Current Projects
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Importance of Gender Equality for Social Cohesion
The 51st radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on January 11, 2019, on the theme of “Importance of Gender Equality for Social Cohesion”. The guest on show, Mr. Inamullah Marwat, Analyst, The Nation, noted the gender equality is a prerequisite for social cohesion where all members of a society – regardless of their gender, colour, cast, creed, and social, economic and political backgrounds - are treated equally, given equal opportunities and considered important part of the society. The difference between sex and gender also needs to be understood to foster gender equality. The cohesion in any society is directly and greatly proportional to the level of inclusion of the female population with regard to their socio-economic and political participation. He said that Pakistan is stuck between the traditional and modern social fabric; taking gender equality at times as a threat to the religious ideology though the values of equality are enshrined in the religious tenets including Islam. Nobody should be allowed to exploit the religious narrative for one’s own partial interest. There is a dire need to foster dispassionate dialogue among people from different walks of life, bring much needed changes in educational curricula and launch awareness campaigns at the mass level on the on social values of equality critical for peace and harmony. The teaching faculties at all levels must encourage gender equity. The academic discussions and popular media discourse must be inclusive of the roles and responsibilities of citizens; men and women to foster responsible citizenship. Equal inclusion of all genders in democratic processes can ensure inclusive policy making and help developing an alternative narrative crucial for peacebuilding. The guest on call, Ms. Sana Ejaz, a social activist, said that gender equality must begin at home. Women empowerment can be...
Open Letter to Afghan President Ghani
Respectable Mr President Following nearly four decades of war, Afghanistan may be at the cusp of an extremely critical juncture of history. The tedious efforts for ending the conflict appear to be getting serious, albeit with usual, though not unexpected, hiccups. But the US-Taliban talks – supported by all major regional stakeholders – could not have come thus far had it not been for your own contribution towards conflict resolution in many ways and you deserve undiluted credit for it. Firstly, you risked your political career by stepping into Pakistan’s mighty General Headquarters on November 14, 2014, in the hope of getting peace for Afghanistan. Secondly, you displayed unprecedented courage and political acumen to attend the Heart of Asia conference in Islamabad in December 2015 (despite strong opposition from within the National Unity government). Thirdly, you are indeed the undisputed author of the landmark three-day ceasefire (June 2018) that silenced guns across Afghanistan and allowed all Afghans embrace one another without the fear of a deadly ambush or a suicide attack (by Taliban). This hold in fire indeed ignited – for the first time – hopes that such an across-the-board meeting of Afghan minds is possible. Fourthly, Mr President, you belong to only a handful of Afghan leaders of the modern day Afghanistan, including, of course, your predecessor Hamid Karzai. Both of you are meanwhile an indelible asset for the dominant majority of the conflict-fatigued and peace-craving Afghans. They are all looking up to you for a way out of the bloodshed. Fifth, the progress that the Afghan women witnessed under your presidency also vouches for the wisdom of an academic and technocrat who considers women as an essential element of national progress. The list of your initiatives is long but the aforementioned points alone are more than enough to underscore your importance and your continued relevance to the peace process. As Taliban – who have transitioned from a...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Ulasi Taroon’s Journey at a Glance
The 50th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on January 04, 2019, on the theme of “Ulasi Taroon’s Journey at a Glance”. The show was a reflection on the journey of Ulasi Taroon initiative and its different components. The first guest on show, Mr. Shams Momand, Project Manager, Ulasi Taroon, noted that the initiative was an attempt to strengthen cohesion among the people from diverse backgrounds; educating them in the virtues of unity, responsible citizenship and peaceful coexistence despite differences. It promotes the values of mutual respect, tolerance, acceptance, equality and rule of law. It’s a multilateral initiative with the core prongs like i) strategic communication: for sensitizing the communities at-large - through radio advocacy campaign - on the values of social cohesion and ii) youth development: for enhancing the capacity of future leaders - in the universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province - to help them lead peaceful conflict resolution in their respective spheres. The second guest on show, Mr. Shahab-ud-Din, a senior journalist and one of the hosts for Ulasi Taroon radio programs, said CRSS had been actively involved in the promotion of tolerance perspectives and positive messaging; to delegitimize the extremist ideologies and prevent radicalization. It has more than a decade of experience of working around several social issues of critical importance like rule of law, democracy, governance, peace and security, counter-radicalization; employing its expertise in strategic communication, youth leadership development and dialogue. He added that the 49 radio programs aired so far as part of the initiative have covered a diverse range of issues critical to peacebuilding which, considering the commercial radio trends, is in itself a great achievement of generating such a unique and relevant discourse. We should cultivate and...
