Current Projects
Nuclear Power and Powerlessness: Pakistan’s Struggle with Energy Inefficiency and Corruption
By Engineer Musa Arshad Despite possessing the sixth-largest nuclear arsenal globally, with approximately 160 warheads, Pakistan's energy sector is plagued by inefficiencies that have far-reaching consequences. The country's reliance on international aid to sustain its power sector is a stark contrast to its nuclear capabilities, which position Pakistan as a significant player on the international stage. The statistics are alarming: 40% of Pakistan's population lives in poverty, largely due to the energy sector's inefficiencies. Rather than addressing the root causes of these issues, stakeholders seem to be perpetuating the problems for personal financial gain. The prevailing approach of adding new power plants to the national grid, without ensuring transparency and accountability, is akin to pouring more water into a leaking bucket—a short-sighted solution that fails to address the underlying issues. A lingering myth suggests that in the waning years of the Soviet Union, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) allegedly devised a plan to infiltrate and manipulate the USSR's leadership structure. According to this narrative, the CIA aimed to install incompetent officials in key positions, thereby exacerbating the Soviet Union's internal weaknesses and hastening its downfall. While the veracity of this claim remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the Soviet Union's sudden and catastrophic collapse on January 1, 1991, was, in part, attributable to the ineptitude of its highest-ranking officials. Despite boasting the largest landmass and an arsenal of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union's sphere of influence crumbled, leaving in its wake a power vacuum and a legacy of instability. Pakistan's energy sector is plagued by a decades-long history of corruption and inefficiency, eerily reminiscent of the Soviet Union's downfall. Over the past thirty years, officials and ministers have been appointed to key positions in the Planning Commission, Ministry of...
Afghans in Pakistan Shouldn’t Pay the Price for Political Disputes: Senator Mushahid Hussain
If we look at the refugee profile in Pakistan, for the most part, the country has been a model host for welcoming refugees from different countries. Pakistan has the largest number of refugees for the longest duration in modern history, not just from Afghanistan but also having the largest Rohingya and Bengali population, and Somalis as well. They are experiencing better conditions in Pakistan compared to many other countries in the region, in terms of the treatment they receive from host communities and authorities. These remarks were made by Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed during the dialogue on Human Trafficking in Pak-Afghan Region, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). He underlined the need to look at the bigger picture of the issues of human trafficking and illegal migration to make sense of the scale and magnitude of the problem which has now become a global concern and having impact on the politics of and relations between several countries; noting that it was at the core of president trump’s election campaign as the flagship issue. He said that foreigners or non-Pakistanis living in Pakistan who have children born in Pakistan should become Pakistani citizens whether they are Afghans, Rohingyas, or Bengalis. “I believe, if someone who has been living here for the last 30, 40 years, they are Pakistanis”. “We must have problems with the regime in Kabul but the Afghans living in Pakistan should not pay the price”, he said while opposing the forced eviction of refugees on any pretext, noting that it was morally, legally, and politically wrong. Pakistan is a big enough country to accommodate people who come here for economic and so many other reasons. Afghans in Pakistan who worked with US forces in Afghanistan have been waiting for their visas for the last three years, face prolonged uncertainty, financial hardships, and legal challenges as they navigate bureaucratic delays and shifting immigration policies. The issue of...
The Dark Clouds of Pakistan: An Investigative Report on Air Pollution and Smog
By Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi Air pollution in Pakistan has emerged as a critical environmental and public health challenge, with major cities such as Lahore consistently recording some of the highest Air Quality Index (AQI) levels globally. The prevalence of toxic smog, exacerbated by vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and the use of substandard fuels, has led to significant health repercussions, including respiratory diseases and premature mortality. Additionally, the economic burden of air pollution is substantial, with estimated losses amounting to billions of dollars annually. Despite the severity of the crisis, policy responses have been insufficient in addressing the root causes of deteriorating air quality. This report provides an evidence-based analysis of Pakistan’s air pollution crisis, examining key sources, socio-economic consequences, and the necessity of adopting stringent regulatory frameworks and technological interventions to mitigate environmental degradation and safeguard public health.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Pashtun and Tahaffuz Movements: Mobilizing across borders
Dr. Seema Khan is a lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University in Australia. She serves as a section editor of the Springer Global Encyclopedia of Territorial Rights and was a Jinnah Fellow at the London School of Economics. Beyond academia, Seema’s professional journey spans over two decades within the public sectors across Australia and Pakistan. When addressing militancy in KP and other regions of Pakistan, there is a need to develop a national consensus. A comprehensive and integrated strategy is required to combat militancy effectively, one that considers local realities and dynamics rather than relying solely on top-down decisions that often ignore ground-level complexities. A collaborative approach, involving experts who have demonstrated success in addressing such challenges, is essential. Some officers have previously undertaken remarkable work, and their insights should be leveraged. While preparing a report on the current situation in Pakistan, I read Azam Khan’s detailed Counter Terrorism Strategy duly approved by the provincial Cabinet in its 46th meeting on 02/05/2012. The officer was a former Principal Secretary to PM Imran Khan & Former Secretary Home KP in the ANP’s government. Astonishingly, the strategy is so relevant even today and unfortunately, a decade down the line we are back to square one- nothing has changed. The report sets a strong foundation and presents a template to counter this menace. Though issued over a decade ago even before the formation of the 20 Points National Action Plan (NAP-2014) outlined by NACTA that was approved on 24th of December, 2014 by the Parliament. Despite all this, the relevance of the Counter Terrorism Strategy still remains undiminished. It underscores the importance of local participation in understanding the socio-political dynamics at play and highlights the risks of excluding those with direct interaction with affected communities. It is crucial that LEAs, both...
