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Malala to VOA: Pakistanis ‘Have Stood Against Extremists’

Malala Yousafzai says she wants the world to know that there is peace in Pakistan and that its people have stood up to extremists. That is the message the Nobel Peace Prize laureate wanted to deliver during a previously unannounced four-day visit to her homeland that ended Monday, she told VOA in an interview. The visit was her first to Pakistan since 2012, when she was shot in the head at age 14 by Taliban militants opposed to her efforts to promote girls' right to an education. Yousafzai is now a 20-year-old student at Britain's Oxford University and the co-founder of the Malala Fund, which has invested more than $6 million in projects supporting the education of girls. In the interview, Yousafzai said it was important for her to come back to Pakistan. "In the outside world, internationally, there are concerns that Pakistan is a terrorist country or there is no peace in Pakistan," she said. "So, my trip was important to give the message that there is peace in Pakistan and the people of Pakistan have stood against extremists." Shortly after her arrival in the capital on Thursday, Yousafzai met with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and delivered a highly emotional televised speech in which she became tearful while describing her happiness at being home again. "I usually don't cry,' she said in the interview. "It is very rare for me to cry ... I wanted to share my happiness . . . I was happy to be home . . . I wanted to be home . . . I was so desperate to see my land again . . .I think it was something that i just could not control and I cried." That joy was shared by many young Pakistanis. "We're very happy that Malala has come to Pakistan," third grader Arfa Akhtar told Reuters news agency. "I am also Malala. I'm with Malala in this mission." However some Pakistanis feel her campaign has damaged the nation's reputation. Students from a group of private schools in eastern Lahore protested her visit with chants of "I am not Malala," though several other schools...

Malala to VOA: Pakistanis 'Have Stood Against Extremists'

Malala Yousafzai says she wants the world to know that there is peace in Pakistan and that its people have stood up to extremists. That is the message the Nobel Peace Prize laureate wanted to deliver during a previously unannounced four-day visit to her homeland that ended Monday, she told VOA in an interview. The visit was her first to Pakistan since 2012, when she was shot in the head at age 14 by Taliban militants opposed to her efforts to promote girls' right to an education. Yousafzai is now a 20-year-old student at Britain's Oxford University and the co-founder of the Malala Fund, which has invested more than $6 million in projects supporting the education of girls. In the interview, Yousafzai said it was important for her to come back to Pakistan. "In the outside world, internationally, there are concerns that Pakistan is a terrorist country or there is no peace in Pakistan," she said. "So, my trip was important to give the message that there is peace in Pakistan and the people of Pakistan have stood against extremists." Shortly after her arrival in the capital on Thursday, Yousafzai met with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and delivered a highly emotional televised speech in which she became tearful while describing her happiness at being home again. "I usually don't cry,' she said in the interview. "It is very rare for me to cry ... I wanted to share my happiness . . . I was happy to be home . . . I wanted to be home . . . I was so desperate to see my land again . . .I think it was something that i just could not control and I cried." That joy was shared by many young Pakistanis. "We're very happy that Malala has come to Pakistan," third grader Arfa Akhtar told Reuters news agency. "I am also Malala. I'm with Malala in this mission." However some Pakistanis feel her campaign has damaged the nation's reputation. Students from a group of private schools in eastern Lahore protested her visit with chants of "I am not Malala," though several other schools...

Training Women in Countering Terrorism

Women are also joining the force that specialises in countering terrorism. The Counter-Terrorism Force (CTF) in Islamabad was made operational in January with about 386 personnel, including 23 women. The CTF was established under the National Action Plan (NAP) with the strength of 970 officials. Out of these posts, 76 are reserved for women. In the first batch, 23 women officials, including an assistant sub-inspector, were imparted training while another batch of 25 women is undergoing training and will join the force soon. Women got the same training which was imparted to their male colleagues except for sniper training. They were trained on how to deal with violent extremism, sectarianism, militancy and terrorism. Besides, they also got specialised training from the Elite Training School Bedian and the Special Services Group (SSG) as well as from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Academy on intelligence gathering. Like their male counterparts, they are equipped with weapons such as a sub-machinegun and a pistol, a dagger along with body armour when deployed either on security duty or action/raid. The women officials participated in security duties on last Ashura and on Pakistan Day this year. Besides, they are also deputed to guard diplomats and foreign dignitaries. They also took part in search operations conducted by the police along with Rangers and other security agencies. Some of the officials told Dawn that they joined the force of their free will. Most of them came from families which had a police service background. “There is nothing uncomfortable in wearing the uniform. The scarf has been made a part of the uniform and we are comfortable with it,” one of the trainee said. Trainees listen to their instructor at the Police Lines Headquarters _______________________________________________________________________ The women officials said they got training with their male colleagues and gave them a tough time during competitions, including race and physical...