IMF — cure or curse
After his meeting with Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in Dubai, Prime Minister Imran Khan says they both have agreed on the need to carry out deep
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Jinnah’s Vision for Social Cohesion
The 49th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on December 28, 2018, on the theme of “Jinnah’s Vision for Social Cohesion”. The show began with the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s well known address to the Constituent Assembly in the port city of Karachi on 11 August 1947, three days before the creation of Pakistan, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state”. The first guest on show, Mr. Zulfiqar, a lecturer of Pakistan Studies in Islamia College Peshawar, noted that Jinnah advocated for human rights all his life as he was not just the leader of Muslims but the leader of humanity. He always believed in inclusion at all stages of his struggle and promoted the idea that Muslims are one nation and they are different from others. Jinnah’s historical speech on August 11, 1947 envisaged a tolerant Pakistan with the inclusion of the communities of all faiths with equal rights. His vision was to preserve the identity of each culture and province while treating them equally. We need to teach our youth about why and how Jinnah was successful in achieving his mission. He believed in women’s equal participation in the development of the country. He often said that if my sister was not there, I would not have done what I did. Given the ideals enshrined in Jinnah’s vision, state of Pakistan should ensure equal citizenry and work towards a society free from discrimination, ensure social inclusion, build social capital and provide equal opportunities for social mobility to the people. The second guest on show, Ms. Hina emphasized that youth needs to learn from Quaid’s vision of democracy. Unity is the binding factors in any society and prerequisite for...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Roles and Responsibilities of Youth in Tribal Districts
The 48th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on December 21, 2018, on the theme of “Roles and Responsibilities of Youth in Tribal Districts”. The first guest on show, Mr. Saeed Safi, a youth activist, noted, “History shows us that no revolution or movement in the world has ever succeeded without an active role of youth. It is also evident from the lasting struggle of youth from the tribal districts where they made tremendous contributions in achieving the much awaited integration of former FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”. He further elaborated that the struggle is far from over and the youth has now braced itself to translate the peace process into a lasting success. The youth in tribal districts is actively working to educate the tribesmen on the rights and other provisions - enshrined in the constitution - available to them post KP-FATA merger. There are almost 26 active youth organizations in the tribal districts and it’s heartening to see many young tribal girls as part of the movement. The guest on phone, Mr. Inayat Ullah Salarzai, another youth activist from tribal districts underlined that with an active and productive role of youth, every country can make progress. The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam had clearly stressed upon the role of youth for a bright and prosperous future of Pakistan. Like the rest of the country, the youth in the tribal region has a huge potential, they just need opportunities to grow, channelize their talent and energies for the rapid development of the tribal districts and show a positive image of the region i.e. they are not terrorists and like progress, development and social integration. The state and the political leaders should provide a conducive environment to these youth leaders to help them explore their potential. “The future belongs to youth and there is a huge onus on them to work harder for a better...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Peaceful Conflict Resolution
The 47th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on December 14, 2018, on the theme of “Peaceful Conflict Resolution”. The first guest on show, Dr. Jamil noted that the dialogue is the best way to resolve conflicts at the state, organizational or individual level. History explains that the war and violence has never served as a solution of any problem. Only by resorting to dialogue for conflict resolution, and through mutual understanding and empathy, can you expect a sustainable peace. The conflict is a natural response to nature and external stimuli. Wherever the human beings reside, they may have some conflicts with each other or even with nature. The views and ideas among different individuals and groups may vary/ differ based on different perceptions, background and experiences. Our common perception about the conflict is the disputes and disagreements among individuals, groups, nations and countries. But in case of enlightened people, the conflicts can also be of positive nature which can result in the great developments and advancements in different fields of life. History shows that the use of force has never resolved a conflict, but it is through the table talks and dialogue where the conflicts are resolved. A society that develops the culture of discussion and dialogue is able to resolve internal and external conflicts amicably. The second guest on show, Mr. Adnan noted that the major conflict drivers are misinterpretations and misconceptions and not paying any attention to the conflicts for their resolution will only worsen the situation. We often discuss and pay attention to armed conflicts but the conflicts inside the families and communities can be extremely detrimental to social cohesion. Conflict resolution should be considered as an important skill to master for all members of the society given the repercussions of mismanaged or...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Social Inclusion for People with Disabilities