Engagement with Afghanistan must to help millions in distress: UNAMA
Disengagement is neither an option nor helpful to Afghans. We must collectively engage with Afghanistan to create an entry point for helping millions of Afghans that are in distress, and also help the country deal with its longstanding challenges. These remarks were made by the head of the Pakistan-based liaison office for the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Malick Ceesay, during the launching ceremony of “Complex Terrorism Landscape in Pakistan-Afghanistan Region: Afghan Emirate as Counter-Terror Partner”, the latest publication of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The research publication offers critical insights into the evolving dynamics of militancy in the region and explores the heightened threats posed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The UNAMA representative further said that peace and stability of Afghanistan is the concern of the entire international community and not just of the United Nations, all wanting to see the country prosper, stable and enjoy lasting peace as a matter of Afghanistan’s and international interest. UNAMA and UN are committed and working to make that possible through engagement, regional collaboration and coordination. The CRSS research in its key highlights notes that contrary to the initial optimism about Taliban rule that it might bring decline in transnational terrorism and lead to regional stability, the threats have instead only intensified and it has introduced new complexities, manifest in - as far as Afghanistan’s neighbors are concerned - 66% surge in violence recorded in Pakistan in 2024, the highest in nearly a decade. The country also witnessed a sustained rise in i) overall violence (resulting from terrorism and counter-terrorism operations), and ii) terror attacks on Pakistan’s security forces and their resulting fatalities, for the fourth consecutive year since 2021, which...
COMPLEX TERRORISM LANDSCAPE IN PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN REGION : AFGHAN EMIRATE AS COUNTER-TERROR PARTNER
This report examines the evolving militant landscape in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region following the Afghan Taliban’s (TTA) return to power in August 2021. Contrary to initial hopes that the Taliban’s governance might stabilize the region, the threats have instead only intensified and introduced new complexities. Two primary actors—Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP)—now dominate the militant dynamics, each pursuing distinct yet equally destabilizing agendas. This dramatic development was largely perceived as a potential turning point for regional stability. Optimists believed their rule might disincentivize violence among ideological allies and enable pragmatic governance. However, these expectations quickly evaporated – at least as far as Afghanistan’s neighbours are concerned .The Afghan Taliban’s radical world view, insistence on their brand of sharia as well as the ambivalence toward the TTP – and the stated reluctance to censure TTP for terrorist violence in Pakistan – threw up new challenges. In 2024, Pakistan experienced a dramatic 66% increase in terror-related fatalities, the highest in nearly a decade. This violence was concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which together accounted for over 90% of casualties. A closer look at the two primary militant actors reveals their divergent but equally dangerous trajectories. The TTP, deeply rooted in Deobandi ideology, aims to establish an Islamic state in Pakistan. Benefitting from the Taliban’s sanctuary in Afghanistan, the group has exploited the porous border to regroup and intensify cross-border attacks. On the other hand, ISKP follows a rigid Salafi-jihadist doctrine with aspirations for a global caliphate. Unlike the TTP, ISKP prioritizes transnational jihad and employs brutal mass-casualty attacks targeting civilians, religious minorities, and rival Sunni factions, including the Taliban. This rivalry between TTP and ISKP reflects broader ideological...
