Current Projects
[China Watch] A Brief History of China
Today, China is known to the world for its economic, military and technological might. According to the Lowy Institute, a think tank based in Sydney, Australia, China is an emerging global superpower and a superpower in Asia. In Nikkei Asia Review, Jacques Attali, who served as a counsellor to French President Francois Mitterrand and the first head of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, writes: “China is already a major military power, and in five years will be as militarily powerful in the Western Pacific as the U.S. is in the Eastern.” He says, “It has world-class companies; it is the world leader in many of the technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence. It has the world’s largest reserves of many strategic materials. It has considerable financial reserves.” But China’s image as a leader in the world’s economy is not recent. The country counts itself among the four ancient civilisations with historic records dating back over 3,000 years. It is said that China’s earliest rulers were from the Xia Dynasty who remained in power from 2100 to 1600BC, but there is not much proof about the existence of the dynasty. Shang Dynasty According to recorded history, however, it was the Shang who ruled the earliest Chinese state, comprising today’s Henan, Anhui, Shandong, Hubei and Shanxi provinces. Shang Dynasty is discussed in the Book of Documents, Bamboo Annals and Records of the Grand Historian – the earliest compilation of the history of Ancient China. Historians differ on how old the Shang Dynasty is. Some say it was founded in the 18th century BC while others believe it was 16 century BC. However, what is confirmed is that the dynasty thrived during the Bronze Age. Thousands of bronze artefacts from the ruins of Yin, the last capital of the Shang, located near present-day Anyang in Henan province, were unearthed. Vessels used in ritual ceremonies, as well as chariots and axes that have been discovered, were all made of bronze....
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Crises, Mental Health and Peaceful Coexistence
The 113th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) discussed the importance of mental health to battle the crises like COVID pandemic and for overall state of cohesion in the society. The first guest on show, Ms. Sadia Shafique, a psychiatrist by profession, explained that according to the World Health Organization definition, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Access to health services is one of the fundamental human rights without any distinction of race, religion, socio-economic or political background. Mental health is as important as physical health, but unfortunately, it remains widely under-reported due to the social stigma attached to mental health disorders, where limited number of psychiatry services further multiply the problem. Every crisis has a profound effect on the mental health of people and COVID-19 is no different where it has inflicted a mass scale trauma. One of the drivers of trauma during this pandemic is rampant misinformation and fallacies regarding COVID-19 which are stocking public fears. Paying attention to these mental health issues is critical to peace and coexistence and requires cooperation of both individuals and state. The marginalized groups in the society are more vulnerable during a crisis, therefore, the mental health services should be considerate their special needs. Only a mentally healthy society can accept and make the full use of the colors of diversity, see it as an opportunity and coexist peacefully. The second guest on show, Ms. Maria Akhtar, a journalist by profession, noted that the right to health and other related provisions are explicitly enshrined in the Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Therefore, Pakistan, as a matter of its national and international commitment, should prioritize the health services...
The Art of Reasoning and Critical Thinking – Understanding Fallacies | CRSS Ulasi Taroon Workshop
“The only safeguard against reasoning ill is the habit of reasoning well; familiarity with the principles of correct reasoning, and practice in applying those principles” (John Stuart Mill). This was quoted by Dr. Shuja Ahmad, Chairman, Department of Philosophy, University of Peshawar, while setting the keynote for his presentation on critical thinking and the art of reasoning. He noted that critical thinking is about using logic and critical inquiry to gather and connect the available information and draw inferences. It helps processing the information more effectively to be able to draw logical conclusions. This kind of thinking is also called the process of reasoning where an argument is an expression of reasoning in words. Making arguments with reasoning devoid of logic and critical thinking represents bad reasoning and flaw in an argument means flaw in the reasoning and thinking. Training in logic and critical thinking enables us to construct and objectively evaluate arguments, differentiate good reasoning from bad reasoning, identify relevance of ideas, and think correctly and clearly. Normally we do not question ourselves but with this skillset, not only just others but one also starts reflecting on the justification of ones’ own ideas, theories, and values. This stage can be termed as the culmination of critical thinking. It is also the best and most democratic way to get someone to come around to your point of view i.e. through making good arguments and dialogue instead of forcefully imposing your views on others. This process of reasoning with critical thinking at the core can help solving problems in a systematic manner and critical to complex problem solving. According to California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, a tool to measure the disposition to engage problems and make decisions using critical thinking, there are seven habits essential to critical thinking, such as: i) Truth-Seeking; by challenging the known and finding the unknown to...
