Current Projects
PM Khan Offers Nationality to Pakistan-Born Afghans
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) is heartened and welcomes Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision, on Sunday September 16, to grant Pakistani citizenship to hundreds of thousands of Afghans born to refugee families in Pakistan. “Afghans whose children have been raised and born in Pakistan will be granted citizenship inshallah (God willing) because this is the established practice in countries around the world. You get an American passport if you are born in America. Then why can’t we do it here. We continue to subject these people to unfair treatment. They are humans. How come we have deprived them and have not arranged for offering them national identification card and passport for 30 years, 40 years,” said PM Khan, while making the announcement at a public event in Karachi. CRSS is pleased to take ‘some’ credit for this unprecedented decision by PM Khan as through its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II initiative Beyond Boundaries CRSS has consistently highlighted the issue with relevant government stakeholders. Some of the major stakeholders included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SAFRON Ministry, Pakistan Military Officials, and the UNHCR. CRSS’ Executive Director Imtiaz Gul also raised the issue in his Op-Eds, commentaries, analyses and TV shows, pressing on the need to naturalize such Afghan refugees, especially those born and raised in Pakistan. On January 12, 2018, Mr. Imtiaz Gul wrote in the Daily Times: “Can’t we stop scape-goating issues of terrorism and sanctuaries by singling out these Afghans as ‘facilitators’ of terror, and instead play a master-stroke by naturalizing all Afghans. Wouldn’t this blunt some of the Pakistan-focused negative rhetoric and create a groundswell of goodwill? The ongoing documentation of the hundreds of thousands of unregistered Afghan refugees could also help in taking this bold decision and winning at least some hearts, instead of continuously taking measure that sow bad blood and keep multiplying the...
Afghan Studies Center Brings Together Pak-Afghan Youth In A Musical Evening & Get Together
Afghan Studies Center (ASC) and the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), on September 05, 2018, hosted a “Pak-Afghan Youth Alumni Get Together, Musical Evening & Dinner” for its alumni at Hillview Hotel, Islamabad. The event was attended by over a hundred young Afghans and Pakistanis from tribal districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Kohat, Hangu as well as Afghans from Jalalabad, Kunduz, Kabul, Badakhshan, and other regions, though currently residing in Pakistan. Additionally, CRSS’ Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II dialogue Beyond Boundaries‘ visiting Afghan delegation that comprised members of Afghan Parliament, Advisors and former Ministers also graced the evening with their presence. The Afghan delegation included Mozammil Shinwari; Advisor to the Office of Afghan Chief Executive Officer on Trade, Khalid Pashtoon; Member of Parliament, Jarullah Mansoori; former Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Sayed Qutbuddin Roydar; former Deputy Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Saleem Khan Kunduzi; former Governor of Nangarhar, Faridoon Sikander; Representative to Afghan Chief Executive, Mohammad Younas Momand; Vice President Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PAJCCI) and Anees Ur Rahman Shinwari; Senior Journalist from National TV of Afghanistan. Former Ambassadors Mian Sanaullah and Ms. Fouzia Mian Sanaullah represented Pakistan’s delegation. Rahimullah Qatra – the Afghan Political Councilor, Afghan Embassy, Islamabad, was the Chief Guest. In the opening, Aized Ali, CRSS Project Director, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and thanked the Chief Guest and Pak-Afghan dignitaries for taking out the time to interact with the youth from both countries. He apprised the audience that the primary objective of the ASC is to encourage peaceful co-existence based on universal values of neighborhood. By providing a platform for the youth of the two countries to interact, exchange ideas and...
[Videos] Pak-Afghan Youth Brought Together In A Musical Evening
At a musical evening & dinner hosted by Afghan Studies Center (ASC) and the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) on September 05, 2018, over a hundred Afghan and Pakistani youth gathered to celebrate their commonalities of language, music, and culture. Young ambassadors from both countries addressed the gathering sharing their views on the improving Pak-Afghan relations and their desire for peace in their country as well as Pakistan-Afghanistan friendship, while also adorning the evening with exquisite performances of the Pashtoon victory dance ‘Attan’. These youth are part of Afghan Studies Center’s 400+ alumni which began in April 2017. https://youtu.be/gP_h_aQN8dk https://youtu.be/reI7anWBcFo https://youtu.be/plmRKL6pOtQ https://youtu.be/Dw_CUfsncG0
CRSS Extend Heartfelt Condolences For The Irreversible Loss of Young Afghan Reporter Faramarz
Center and the Center for Research & Security Studies extend their heartfelt condolences for the atrocious and senseless killing of 28-year-old, young Afghan reporter Samim Faramarz that was unfortunately captured live on national television on Wednesday. Faramarz was on air when the blast from a large explosion cut off the broadcast and killed both him and the cameraman, along with 24 others. The reporter’s last words were: “The area is completely terrorized. I can smell blood here, and as you can see in the pictures …” Faramarz had finished his day’s assignment on Wednesday when the news of an explosion in a wrestling gym in the western part of Kabul claimed by the Islamic State took him and his cameraman, Ramiz Ahmady, 23-year old, to the scene. They reported live from there as the victims were carried by other young men from the gym onto any vehicles they could find when a second blast took place and ended the broadcast. Faramarz is the latest journalist to be brutally killed while working to highlight the human toll of the war in Afghanistan like many others. In September 2016 following a double bombing in Kabul, Faramarz wrote in a post on Facebook, “We live death.” Little did he know the same fate would follow him two years later. In June 2017, after a suicide bombing inside a mosque where the poor were being fed, Faramarz wrote, “Has anyone asked who are the luckier ones: those who die in terrorist attacks and leave this world, or those who are left living to see this oppression with their own eyes.” The news certainly is heartbreaking as the 17-year conflict in Afghanistan persists with the fighting only intensifying. ASC and CRSS extend their deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and hope the conflict in Afghanistan soon finds its peaceful resolution and that the menace of terrorism, which has claimed the lives of thousands so far and continues to do so, can finally be brought to an end. Read his full...
