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Pakistan: Remarkable reduction in violence between 2013-2018
Across Pakistan and across all metrics, violence-related casualties continued to decline in 2018, registering 45% drop from the previous year and 86% drop since 2013, says annual report 2018 of ‘The Center for Research and Security Studies. According to annual report 2018 of ‘The Center for Research and Security Studies’, if look purely at fatalities from terror attacks and incidents, the number dropped 83% from 4643 in 2013 to 754 in 2018. This unprecedented drop in violence across the country as the bulk of the success is owed to the extensive kinetic operations conducted across the country. However, according to annual report 2018 of ‘The Center for Research and Security Studies, while the progress on eliminating terrorism is exceptional, the progress on eliminating its root cause of extremism remains woeful at best. Two major incidents in 2014 precipitated this decline. The first was a brazen attack on Karachi airport in May, 2014. This resulted in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, a military response to rid the tribal region of FATA of militants, the province of Balochistan of insurgents, and the city of Karachi of urban crime. Second, terrorist attacked a school in December, in an incident that would leave a permanent mark on the country, killing 135 children and school staff members. In response, the Pakistan government enacted the National Action Plan (NAP), designed to root out terrorism and extremism from the country. The reports say that this document and subsequent actions provided further impetus to the ongoing operation, and fueled policy changes aimed at improving security. Between 2013 and 2018, a total of 23754 people died from violence-related incidents. Of these, 13428 perished in terror/insurgent attacks, 8976 in counter-terror/counter-insurgency operations, and 1350 from robberies, drone attacks, and other forms of criminal activities. Sindh suffered the highest number of fatalities and Balochistan the highest number of injuries, despite FATA being the...
Mankind Must Put An End To War Before War Puts An End To Mankind, Highlights Pak-Afghan Youth At Afghan Studies Center
US and Afghan Taliban, it seems to be, will reach an agreement soon. Though, later, Afghan Taliban will have to sit with the Afghan government to materialize the intra-Afghan agreement. Pakistan is doing everything in its capacity to set the table between the Taliban and the Afghan government, as Pakistan believes in an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for lasting peace and development. Whatever the flaws may be in the electoral process, Afghan government represents the Afghan people; it is the only voice they have. Hence, not to take Afghan government on board is out of question, stated Dr. Manzoor Khan Afridi, while speaking at Afghan Studies Center’s 20th Pak-Afghan Youth Dialogue in Islamabad on January 24, 2019. He was speaking on the theme, “Threat Matrix in Afghanistan: Implications for Central Asia & Pakistan.” Participants included Pakistani and Afghan youth enrolled in universities in Pakistan. Afghanistan is passing through the toughest phase in recent decades. Last year was the bloodiest; yet for the first time in a very long time, there also lies a window of opportunity for making history by harnessing peace through talks. Dr. Afridi believed that after US and Afghan Taliban reach an agreement, Taliban will be asked to give up arms and become part of the political process along with Afghan government. He was very optimistic that this time, there may be some tangible gains in terms of achieving peace. Though, he cautioned about the perpetuating threat matrix within Afghanistan which poses challenges to the country’s stability – involving firstly militancy by the Taliban, Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP), drug trafficking, trust deficit between Pakistan and Afghanistan, proxy wars, and limitations of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Besides, narco-economy is also a significant factor in the perpetuating Afghan conflict as it is the financial life-line for militants. Illegal Afghan Opiate Economy is more than $2.8 billion...
Coercive Measures Not Suited to Uphold Rule of Law: CCPO Peshawar
Regardless of our social, political or economic statuses, we must all be subject to and submit before law to ensure everyone’s equality before the law. The social cohesion follows immediately when we believe in the rule of law and certainty of punishment. The fault lines of the society such as deviation from constitution and giving up on rule of law and fundamental human rights can make the deviants ever more vulnerable to the push and pull factors of radicalization, besides causing a massive disintegration and destruction to the social fabric and cohesion. These fault lines were manifest in the incidents that took place in Swat before the military operation to uproot terrorism. These were the remarks made by the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Peshawar, Mr. Qazi Jamil during the fourteenth round of Ulasi Taroon, Youth Capacity Building Workshops organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in collaboration with the Islamia College University, Peshawar from January 22-23, 2019. He said that the stories of our heroes who went above and beyond the call of their duties and displayed exceptional courage and commitment to uphold rule of law are worth remembering and disseminating to underline the precious value and cost of rule of law in the country. This is hoped to inspire the citizens to commit to and promote rule of law. People may hold views and grievances against the government and state institutions for misperformance and delivery failure but it should never ever translate to violence and rebellion. The youth has a crucial role in this regard; they should study and research and make positive interventions accordingly - through peace advocacy. We may have disagreements but social cohesion demands shared goals, common objectives and concerted efforts with the inclusive role of people from all segments of the society. The mutual trust and social capital is not only the prerequisite for social cohesion but also for the rule of law. The...
