Current Projects
Afghan War Turns Bloodier
The latest wave of terror attacks in Kabul that has claimed dozens of civilian lives marks the bloodiest phase of the so far 16-year war with the insurgents getting more audacious. The escalation in fighting raises questions about the new US-Afghan strategy. Not that the Afghan capital has not witnessed such high-profile terrorist attacks before, but the ferocity and the frequency of assaults is alarming. Three attacks in a week in high-security zones indicate the increasing capacity and the organisation of the insurgents despite massive escalation in the US air strikes. While the Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for two of the first two attacks, the militant Islamic State (IS) group reportedly carried out the third one. The insurgents have taken the war into the nation’s capital. The rising toll of civilian casualties is disturbing. It signals a shift in insurgent strategy — from gaining territorial control to focusing more on the capital to test the mettle of the Afghan security forces. It seems that the Afghan Taliban and IS are competing when it comes to carnage in the besieged capital and other towns and cities in Afghanistan. The chaos resulting from the violence serves the objective of these militant groups — to undermine the confidence of the Kabul administration. It seems that the Afghan Taliban and IS are in a race to massacre the most people. Indeed, the Afghan National Army has improved its performance greatly over time, but it is still not capable of dealing with such organised terrorist attacks on its own. The frequent breach of security by the insurgents has further exposed the incapacity of the Afghan security agencies. While the Taliban control vast swathes of territory, the increasing presence of IS in Afghanistan is extremely worrisome. The terrorist group that is fighting both Kabul and the Taliban has been responsible for several high-profile attacks in the capital over the last few months. The terrorist group has made some inroads in...
Sabawoon Showcase Jwandai Jazbey January 31st, 2018
Democracy and Leadership The latest episode of Jwandai Jazbey (Alive Spirit) discussed the importance of democracy and leadership. In Pakistan, there are limited opportunities for the youth to get involved in political activities. This is one of the reasons why democracy has not flourished and the low level of awareness in the youth about the core constitutional values and democracy. Qaiser Zaman, Member of Provincial Youth Assembly, social activist and teacher was the guest of the show. He said that if the educated and trained youth is given the opportunity to participate in general elections as candidates, they can improve the fate of the country. He added that without the participation and contribution of women, Pakistan cannot achieve sustainable development and prosperity. He said that the curriculum being taught at government educational institutions should be reshaped completely to make it reflect the new needs and requirements. There were five calls received during the show. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications programme, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, students and women. Socio-cultural affairs are discussed in Ranra on Thursday. The primary objective of the show has been to underline the criticality of constitutionalism, fundamental...
CRSS Annual Security Report 2017
The past year continued the trend of declining violence over the last three years, with many outlaws arrested or convicted. Although the drop in violence-related fatalities was countrywide, the change fluctuates regionally, owing to several factors, including geo-political scenario alterations in the militant strategy. Internationally and domestically, terrorism has witnessed a decline. Daish lost territory in Iraq and Syria, while Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) lost its sanctuaries in the tribal regions of Pakistan. However, territorial loss does not translate to complete elimination, as they continued sporadic attacks throughout the year. Domestically, religious parties in favor of the militants either openly supported the Taliban or provided support in elections for the candidates who were considered to be affiliated with some banned outfits. Blasphemy accusations witnessed a sharp rise in the country involving social activists, media persons, and political party leaders like Imran Khan. A sit-in at Faizabad by a newly formed religious party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) was also in opposition to altering blasphemy laws. The shrinking operational space for militant groups has forced them to change their tactics, thus complicating and testing the security response. Militants also changed their focus to try and inflict damage that would legitimize their presence. Violence along neighboring borders increased significantly. The cross border attacks by the Afghan based militants revealed that a majority of them were Pakistani militants who had crossed borders during the Zarb-e-Azb operation. Additionally, of special consideration is the target killing and battering of media persons in various incidents across the country. To assess and evaluate new challenges and threats being faced by the country, this report makes use of the national print and electronic media sources. Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) scrutinizes the data within the...
Sabawoon Showcase Da Semay Jaaj January 30th, 2018
The latest episode of Da Semay Jaaj (Regional Review) focused on the various issues of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, with reports from Kohat, Swat and Mohmand Agency. Around 20 callers belonging to D.I Khan, Karak, South Waziristan, Peshawar, and Tank, complained regarding the power, gas, schools and infrastructure issues. Molana Ashraf Ali Marwat participated in the show via telephone. Commenting on Tahir Rasheed’s report from Kohat, he said that Islam preaches love, equality and tolerance. The cultural behaviors have become such that they promote hate, inequality and intolerance. Another report discussed the grievances of women local bodies’ members of Swat. Advocate Zehra, member of District Council Peshawar, also participated in the show via telephone. She said that women face discrimination during distribution of funds and other authorities. She said that the government should amend the local bodies’ Act for the betterment of women and minorities. Gul Hussain’s report from Mohmand Agency pointed out violations of human rights due the presence of the FCR (Frontier Crime Regulations) laws. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications program, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 kHz from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, students and women. Socio-cultural affairs are...