‘APAPPS, revival of US-Pakistan talks will bode well for Afghan peace’
The revival of the US-Pakistan high-level contacts, consensus on the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) and a new government in Islamabad have sparked hopes of peace in war-torn Afghanistan. This was shared by speakers at a meeting held under the Center for Research and Security Studies’ Beyond Boundaries Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/11 in Islamabad on Thursday. The victory speech of newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted the new government’s vision for strengthened Pak-Afghan relations; showing the renewed importance the premier gives to Afghanistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan, for the first time in history, have institutionalized their working relationship under APAPPS for which meetings so far have been wonderful. Presence of this very crucial framework provides both countries the ground to move forward. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is also all set to fly to Kabul soon in this connection. There have been several exchanges of positive messages between governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months. The general understanding is that the new civilian government and military in Pakistan are on the same page, which raises more hopes in Kabul, regarding bilateral relationship, as well as the Afghan peace process. The new government in Islamabad will take some time to settle, afterwards Kabul and Islamabad may fully operationalise the APAPPS framework. Furthermore, members of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee at the meeting stated that both regional and global security dimensions are changing rapidly. In this scenario, Pakistan and Afghanistan are no different. Both of these countries, too, are trying to keep up with the expeditiously unfolding nuances, but there have been significant developments which bode well for the peace and prosperity in Pakistan and Afghanistan. First, the military operations inside Pakistan have gone down to minimum, signaling a better security situation. Second, once the buffer-zone...
Only By Constitutional Awareness, Can Citizens Hold Governments Accountable: Speakers
Democracy does mean freedom as long as you respect everyone’s freedom of conscience and do not interfere with their freedom to make own decisions. Democracy is a system of government for the whole population and it must prevail under any circumstances as dictatorship suspends the fundamental human rights of the citizens. Harnessing future leaders should be one the most important concerns for the government to ensure a better and more connected future. In this regard, the issue of street children must be dealt with on top priority basis given their vulnerability to various menaces and impact on the future of the country. The remarks were made by Ms. Amna Sardar, former member of KP assembly during a discussion and networking workshop on social cohesion titled “Strengthening Peacebuilders and Catalysts for Change”, held by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Peshawar on September 5, 2018. Ms. Amna underscored that representation is one of primary roles of public representatives besides legislation, oversight and budgeting, therefore, they should represent and highlight those issues in the parliament that concern their voters the most as a measure of ensuring inclusive policy making. For a true democracy, the democratic values not only need to be promoted among the public but the public representatives as well, where they need to be familiarized with and sensitized in virtues of tolerance, self-accountability and rule of law. There should be across the board accountability where the citizens should also hold their representatives accountable for their responsibilities. Democracy requires that the judiciary, legislature and executive only commit to adjudication, legislation and execution respectively. The conduct of public institutions and their management of public resources is crucial to good governance. The rights awareness is critical for inclusive democracy where the aware citizens can actively participate in the political processes and...
Afghan Studies Centre Holds Talk Session to Mitigate Misunderstanding Across Borders
Regional as well as global security dimensions are changing fast. New alignments and realignments are in the making; unexpected blocks are emerging. In this scenario, Pakistan and Afghanistan are no different. Both of these countries, too, are trying to keep up with the expeditiously unfolding nuances. It is in this context that a need for joint framework or mechanism, especially one on the security aspect, was felt materialising into Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace & Solidarity (APAPPS). Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik thinks all this augers well for future cooperation. He was speaking at the 15th Pak-Afghan Youth Dialogue – a youth initiative by Afghan Studies Centre and a peace building step aimed at mitigating the existing misunderstandings and misperceptions across both borders. Lt General Asif Yasin Malik believes the APAPPS framework manifests the intent from both sides to work together now and seek solutions to issues of mutual concern. The most promising factor about APAPPS is its exclusive Pak-Afghan bilateralism, he said. Pakistan and Afghanistan are in a transition-stage, though from different perspectives. Pakistan is moving forward towards an improved form of democracy and good-governance, while the Afghan people, having tasted the flavor of democracy, institutionalisation, education and women’s rights to an extent, do not wish to go back; they want to move forward. Today, Pak-Afghan relations cannot be viewed without keeping in consideration the unprecedented circumstances in the context of global politics. American dominance is shrinking gradually, firstly, because of the active role of China and Russia in international affairs and, secondly, due to the inward-looking policies of United States President Donald Trump’s administration. China is rising in the international power game while Moscow, on the other hand, is flexing its muscles again, faced further by the threat of the ideological spill-over from Afghanistan. On the other...
Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Role of Political Parties in Social Cohesion
August 16, 2018: The 24th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on June 29, 2018, on the topic of “Role of Political Parties in Social Cohesion”. The guest on show, Mr. Arif Yousuf, former MPA, said there are more than 72 regional and national level political parties in the country as per the Election Commission of Pakistan. These political parties can be very instrumental in strengthening the social fabric and fostering national cohesion and progress. If all these parties pursue the common objective of social cohesion, the dream of a sustainable peace will become a reality for Pakistan. He emphasized that the political parties must educate their workers on core democratic practices and values; critical to social cohesion. The guest on phone, Ms. Shagufta Malik, former MPA, was of the opinion that political leaders can easily promote the concepts of tolerance, respect and brotherhood among their followers besides the best democratic practices within their respective parties. Both state and civil society need to make concerted efforts to raise awareness among the masses and particularly women on the importance of participating in the democratic processes and utilize these avenues to foster social cohesion in the society. “Political parties are one of the most important stakeholders when it comes to social cohesion. They can play an enormously important part in bringing public together on a single platform, and build on commonalities”, said Malik Falak Naz, a student in the radio report. 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 core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor...
Way forward for ex-FATA requires mainstreaming in an inclusive way: CRSS Consultation
The provincial and local government elections should be held immediately in the new tribal districts, also the funds allocated for the development of FATA under NFC Award must be transferred without any delay to foster peace and prosperity in the region. These were the remarks made by the former MNA and PML-N representative Shahabuddin Khan Salarzai during a consultative meeting on Mainstreaming FATA - The Way Forward Post Merger with KP, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Peshawar on August 10, 2018. The money allocated under NFC Award for FATA - Rs.100 billion - will be critical to not only address the disgruntled tribal people’s grievances, make up for their 70 years long deprivation but also to foster socio-political, and economic development and last but not the least capital formation in the area. The allocation augurs well for better education and health facilities in the region. The tribal people should also give up old ways of thinking and backward traditions and adapt to the perspectives of modern age; such as harmony and peace. The tribal elders and chieftains should educate their children to help them compete with the counterparts; compatriots from other parts of the country. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s parliamentarians, Mr. Sajid Momand and Iqbal Afridi said that their party would take steps for the repealing of the new FATA Interim Governance Regulation, as it was completely in contrast to the democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. Recognizing the services and sacrifices of Khasadar force for peace in ex-FATA, they suggested that instead of laying off the cadre, it should be merged into the levy force given the economic reliance of thousands of families on the employment opportunities offered by the force. They called for the application and implementation of the Constitution of Pakistan to the tribal areas in letter and spirit. Senior journalist and analyst, Dr. Ashraf Ali termed the CRSS...
Counter-terrorism: The Chinese Way
Unfazed by the Trumpian tariff wars and determined to create its own relevance to a geo-politically complex landscape, China is on the move to realise its stated goal of ‘shared development through connectivity’ under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Western skepticism on some elements of the BRI notwithstanding, the Chinese leadership is slowly but carefully trying to diplomatically wade through a complex regional neighbourhood, and at the same time offer its facilitating arm to mitigate conflicts through multilateral engagement. The first-ever unofficial Afghan-Pakistan-China Trilateral Counter-Terrorism dialogue recently held in Beijing illustrates this ambition. Chen Zhimin, the president of the China Association of Friendship (CAF), who hosted the meeting, told the Pakistani and Afghan friends, also represented by two senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that cross-border mobility of terrorist networks and their technical capabilities represented a major threat and required to be tackled with an integrated regional approach. In an indirect advice to Pakistan, Chinese officials, while acknowledging significant success against terrorist groups such as TTP and its Jamaatul Ahrar faction, also begrudged the fact that the issue of ideological extremism is not being adequately addressed in the country. They also proposed joint research ventures by think tanks to ‘generate further understanding of the issue surrounding extremist and terrorist groups’. Mr. Zhimin, the CAF president, reiterated Beijing’s position on Afghanistan’s peace process and its significance for counter-terrorism. “Peace dialogue should be led by Afghans themselves in an effort to remove internal differences of opinion. We will stand by in these efforts,” he said, and also touched on another critical issue at the heart of multilateral disagreements: who is a terrorist. “There is a need for clearly defining and identifying terrorist groups in order to develop collective and...
TOP STORIES
TESTIMONIALS
“
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.