Strategic Sideline Meeting: The First Steps towards a Bilateral Women-led Caucus
With the goal of creating a Pakistan-Afghanistan women-led parliamentary caucus to work on bilateral issues of import, CRSS convened a strategic sideline meeting of Pakistani women parliamentarians in Islamabad on July 27. A similar meeting of Afghan women parliamentarians was held virtually on July 25, 2020. This endeavor is part of CRSS’ efforts to improve Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations under its ongoing Track 1.5/II Beyond Boundaries (BB) initiative. The bilateral caucus was a recurrent recommendation in BB’s recent women-led conferences where delegates stressed on instituting a formal mechanism to work on raising the issues faced by women on both sides of the border, complete with solutions and relevant policy recommendations. Most recently, this need was reiterated by female Member of National Assembly (MNA) Mehnaz Akber Aziz and Member Afghan Parliament Ms. Shinkai Karokhail during a virtual women-led conference organized by CRSS (in partnership with OESP) on June 15, 2020. Besides MNA Aziz from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), attendees of the moot included female Senator Rubina Khalid from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), female MNAs Nafisa Shah (PPP), and other females from the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) party MNA Shaheen Saifullah, MNA Shandana Gulzar, MNA Uzma Riaz Jadoon, and MNA Zille Huma. CRSS was represented by member of CRSS’ advisory board Sameena Imtiaz; BB’s project lead Zeeshan Salahuddin, BB Economic Connectivity (EC) Program Manager Junaid Raja, Program Manager for Afghan Studies Center (ASC), Sitwat Waqar Bokhari, and BB’s M&E specialist Mustafa Malik. As an initial sideline meeting, discussion between the members of parliament focused on the objectives, vision, and scope of the proposed bilateral caucus. In her opening speech, MNA Aziz, who had also been a consistent core member of CRSS’ bilateral dialogues of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC), stated that while the initiative should be a women-led...
Women Parliamentarians Agree to Form Bilateral caucus with Afghan Counterpart
Pakistani and Afghan women parliamentarians should have a caucus to work on issues of bilateral significance and build linkages through positive interactions and collaborations. This was agreed upon today by a contingent of prominent female lawmakers in Islamabad at an inception event organized by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The participants included Senator Rubina Khalid, and Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Mehnaz Akber Aziz, Nafisa Shah, Shaheen Saifullah, Shandana Gulzar, Uzma Riaz Jadoon, and Zille Huma. Members stressed on building cooperation in the sectors of health, education, financial inclusivity, employment, COVID-19, border trade, refugees, maternal health, and youth engagement. They further urged that the proposed caucus should comprise representatives from both the National Assembly and the Senate. In order to maintain the historical record, it would be ideal to include parliamentarians who were present in the previous Af-Pak caucus and friendship groups. They also suggested to nominate a caucus chair in the parliament house so that it can work directly under the parliament. Finally, the inception meeting agreed on formulating the agenda for the caucus in a subsequent moot, and to finalize it in collaboration with female Afghan lawmaker counterparts. A similar strategic sideline meeting headed by Afghan Member Parliament Shinkai Karokhail was held in Kabul on Saturday, July 25, 2020. The idea for forming said caucus emerged from CRSS’ bilateral meetings as part of its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II dialogue 'Beyond Boundaries' to bring women parliamentarians on both sides to strengthen the people-to-people relationship and mitigate the wide trust deficit.
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: COVID-19 and Role of Media
The 112th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) discussed the role of media during the crises like COVID-19. The first guest on show, Mr. Kashif Uddin, Senior Journalist, Daily Aaeen, Peshawar, opined that media has doubtlessly a great potential to influence the masses, promote certain narratives or even carve-out new narratives. Given such a significant impact means a huge public service responsibility on it; especially during the times of crises, for participatory, responsible and community focused programming. Only by resorting to credible information sources and undertaking conflict conscious programming, can it address the misconceptions detrimental to the broader public interest. Media personnel should also be trained for responsible, participatory and conflict conscious programming during the crises and otherwise. This way, they can serve in the best interest of their target audience and better cater to the issues of communal concern. The second guest on show, Ms. Muska Safi, Ulasi Taroon Alumna, and a journalist by profession, noted that the citizens should also critically evaluate the information reaching them from sundry media platforms; especially social media and avoid further propagating information received from inauthentic sources. Irresponsible journalism and citizenship during the crisis like COVID-19 only leads to chaos. The third guest on show Dr. Faizullah Jan, Chairman, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Peshawar, said that across the world, role of media becomes ever more important during the emergency situations especially when rumors are active. That is the time when the media can intervene and rise to the challenge of authentic information programming; cognizant of the sensitivities, while onboarding the experts and other credible voices. Media organizations must have a code of conduct and ensure its due...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Online Learning – Changing Education Imperatives Amidst COVID-19
The 111th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) discussed online learning and conduits for communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first guest on show, Prof. Faisal Shehzad from Islamia College University, Peshawar, noted that it is the duty of state to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years, as obligated under the article 25-A of the constitution of Pakistan. It is the responsibility of state to take all possible steps for accessible, equitable and quality education. This means a huge onus especially during the crisis like COVID pandemic, to continue to ensure citizens’ right to education while also not jeopardizing their health and safety. The option of online education - during this entire crisis – served as a most effective alternative to traditional learning, to stay connected with the students by shifting to digital conduits for communication. While it may not be the perfect option, but no learning process is devoid of problems and we should not let perfect to be the enemy of good. With the resolve to educate, the learning process never stops even in the absence of digital technology and internet as we witnessed in the past crises; especially in the times of Spanish Flu, where the learning continued and teachers and students communicated through letters, books and notes. The second guest at the show, Mr. Shahabuddin, Ulasi Taroon Alumnus and a student of Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, noted that COVID crisis is an opportunity to explore innovative ways of learning and improve the present system of education. The present online model of education is in the experimental phase both for students and faculty. The third guest on show, Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Peshawar, noted that besides the devastating effects of...
