af-Pak Parliamentarians To Discuss Bilateral Issues And Accentuate Women’s VParliamentary Networking Meeting With Af-Pak Parliamaentarians To Discuss Bilateral Issues And Accentuate Women’s Voicesparliamentary Networking Meeting With Af-Pak Parliamentarians To Discuss Bilateral Issues And Accentuate Women’s Voicesoices
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) along with its Afghan counterpart, Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP), hosted a sideline meeting over a networking dinner on October 26, 2020, for a group of parliamentarians from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Afghan delegation included, Mr. Umar Daudzai, Afghan President’s Special Representative for Pakistan; Mr. Nisar Ahmad Ghoriyani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Afghanistan; Ms. Malai Ishaqzee , member of the Wolesi Jirga; Mr. Hashmatullah Ghafoori, Deputy Minister for Irrigation and Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan; Mr. Mir Afghan Safi, member of the Wolesi Jirga; Haji Ajmal Rehmani, member of the Wolesi Jirga; Mr. Najib Nasar, member of the Wolesi Jirga; Mr. Afzal Haidri, member of the Wolesi Jirga; Mr. Zia ul Haq Wazirzai, Advisor to Afghan President and Mr. Younas Momand, Former President ACCI. From Pakistan side, the event was attended by Member National Assembly, Ms. Munaza Hassan, Secretary Women Parliamentary Caucus, Pakistan; Ms. Shandana Gulzar; Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz; Ms. Naureen Ibrahim; Ms. Nafeesa Khattak, Ms. Rubina Irfan and Ms. Ammara Durrani, public policy and human security expert. The idea behind this event was to engage parliamentarians across Pakistan and Afghanistan vis-à-vis strengthening the role of women in improving bilateral relations and further accentuate their voices in both parliaments. It is worth mentioning here that this was the only sideline meeting during the Pak-Afghan Joint Trade and Investment Forum where direct engagement between the parliamentarians took place. In his inaugural keynote address, Mr. Imtiaz Gul, the Executive Director CRSS, welcomed all honorable guests. He acknowledged the recent initiatives took by the Government of Pakistan through Pak-Afghan Friendship Group in mitigating the challenges that were hampering the bilateral relations. He further suggested that as women in both...
Need for Gender Inclusive TDAP Figured Prominently during Dialogue on Gender Focused Economic Reforms
Pakistan has a women population of around 49% and just less than 10% of entrepreneurs are women in the country. Government of Pakistan is making all out efforts to pass legislations for the betterment of women folk, yet no specific, sustainable and beneficial facilitation is being carried out to help women earn their own living, to bring them at par with men, to start and run their own businesses and to help them export their products. Fault also lies with the women as they have not been going in the right direction. Moreover, no coordinated research has been carried out to find the reasons and circumstances till now for resolving the issue. The result of this apathy is that 70% of women businesses die down the very first year, as they cannot survive due to lack of support. The remarks were made by Ms. Roubina Toufiq Shah, former Director General, Ministry of Commerce (MoC) while presenting her keynote during a public-private dialogue on Gender Focused Economic Reforms (GFER), organized by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad. Commenting on TDAP, she stated that over the years, TDAP has organized more than 50 women specific local exhibitions, sent many women entrepreneurs on international exhibitions and delegations, sponsored many solo women exhibitions internationally and also held multiple seminars and conferences with women participations. Though, these can be termed as practices not a defined policy. This is the very reason that efforts towards gender empowerment in economic domain are not sustainable and fade away eventually. She opined that TDAP policy document needs to revive the specific clauses for gender inclusion. TDAP should allocate 25% budget quota for women exporters to ensure their participation in TDAP sponsored trade delegations and exhibitions. It should also allocate budget for capacity building programs each year for women start-ups and exporters in all major cities of Pakistan. Women entrepreneurs require handholding,...