Is Khalilzad a Peacemaker or Peace Breaker
The worst thing a peace negotiator can do is to deploy intimidation on one of his key interlocutors. This is exactly what your special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad did before leaving Kabul on January17. “If the Taliban chose to fight over peace talks, the United States would support the Afghan government,” Khalilzad warned the militia, which is extremely reticent and ultraconservative but still the most wanted player for eventual peace in Afghanistan. This warning, coupled with Khalilzad’s ambiguous if not dubious approach, has not only annoyed the Afghan Taliban but also raised doubts whether he is unconsciously pursuing a policy that has – at least for the time being- stalemated the entire reconciliation process. Mr. President, Khalilzad’s latest conduct has triggered apprehensions here in this part of the world that, being intrinsically averse to Pakistan, he may be double-gaming in the peace process, and thus attempting to jeopardizing not only the entire process but also undermining Pakistan’s readiness to continue facilitating the reconciliation process. Mistrust and double-games – tied to regional geo-politics – could seriously thwart your mission – beyond repair – and the rational intent to hammer out a mutually beneficial and acceptable peace plan. Key players here in Pakistan suspect that, taking advantage of your patronage, Khalilzad, may be using his past venom to discredit Pakistan and spread mistrust among all regional players. This will only prolong the stalemate and hamstring your desire for pulling out of Afghanistan to prevent further financial attrition. Through their official website, Taliban on January 18, made known displeasure over Khalizad’s capital-hoping in the Gulf instead of talking to them in Qatar as detrimental to his own mission. The worst thing a peace negotiator can do is to deploy intimidation on one of his key interlocutors. This is exactly what your special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad did before leaving Kabul on January 17 Mr. President,...
[CRSS Analysis] The Political Economy of China Pakistan Economic Corridor
Introduction: Pakistan and China have been remained close allies and friends for decades. The two countries have faced both good and difficult moments together and tried to help each other without hesitation. From the very creation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 to date, Pakistan has been extending to China whatever support it could at international and regional fora. This also includes recognition of the Republic, its membership of the United Nations (UN), and eventually facilitating the detente with the United States (US). China, on its part, too, has always demonstrated its gratitude for the support it received from Pakistan and has always been keen to help Pakistan where it is possible. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – is the latest manifestation of this unique bilateral relationship. China understands that Pakistan is going through one of the worst economic phases in its history. This phase is attributed to various factors, mainly Pakistan’s participation in the US War on Terror, which inflicted both economic and human loss in the country. Among other factors, climate change is also posing a serious threat to the country. Moreover, poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition are other issues that are also holding Pakistan back. However, China, by understanding Pakistan’s current woes, has yet again extended its hand of cooperation and help in the form of CPEC. CPEC started with the initial estimates of US $46 billion. However, it expanded over time and has now reached to US $62 billion. It is a very comprehensive program covering a number of areas including, but not limited to, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, IT, social development and welfare, skill development, and tourism. CPEC has two dimensions; the first includes Pakistan and the second includes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, its focus is on the needs of Pakistan in the field of economic and social...
Stop Chewing On Unpleasant Past
Had it not been for a former general’s gracious acknowledgment of the US emergency support during the October 2005 earthquake and the 2010 massive floods, a rare breakfast rendezvous with former American ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter – a well-known Pakistan sympathizer – would have been a sheer embarrassment altogether. Most of the questions that Munter, now president of the EastWest Institute, faced from an august gathering, sprang from the bitter past and a skeptical today, reminding the guest of the “bad things” that the US has been doing to Pakistan (read: drones, Salala attack, arrogant spoon-feeding attitude, and the high-handed do-more mantra). “I would request you to stop chewing on an unpleasant past and focus on a better future,” said a visibly upset and frustrated Munter after a few, wrapped-in-history, negative, and cynical questions. Think about what is winnable and not what has happened, he advised. The more you delve on losses, victimhood, anger and frustration, the more you obscure the strong and positive story that you can tell the world, particularly the story since the elections, remarked Munter after listening to the questions coached in the victimhood narrative and mixed with the usual regurgitation of the past. You cannot really win the argument abroad by always projecting yourself as a country of “victims, losers, angry, and resentful people”. Nor will you win respect and acknowledgment through such narratives, remarked an agitated Cameron when reminded of the battering that Pakistan took during his stint as ambassador in Pakistan. During his ambassadorship, the year 2011 was the most tumultuous. In January, CIA contractor Raymond Davis killed three Pakistanis in Lahore. In May, US Seals converged on Abbottabad to terminate Osama bin Laden, and in November, US-NATO Apache gunship helicopters and F-15 jets pounded two border patrol check-posts at Salala, Mohmand Agency (ex-FATA), martyring 28 Pakistani soldiers. With his unusual...