Embracing Collective Responsibility Key to Uphold Rule of Law: Ulasi Taroon Youth Workshop
Rule of law means that everyone is equally subject to and accountable before law, no matter how powerful. It acts as a safeguard against the government’s arbitrary powers, said Syed Saad Ali Shah, Advocate, Peshawar High Court, during the eighth round of Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops. He noted that rule of law is a fundamentally essential prerequisite for social peace, harmony and stability. Giving up on and failure to observe rule of law only leads to chaos in the society and serves as a fault line that can make citizens vulnerable to the push and pull factors of radicalization. Therefore, it is extremely important to abide by the core constitutional values of peace and harmony. As seen in all the developed countries across the world, equal citizenry serves as an ingredient for their socio-political and economic progress and democratic development. While it’s the responsibility of state to uphold rule of law, an equal onus is on the citizens, for due compliance and responsibility. Historically, the citizens have played a vital role in contributing to the accountability mechanisms and strengthening rule of law. Only by the citizens’ active role in the communal development, can rule of law be expected to strengthen. Such responsible citizenship requires collective vision and shared goals of development and prosperity that the members of the community achieve by banding together. This is how we can make the society a better and secure place to live by improving the environment. Respect for differences, acceptance of diversity, equality and adherence to rule of law are essentialities of social cohesion. Responsible citizenship also demands challenging injustice and to report the violations of law including discriminations based on gender, religion or any other difference. Complying with the government’s regulations during the time of crises also means responsible citizenship. It is very important to discuss in the universities setting, how active citizenship spells...
Virtual Strategic Sideline Meeting of PAJC: Cultural Commonalities & Connectivity Amid COVID-19
As part of CRSS’ efforts to improve Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations under its ongoing Track 1.5/II initiative Beyond Boundaries, CRSS conducted a strategic sideline meeting of Pakistan members of PAJC on July 09, 2020, on the theme, “Cultural Commonalities & Connectivity Amid COVID-19” on Zoom. The meeting aimed to be one of CRSS’ efforts focused on highlighting the cultural commonalities between the two countries as a way to strengthen a positive people to people relation. The objective of the meeting was to gather recommendations and proposals from experienced artists, journalists, academics, art historians and other senior members present on how Beyond Boundaries can lobby to highlight cultural commonalities between the two countries and encourage connectivity especially in the prevailing difficult environment posed by COVID-19. Delegates included Mehnaz Akber Aziz, Member National Assembly – PML-N; Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Director General, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA); Simi Raheal, Development Trainer and Media Professional, Amber Rahim Shamsi, TV Presenter and Anchor, Samaa TV; Sameena Imtiaz; Senior Development Professional, Dr. Salma Malik, Assistant Professor, Department of Defense & Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University; Myra Imran, Journalist, The News International and Mariam Saleem Farooqui, Art Historian. CRSS was represented by Executive Director Imtiaz Gul, Zeeshan Salahuddin; Director Strategic Communications, Sitwat Waqar Bokhari; Program Manager, Junaid Khan; Program Manager, and Saad Gul, CRSS Research Fellow. At the outset, Executive Director Imtiaz Gul welcomed all participants and briefed them on the objectives of Beyond Boundaries. He stated that this meeting was a way to bring relevant experts together so they can come up with constructive recommendations for the governments as well as the concerned civil society groups to explore the avenues around cultural commonalities which should be promoted. During...
Quarterly Security Report Q2, April-June, 2020
Casualties from Violence in Pakistan: A total of 185 casualties were recorded during second quarter in 2020 (139 fatalities and 46 injuries). Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) had the highest number of casualties followed by Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Islamabad. There were no violence-related casualties reported from Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Despite continued military operations, the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) regions of KP continue to be militancy hot spots (table 01). [docxpresso file="https://crss.pk/wp-content/uploads/CRSS-Security-Report-Q2-2020-3.odt" comments="true" SVG="true"]
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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.