November 2-3, 2020, Islamabad
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) conducted the sixteenth round of two-day PACE Collaborative workshops and debates for university students, on November 2 - 3, 2020, in Islamabad. The workshop was conducted under the umbrella of the Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE), a counter-radicalization, pluralistic values focused project, in collaboration with the Dutch Government. Participants included students from COMSATs, Quid-e-Azam University, Arid Agriculture University, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), International Islamic University, and Bahria University, Islamabad. `A total of 70 students participated in the workshop of which 48 were male participants and 22 were female participants. Program Director, Mr. Zeeshan Salahuddin opened the session with a welcome note and introductory remarks. He said that PACE is put together by CRSS to counter radicalization, inculcate critical thinking, question preconceived notions and narratives, and embed the national discourse in constitutionalism and the rule of law. He explained that PACE intends to promote the ideals of equal citizenry enshrined within the Constitution of Pakistan. He elaborated the importance of equal citizenry and its implementation within Pakistani culture. For Pakistan to present itself as a progressive rational state at the global level, it is essential to adopt and implement the framework of equal citizenship. Mr. Salahuddin conducted an activity with the participants on importance of finding your ‘why’ in life. He said that the questions of ‘what’ and ‘how’ are secondary and do not depict the purpose of life; however, finding your ‘why’ gives you the drive to move, grow and prosper in life. The first formal session of the event was kicked off by Mr. Saddam Hussein who spoke on ‘Leadership and Motivation’. He shared slides on different styles of leadership including autocratic, visionary, affiliative, democratic, pace-setting and coaching. Mr. Hussein stressed that...
Discrimination Thrives on Ignorance of Rights: DPO Kohat
Young minds have an immense critical thinking potential and their curiosity should be channelized into dialogue for social cohesion and other development objectives. Humans cannot live in isolation and must cooperate with each other to coexist peaceful. In the contemporary times, the societies across the world are quite diverse; rich in linguistic, cultural and religious diversity and rule of law is an essentiality to regulate peaceful coexistence of the members of these societies with diverse backgrounds. Rule of law is also a prerequisite to maintain order and avoid chaos, hold everyone accountable and cultivate equal citizenry through an institutionalized mechanism. These views were expressed by Mr. Javed Iqbal, District Police Officer (DPO), Kohat during the 29th round of Ulasi Taroon Youth Capacity Building Workshops, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at and in collaboration with the Kohat University of Science and Technology. DPO Kohat further noted that we are all born equal, fundamentally, we are all equal and equally subject to and accountable before the law regardless of our social, political or economic backgrounds. Only across the board application of law upholds rule of law and social cohesion. Discrimination thrives on the citizens’ ignorance of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution. Therefore, constitutional, rights based social education is critical to strengthen rule of law. Besides, it is also upheld by the cultivation of the habit of self-accountability and law-abiding citizenship. The change starts from each one of us, by becoming a good, responsible human being, who also self-reflects on the justification of one’s own attitude and behavior. Only then can we set out for the journey that marks the beginning of that change and realize our responsibility towards our society, country and humanity. Its very important for youth to be positive to cultivate a result-oriented action and course of...
Women economic empowerment requires a holistic focus, not efforts in bits and pieces, stated Shanda Gulzar
The issue of women’s financial inclusion is not related to a single ministry or a department only. In fact, a holistic focus is required to economically empower women across Pakistan. Now the problem being faced at present is that post 18th amendment, the matters of women development fall under the provincial domain. Unfortunately, the provinces treat women issues as a matter of social welfare. This is the core of the problem; issues of almost half of the population cannot be regarded merely as welfare issues, they must be a part of the national agenda and regrettably we do not have one, stated Shandana Gulzar Khan, Member National Assembly (MNA), who was invited as a Chief Guest. She was speaking at the virtual eighth round of public-private dialogue series on Gender Focused Economic Reforms (GFER), spearheaded by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad. She further added that the national budget has no specific focus on women, let alone women entrepreneurs. However, the Ehsas Emergency Cash Program – empowering women and putting them into formal banking network – is a silver lining in the cloud. Efforts from the government and its different ministries and departments are underway, many things are in pipeline; though there still is a long road ahead to empower women economically. Fatima Javaid, Joint Director, Infrastructure, Housing and SME Finance Department, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) noted that improving financial inclusion of women is one of the key priority areas of National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) – adopted by the Government of Pakistan in 2015 – aimed to enhance formal financial access to 50% of the adult population and envisions that 25% of adult females should have a formal bank account by the end of 2020. The SBP is working to have a gender mainstreaming policy framework to encourage women employment in financial institutions. Another issue is the reluctance female entrepreneurs exhibit in consulting financial...
TOP STORIES
TESTIMONIALS
“
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.