Pakistani, Afghan Traders to Unveil Policy to Enhance Economic Connectivity

Tensions bring down trade from $2.5 billion to $1.4 billion: delegates Pakistani and Afghan traders are developing a cross-border stakeholders’ policy advocacy draft for reducing trust deficit and enhancing economic connectivity across the border. Businessmen from both countries, who met in Islamabad on Monday, sought meetings with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and and the Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for deliberating on the proposed strategy for incorporating strategic insight and facilitate the issues hampering the historical ties between two brotherly nations. The Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI) conducted the day-long round-table meeting to nurture the environment of trust and facilitate initiation of table talks between the two countries for peace and economic prosperity across the border. It was also highlighted that these worsening relations have also affected trade of Pakistan with Central Asian countries and has a devastating impact on the local economy. The participants pointed out that despite having potential of $5 billion, lately trade has fallen from $2.5 billion to $1.4 billion because of bilateral tensions that caused other countries to penetrate in Afghanistan easily, as India has recently acquired a very strong hold both socially and economically in the Afghanistan, causing double damage to the Pakistani economy and neighborly relationship. Additionally the recent figures are showing a rise in Afghanistan’s trade with Iran (both transit and bilateral) and a corresponding decline in business with Pakistan due to disturbing political ties accruing since long. Zubair Motiwala, Chairman PAJCCI told the delegates that Karachi is the most economical route for Transit Trade for Afghanistan; however, Iran’s facilitation to Afghan businessmen is pulling the business away. He urged both the governments to consider the effects of recent political turmoil over bilateral...

CRSS Launches its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II Dialogue ‘Beyond Boundaries’ Phase II Publication

NOTE: This latest publication captures all the previous rounds of CRSS's cross-border Track 11/1.5 initiative Beyond Boundaries. While it illustrates the progress and activities of the initiative, the publication also provides a comprehensive and referenced historical overview of Pak-Afghan relations. CRSS hopes that this document serves as a basic brief guide for all those who want to discover the evolution of the relations between the two neighbours. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – as part of its efforts to improve bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan – continued its Track 1.5/II initiative - Beyond Boundaries - in partnership with Afghan counterpart organization Women & Peace Studies Organization (WPSO) from August 2016 to March 2017. The phase I of the initiative ran through October 2015 to March 2016 in partnership with Afghan counterpart organization Duran Research and Analysis (DRA); these rounds brought together Afghan and Pakistani security and civil society experts for an unprecedented series of about a dozen meetings to discuss bilateral acrimony, help deescalate the heightened tensions, soothe the bitter context and explore ways of cooperation between the two neighbors. The phase II of Beyond Boundaries built on the successful outcome of its prequel and convened six more meetings through the formation of Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC) comprising up to seven influential members such as parliamentarians, security experts, retired civil and military bureaucrats, senior media persons, and civil society activists from both countries. The PAJC was developed as a bilateral Track II mechanism to mitigate overcome the deeply-rooted acrimony, minimize distrust and remove misperceptions through reciprocal visits, meetings with high level government officials, and through focused and meaningful dialogues among the PAJC group members. Border management, security, easement of formal...

CRSS Launches its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II Dialogue 'Beyond Boundaries' Phase II Publication

NOTE: This latest publication captures all the previous rounds of CRSS's cross-border Track 11/1.5 initiative Beyond Boundaries. While it illustrates the progress and activities of the initiative, the publication also provides a comprehensive and referenced historical overview of Pak-Afghan relations. CRSS hopes that this document serves as a basic brief guide for all those who want to discover the evolution of the relations between the two neighbours. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – as part of its efforts to improve bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan – continued its Track 1.5/II initiative - Beyond Boundaries - in partnership with Afghan counterpart organization Women & Peace Studies Organization (WPSO) from August 2016 to March 2017. The phase I of the initiative ran through October 2015 to March 2016 in partnership with Afghan counterpart organization Duran Research and Analysis (DRA); these rounds brought together Afghan and Pakistani security and civil society experts for an unprecedented series of about a dozen meetings to discuss bilateral acrimony, help deescalate the heightened tensions, soothe the bitter context and explore ways of cooperation between the two neighbors. The phase II of Beyond Boundaries built on the successful outcome of its prequel and convened six more meetings through the formation of Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee (PAJC) comprising up to seven influential members such as parliamentarians, security experts, retired civil and military bureaucrats, senior media persons, and civil society activists from both countries. The PAJC was developed as a bilateral Track II mechanism to mitigate overcome the deeply-rooted acrimony, minimize distrust and remove misperceptions through reciprocal visits, meetings with high level government officials, and through focused and meaningful dialogues among the PAJC group members. Border management, security, easement of formal...