Pakistan Committed to Address Issues Hindering Connectivity with Afghanistan: Special Envoy Muhammad Sadiq
It will take political commitment and sincerity on both sides to steer Pakistan and Afghanistan out of the current tensions and chart the way for a better future. This was the take-away from a day-long civil society dialogue involving representatives from both countries. Nearly two dozen participants drawn from the two countries, also underscored the need for easing restrictions on visas for Afghan citizens, which they agreed, are breeding animosity and negativity among Afghans. The participants of the dialogue, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) pointed out the losses worth millions of dollars that farmers and traders have been enduring due to abrupt border closures and political tensions. These disruptions, coupled with the corruption of officials, hit traders and farmers of both countries. Robust mechanisms and consistent policies can help minimize such disruptions and the ensuing losses, the participants suggested. Intensive discussions centred on girls’ education, terrorism, obstructions in the way of transit and bilateral trade, and visas for Afghan nationals. They also called on both governments to keep politics and trade separate and engage in meaningful dialogue on issues that are of primary concern to both countries. The civil society dialogue took place to the context of a spike in TTP-led terrorist violence and the consequent bombing of the terrorist outfit’s camps in eastern Afghanistan in December. Special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq also attended the session and listened to presentations from both sides. He promised to look into the visa-related complaints and issues encountered by common Afghans, and also informed the audience of the multiple steps the government is taking to smoothen visa processes and facilitate traders on both sides of the border. “Only through mutual consultations can we overcome problems that are hindering peoples’ and goods movement between the two countries”, delegates...
A Year of Narrative Building and Community Development
The historical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have not always translated into harmonious state-level relations. In light of this, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has established the Afghan Studies Center (ASC) with the objective of facilitating people-to-people interactions, encouraging the participation of youth and promoting empowerment through various initiatives. ASC has undertaken various activities, projects, and research reports to engage youth in track III diplomacy.
Whose Victory Was It Anyway? The 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh
In this eye-opening research paper, Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Islam Khan, a retired Group Captain of the Bangladesh Air Force, raises serious questions about the Indian role in the creation of Bangladesh. While Bengalis took credit of liberation, the Indians projected the event as a victory over Pakistan, and hence no senior Bengali army officer was invited to the ceremony where the surrender was signed. A Seemingly Intuitive Question? On the 54th Victory Day of Bangladesh, the Indian Prime Minister in his official X handle (formerly Twitter) posted: “today we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India's historic victory in 1971.”1 Modiji’s message, seemingly undermining Bangladesh’s ownership of the 1971 Liberation War raised an intuitive question: whose victory was it anyway? The Bangladeshi polity reacted sharply. Ordinary citizens, politicians, and government executives condemned the Indian Prime Minister's misleading recollection of history and distortion of the truth, further fueling the strained bilateral relationship after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and her subsequent asylum in India. 2 Amidst the flurry of emotive reactions to Modiji’s Vijay Diwas message, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) response stands out as an evidence-based reminder of the historical truth of 16 December 1971—the day on which the Pakistani troops surrendered at Dhaka, marking the victory of Bangladesh's nine-month-long liberation struggle. Quoting J. N. Dixit – former Indian Foreign Secretary, diplomat and National Security Adviser - the MOFA in its social media account posted: “A major political mistake at the surrender ceremony [of Pakistani forces at Dhaka on 16 December 1971] was the Indian military high command’s failure to ensure the presence of General M.A.G. Osmani, Commander from the Bangladesh side on the Joint Command…This was an unfortunate aberration which India could have avoided. The event...
2024 MARKS DEADLIEST YEAR FOR PAKISTAN’S SECURITY FORCES, RECORD HIGH FATALITIES IN A DECADE
CRSS Annual Security Report 2024 Security Landscape of Pakistan’s 2024 With at least 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks suffered, 2024 turned out to be the deadliest year for Pakistan’s civil and military security forces in a decade. Equally alarming were the cumulative losses of civilians and security personnel, i.e. 1612 fatalities, accounting for over 63% of the total recorded this year and marking 73% more losses compared to 934 outlaws eliminated. The overall fatalities recorded this year were a record 9-year high, and over 66% more than 2023. On average, nearly seven lives were lost daily, with November emerging as the deadliest month across all metrics, compared to all other months of the year. The violence took the heaviest toll on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which topped in human losses with 1616 fatalities, followed by Balochistan with 782 fatalities. Key findings of the Annual Security Report 2024 issued by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan. Overall Toll In 2024, Pakistan suffered 2546 violence-linked fatalities and 2267 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws. This tally of casualties stemmed from 1166 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, marking a grim year for country’s security landscape. Comparison with 2023 Compared to last year, these figures mark, i) an over 66% surge in violence (2546 vs 1533 fatalities), ii) over 55% more injuries (2267 vs 1462), and iii) around 49% more incidents (1166 vs 784). Regional Impact | KP & Balochistan - Battleground Provinces KP and Balochistan accounted for 94% of all fatalities and 89% of all incidents across the country. While KP suffered most of fatalities (over 63%) recorded this year, followed by Balochistan (31%), the highest surge in violence, compared to last year, however was recorded in the latter province (90%), followed by the former (65%), and it disregards 260% surge in Islamabad as the number of fatalities remains very low in...
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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.