Only by Inclusive Policy Making, Can Women be Economically Empowered: Andleeb Abbas
There is a dire need to inculcate self-confidence and self-belief in the female youth leaders to improve participation of women in the future of Pakistan’s economic stability. Women in Pakistan have infinite potential, they just need opportunities for channelizing their potential and talent into a successful future. The economic empowerment of women require legislation for ease of doing business and to provide them a conducive economic environment. While it is encouraging to see the female chambers endeavoring to voice the female entrepreneurs’ concerns, it is important to have more women representation in the male chambers as a matter of equality. The leadership development of the business community members; motivating them to think outside the box is a fundamentally essential pre-requisite for business development and future growth. These were the remarks made the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, Ms. Andleeb Abbas during the Public-Private Dialogue on Gender Focused Economic Reforms, organized by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – with the strategic support of Ms. Sajida Zulfiqar, MNA - at PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, Islamabad. The event witnessed an overwhelming participation of the members of parliament; especially female parliamentarians and private sector representatives along with the representatives of the State Bank and SMEDA. Referring to the economic alienation of women, she underlined, “If 48% of the country’s overall population is not economically productive, how can we expect a country to develop”. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it is important to understand that more difficult than starting a business, it is to scale-up, sustain and grow a business. Ms. Sajida Zulfiqar, MNA, moderating the discussion, said, “Given the increasing desire of the people to start their own businesses, we need to set-up more chambers to give them a platform to voice their concerns and create critical linkages between the chambers and the...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Role of Literature for Social Cohesion
The 39th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on October 19, 2018, on the theme of “Role of Literature for Social Cohesion”. The show aimed at exploring the different dimensions and aspects of literature and its current and potential contribution for a progressive society. “Writers are considered to be the eyes and ears of a society. Every writer is the child of his own age and reflects his own society”, these were the opening remarks made by the first guest on show, Mrs. Kalsoom Zeb, a writer and poetess. She noted that the poets and literary artists are quite sensitive people and anything that happens in the society is readily and deeply felt by them. Great writers also create a positive impact on their own age. She said that literature is the backbone of a society and without it a society cannot grow. She added that writers and poets can use their talent to promote love, peace and social cohesion in the society. However, the current situation does not offer substantial help and support to them. The second guest in studio, Mrs. Laiba Zaib, a writer and social activist was of the view that the situations and circumstances in the society affect our tolerance level. Social media is an extremely powerful tool and it should be deployed to promote more of the literary content and messages relevant to tolerance, peace and harmony. The literature of a particular era is the reflection of that society. Besides government, the civil society should also support the literary artists. Mrs. Laiba suggested that authors and educated people should make use of social media and promote such literary trends about our culture. Mr. Naseer Khan a government official said in the radio report that when a society has limited role of writers, it faces stagnation. The vibrant literature in the country has a huge potential to lead to a cohesive society. “When this section of a...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Social Cohesion Education
The 38th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on October 12, 2018, on the topic of “Social Cohesion Education”. The show was dedicated to World Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated annually on October 05, 2018. The guests on show including Prof. Ghulam Rehmani and Ms. Falak Naz underlined that the state should formulate a unified system of education to promote cohesion and peace perspectives across the board. The first guest in studio, Mr. Ghulam Rehmani, an educationist, noted that the education is the key to social cohesion and harmony in the society. We have different systems of educations in Pakistan which is contrary to the notion of equality. All these parallelly running systems of education - either governing the public or private educational institutes - should offer a uniform curriculum to underpin equal right to quality education. Currently, the multiple systems of education are leading to disintegration and polarization in the society. The second guest on show, Ms. Falk Naz seconded Mr. Ghulam Rehmani and suggested that curriculum should be designed according to our national needs as currently the aim of our education seems to be only grabbing a certificate or degree and the most important aspect connected with education is forgotten which is human capital development. She suggested that our education should be geared towards polishing and harnessing the hidden potential of the students and make them responsible citizens. A conducive learning environment is the one which promotes dialogue and critical thinking, said Dr. Khadim Hussain in the radio report aired as part of the same radio program. About Ulasi Taroon Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Ulasi Taroon Annual Alumni Gathering
The 37th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on October 05, 2018. The show was dedicated to the Annual Alumni Gathering of Ulasi Taroon initiative held at the City University, Peshawar whose purpose was to reinforce the core concepts – including the ideals of peace and cohesion - of engagement with the youth leaders from the universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Among the guests on show were the youth alumni members including Ms. Maham Khan and Mohammad Mustafa, and Mr. Shams Mohmand representing CRSS. Mr. Shams Mohmand highlighted the objectives of the initiative and the milestones achieved during the first year of the program. Ms. Maham and Mr. Mustafa, both were highly appreciative of the initiative and noted that they feel that Ulasi Taroon had really transformed their lives, the way they interact with others and their approach and behavior towards and with the society respectively. Ms. Maham, Student of City University Peshawar said “It is a good step for peace and awareness in our society and a wonderful intervention to raise awareness among youth on their mandate for social cohesion. I think that CRSS is making tremendous efforts to raise such awareness to create a critical mass of youth as ambassadors of cohesion. I really appreciate CRSS and I will remain a part of CRSS. Ms. Maham further said that the difference of opinion is natural but it shouldn't lead to major conflicts. We must learn to accept the difference of opinion. She emphasized that protest is justified but we must promote dialogue equally and resort to this tool to sort out issues. She appreciated the interactive activities of the workshop that involved the participants in such situations where they were taught to pay respect to the opinions and beliefs of others. We believe that such practices will help avoid conflict in the future, she concluded. The second guest on...
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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.