New South Asia Geography

The contours of a new economic and political geography within South Asia are clearly emerging on the map with enhanced connectivity among China, Pakistan, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. This transition is already having a remarkable influence on the thinking patterns, politics, cultures and economic developments in this region. While the traditional South Asian political elite remains in a perpetual denial captured by populist internal dynamics, the subcontinent has already disintegrated once again. For the two South Asian nuclear powers, it is perhaps the right time to get out of their historical baggage and start working on dealing with the new realities and models of engagement with multiple players in the next many years to come. There are fundamental foreign, economic, security and overall public policy shifts which are bound to emerge as a result of the new regional alliances. Also read: Talking about the economy For the first time, this new geography is primarily driven by the dynamics of economic proximity rather than a security-led paradigm which dominated the region for many decades. China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the strategic China Pakistan Economic Corridor have laid solid foundations. The success of CPEC as a transformational investment is critical for both China and Pakistan to demonstrate their ability to steer this region towards a shared prosperity. For Pakistan, three areas of structural reforms need urgent attention for managing an extraordinary transition. Pakistan is struggling to design and implement structural reforms to increase its institutional capacity for maximising the CPEC outcomes for the benefit of its over 100 million young labour force. CPEC should not be seen as merely an infrastructure investment, it must reflect President Xi’s vision of tackling corruption, cleaner environment and uplifting the quality of life for the marginalised. For Pakistan, three areas of structural reforms need urgent...

[Video] Defining the China Model of Meritocracy – Zhang Weiwei

Why is the one-party system right for China? Political scientist Zhang Weiwei explains the CPC bears no similarity with western political parties. It aims at representing the interests of the vast majority of the population, whereas political parties of the West by definition work for the benefit of a small minority. The video also explains the importance of meritocracy for the Chinese political culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoBIX8WDjVM (Source Guan Video and CGTN)

Rule of Law a Collective Responsibility: Muhammad Ali Babakhel, DIG KP Police

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. Cultivating youth in the core constitutional values is the key recipe for social peace and harmony. Rule of law is primary condition for socio-political and economic progress, and democratic development of the country. The citizens’ active participation in the democratic process requires awareness and education on their democratic roles and responsibilities. There were the remarks made by the speakers during the third round of Ulasi Taroon, Youth Capacity Building Workshops organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar from March 14-15, 2018. Mr. Muhammad Ali Babakhel, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), KP said that rule of law is an endeavor to bring order; it’s an individual endeavor but collective responsibility. Rule of law is directly proportional to the respect for core constitutional values – critical to social peace and cohesion, the more the respect, the better the rule of law. Consultation, tolerance, respect and equality (before law) are the basic essences for rule of law besides awareness and education on law of the land and citizens’ rights and responsibilities. This also includes education of the implementing authorities on laws and policies. The democratic development and socio-political and economic progress of the country are not possible without adherence to rule of law and its indiscriminate application on everyone. Rule of law cannot be upheld unless the policy making is participatory and inclusive whereas the political will and institutional capacity are equally important. We need to push the youth to realism; moving them away from the idealism. The volunteerism is the missing link in the society which is also a very critical element of rule of law. Mrs. Amna Sardar, Member of KP Assembly and Secretary Women Parliamentary Caucus said that...

Ulasi Taroon Showcase: Role of Women in Peacebuilding

The eighth radio program as part of Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on February 23, 2018, on the topic of “Role of Women in Peacebuilding.” The first guest on show, Ms. Nosheen Jamal, social activist, said that exhibiting tolerance for diversity and respect for differences are fundamental prerequisites for social peace, harmony and cohesion. She added that decision making at national and provincial assemblies needed to be more inclusive where women representatives actively participated in these processes for meaningful input on policy issues. The second guest on show, Sakina Momand, social activist, said that due to religious and cultural barriers, the female councillors faced a lot of challenges during their interactions with the communities at the grass root level. The third guest on show, Mr. Ali Akbar, Bureau Chief, Dawn News, Peshawar, said that social cohesion could not be achieved with just one gender's contribution. Both men and women must realize their mutual interdependence for peace-building and conflict resolution. The guest on phone, Ms. Amna Sardar, MPA, KP Assembly, said the female MPs come across traditional male dominance even in legislature. Their feedback and input for legislation and policy matters need to be given equal importance. The initiatives of female parliamentarians like child marriage restraint and domestic violence bills are the indicators of their contribution in peacebuilding. A caller told that education is key to helping women fathom the importance of their role in peacebuilding and social cohesion. 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...