Current Projects
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Acceptance of Diversity and Social Cohesion
The 125th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) aired on the subject theme. The first guest on show, Mr. Molana Mujahid, a religious Scholar, noted that religion is a set of beliefs and code of conduct for the human beings’ respectful and peaceful coexistence. The right to religious freedom is clearly enshrined within our constitution vide Article 20 that guarantees citizens’ right to profess, practice their religion; as well as to manage religious institutions. Accepting religious diversity is very important to strengthen social cohesion as it makes the most of diverse potential of the citizens to formulate and pursue shared goals of development and prosperity. And why not, there is no harm in acceptance of diversity as it only adds more colors to the canvas of this beautiful world. Patience, tolerance and respect are the virtues worth cultivating given their outcome, and public needs to be sensitized on that as it cannot be achieved without respectful and responsible citizenship. Dialogue is an essentiality to mitigate the inter- and intra-faith conflicts, develop the much-needed social harmony, address misunderstandings about other religions, and promote the core fact that every religion promotes peace, love and respect, and discourages hatred. Such spaces also offer opportunities to fill the communication gaps that have a huge potential to cause unrest and polarization in the society. While the state level interventions should be providing such opportunities to all; especially the disenfranchised groups, the potential of media and civil society should also be harnessed. The second guest on show, Mr. Muhammad Zahoor, Student of Iqra National University, Peshawar and Ulasi Taroon alumnus, noted that participation in Ulasi Taroon Youth Capacity Building Workshops organized by CRSS exposed him to the ideals of respect, equality, and acceptance in a very...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Newly Merged Districts – Challenges for Rule of Law
The 124th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) aired on the subject theme. The first guest on show, Mr. Ejaz Mohmand, an advocate by profession, noted that rule of law is an essential democratic system that comprises laws, institutions, norms, and community commitment that upholds accountability mechanism and creates deterrence against crimes in the society. It is meant to hold everyone answerable to law which means that all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the state itself, are accountable to laws. Unfortunately, the Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR) that had been used to govern the former FATA areas in the past was extremely detrimental to rule of law. Now in the post-merger environment, rule of law in these districts can only be upheld through the provision of fundamental human rights to the people as their constitutional entitlement. It is also important to make the developmental process more transparent and efficient. The public engagement and education on the constitution; core constitutional values, is equally important to cultivate responsible citizenship. Human rights education always helps preventing human rights violations. Besides, it can further strengthen social cohesion among the people internally connected through their traditions and culture. The second guest on show, Mr. Rizwan, Student of Sarhad University of Information and Technology and Ulasi Taroon Alumnus, noted that the citizenry cognizant of their responsibility is key for any society to thrive. Youth can play a very important role in this regard, not only to cultivate that responsibility but also to exude responsibility, commitment and participation as exemplary citizens. The third guest on phone, Ms. Baseerat Bibi, Member, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noted that the tribal people were deprived of their fundamental rights previously,...
Is women empowerment a term misinterpreted?
‘No nation can rise to the heights of glory unless your women are side by side with you, said Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of the nation. This statement shows that women empowerment and gender equality have been on the national agenda for as long as is the history of Pakistan. But unfortunately, the current Pakistani society has largely misinterpreted the concept of women empowerment. While the term empowerment in general refers to the elevation of the status of an individual through education, raising awareness, proliferation of knowledge, and training, women’s empowerment is all about equipping and allowing women to understand their self-worth and to enable them to make life-determining decisions to tackle the different issues they face in their daily lives. In its actual sense, the term women’s empowerment refers to the process of increasing women’s ability to make their own strategic life choices that influence their lives directly and their access to the openings that let them realize their capacities fully. But unfortunately, the term is largely misinterpreted in Pakistan, and has certain negative connotations attached to it. Since the Pakistani society strongly believes in the assumption that women differ from men in their social positions, the idea of women’s empowerment as an economic, political, and sociocultural course is against the system of sexual stratification that has led to women’s subordination and marginalization in the society. And it is largely anticipated that women empowerment and its advocates are of a view to debar men, or to leave men behind in all walks of life and hence form a society exclusively for women with no importance given to men. However, in its genuine sense, women empowerment has nothing to do with men’s debarment. The marginalized women of our country are running their own race to secure their rights, and are in no rivalry with men. All the five components of women empowerment i.e. imparting a...
CRSS – Annual Security Report 2020 – Summary
After undergoing a devastating terror campaign for over a decade, violence-related fatalities in Pakistan started to decline in 2015, a year after the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb (OZA). Within the last year, Pakistan witnessed a further 12% drop, with 600 fatalities reported from terror and counter-terror related incidents. This data was collated and compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad. It is important to note that while the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are now a part of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) province, for the purposes of this report, they will be treated as separate regions. This is in part to highlight the fact that despite integration, the people of FATA continue to suffer from the threat of terrorism, in stark contrast with the rest of KP (which has in of itself suffered tremendously in the past). In fact, erstwhile 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/2021/01/Annual-Security-Report-2020-Summary-English.odt" comments="true" SVG="true"]
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...
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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.