The 46th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on December 07, 2018, on the theme of “Social Inclusion for People with Disabilities”. The show was dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The first guest on show, Mr. Zawar, a representative of an organization for the special people, noted that the disabled people are also an important part of this society and they can equally contribute in social cohesion. The social inclusion demands an equal importance, value and respect for them besides equal opportunities for participation in the socio-political and economic processes. The real disability lies not within the disabled persons but within the attitudes and conduct of the rest of the society. The society should recognize the role and importance of disabled people and give equal rights and space to them in the society. The second guest on show, Mr. Wadan said that he was thankful to CRSS for offering such an opportunity and medium to communicate. He said that people do not pay much attention to and lack empathy towards the persons with disabilities. If the society does not display positive attitudes towards the special people, then their problems will be multiplied manifold. We should not make the disabled people do something odd or inappropriate. It can be very discouraging for them to be involved in unsuitable jobs where the normal people are involved in ordinary jobs. We should never ascribe ridiculous names for physical disability. The third guest on show, Mr. Javed was of the opinion that the state must underpin and ensure inclusive facilities in the schools, institutions and all other public places to resolve the problems concerning the disabled population. The guest on phone, Ms. Afshan Afridi, an activist for the rights of the disabled persons, shared that the disabled population ought to be economically empowered as a...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Interfaith Harmony
The 45th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on November 30, 2018, on the theme of “Interfaith Harmony”. The first guest on show, Mr. Gurpal Singh, a representative of Sikh community, noted that the world is like a bouquet and different religions are its colors. We should respect all the faiths and live peacefully, in harmony. If people study their own religion in detail, they will definitely respect the faiths of others. He emphasized that the interfaith harmony is one of the most critical needs of our country to prosper and succeed and it can be achieved by exhibiting tolerance towards one another. Some hostile elements will always try to disrupt the peace and only by displaying tolerance and understanding, can we coexist peacefully and achieve harmony. The second guest on show, Mr. Hassan Madani said that there is a dire need to promote acceptance and tolerance for and of others opinions and diversity respectively. Interfaith harmony not only demands harmony among the religious leaders from different faiths but also the cohesion and harmony among the followers of the different faiths, and that can happen only through mutual understanding, respect and trust. It will also foster the individuals’ freedom of practicing their own religions as equal citizens. The guest on call, Moulana Jalil Jan added that the prophets and elders of all the religions should be respected and valued; as a duty of the believers of different faiths. No prophet should be insulted on the name of freedom of expression as no religion on earth allows to disrespect others’ faiths. “All the religions have common basic teachings. Peace, love, humanity, acceptance and truth are the common values; enshrined not only in the tenets of Islam but also the Hinduism, Buddhism, Baha’i Faith, Sikhism and others. Unless all the believers of different faiths cultivate and nurture acceptance...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Importance of Soft Skills for Youth Development
The 44th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on November 23, 2018, on the theme of “Importance of Soft Skills for Youth Development”. The guests on show, Mr. Fawad Wazir, a student from Political Science Department, University of Peshawar and Mr. Adnan Khan, Department of Journalism, University of Peshawar, were of the views that youth is the future of any nation, and along with academic excellence, their soft skills development can make them a responsible citizens and successful individuals. Mr. Adnan noted that there is a huge onus on the educational institutions to provide opportunities for soft skills development and inculcate the youth with the tolerance perspectives and values of respect and coexistence. Efforts are direly needed to develop critical thinking among our students at all levels of education, so that they are able to challenge the stereotypes living in the society. This will enable our future leaders to generate critical discourse fundamental to the socio-political progress of the country. Mr. Fawad said that skills like leadership, tolerance, flexibility and communication can help in achieving social cohesion, capital and inclusion, interfaith harmony and mutual respect in a society. Our curriculum and social structure need to bolster these ideals; providing the opportunities and a conducive environment to the youth to develop and deploy these skills. The cultivation should begin at home where the families should act as a breeding ground for soft skills and responsible citizenship. Furthermore, the role of civil society, media and above all, academia is critical to polish and nurture these soft skills. The guest on call Mrs. Shagufta, an educationist, emphasized that the students should be encouraged to ask questions to help them think out of the box, be more creative and not just be a memorizing machines. “In my interaction with...
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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.