CRSS and RDDC launch new study with critical insights on mainstreaming madrassas
The Royal Danish Defense College (RDDC), in collaboration with the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) launched a new book on Tuesday that provided critical insights on mainstreaming madrassas in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It featured research from CRSS and Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), as well Afghanistan-based Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS). The event was attended by many notables, including the Federal Minister for Interior & Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Reforms Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, the National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Nasser Khan Janjua, the Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan H. E. Mr. Rolf Holmboe, and Dean for the RDDC, Mr. Ole Kværnø. Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister for Interior said there was a time that through madrasas, we had the emergence of world's topmost scientists and leaders. He said that it is now a collective responsibility of the Pakistani government as well as the world powers to clean the mess of radicalization. He added that we must understand the causes of militancy and radicalization and find solutions accordingly. He finally stated that what we are facing today is a collective responsibility; therefore, we need to collaborate domestically and internationally together for the cause of peace and stability in Pakistan and beyond. The National Security Advisor said that this is a problem of human resource development, and that is how it must be framed. He added that we have to be considerate to these 3.5 million children in an estimated 38,000 madrassas; they are also sons and daughters of Pakistan. We should want them back with open arms as productive members of society. He stated that people working on madrassa mainstreaming had decided in principle that the children in religious seminaries will also study the same syllabi being taught in conventional schools along with religious education. He added that we have almost completed the...
Sabawoon Showcase Jarga Maraka January 29th, 2018
Importance of Paigham-e-Pakistan Declaration The latest episode of Jarga Maraka (Debate and Council) discussed the very important declaration, Paigham-e-Pakistan, which was announced by the President of Pakistan. “For the first time in the history of Pakistan, more than 1800 renowned Ulema and reputed scholars have collectively signed a declaration called Pagham Pakistan under the auspices of the president of Pakistan in the form of a book in Islamabad renouncing suicidal attacks, declaration of Jihad and chants of heresy by individual and groups as null and void and against the basic precepts of Islam. Only state has the prerogative to declare a Holy war. Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology Prof Doctor Qibla Ayaz was studio guest in the show, he said this was a much needed and in the present situation and it is hoped that when this declaration will filter down to the general public it will greatly help to contain the extremism and law and order situation in the country. Now it is the responsibility of academia, media, politicians and intelligentsia to make it public and spread the awareness.” A report of Farid shinwari was played in the show and there were seven calls during the show in which we aired only two calls. AboutSabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications programm, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with...
The Role of Madrasas
Summary and key recommendations: The book at hand is the result of a more than two-year-long joint enterprise across borders, regions, and continents, aimed at identifying the development and status of the religious seminaries, also known as madrasas, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the West, these madrasas are often perceived as a massive production pipeline for international terrorism. This book attempts to look beyond – or beneath – this perception by examining the role of madrasas through three main research questions, each provided as a main question to each one of the three independent think tanks and research centers. The overall objective of this framework is to take a first step toward creating a correct image of the madrasas and the trajectory their role in society has taken. The three research questions directing the study are: 1) What motivates parents to send their children to madrasas instead of public schools in Pakistan? 2) How are the madrasas in Pakistan funded, and which influence do donors have over them? and 3) Which trends can be identified in different groups’ influences on religious education in Afghanistan? These questions have served as the foundation for the extensive data-collection conducted in the respective countries. The result of the study in terms of this book reflects the collaboration bet- ween the Royal Danish Defence College and the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), both from Pakistan, and the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS) from Afghanistan. In this summary, the findings from the field research provide a brief over- view of the analytical results as seen through the editorial lens in Copenha- gen. One key discovery was that, besides the anticipated general devotion to religion, households’ economic concerns appeared to be a main motivation for Pakistani parents in sending their children to madrasas instead of public schools....
Sabawoon Showcase Ranra January 25th, 2018
Child Abuse a Burning Social Issue The latest episode of Ranra (Light) addressed child abuse as a burning issue in the light of recent cases reported in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The program highlighted the main causes and solutions of the issue. The guests in studio Mr. Imran Takkar, an anthropologist, and Ms. Nuzhat, an educationist, termed growing extremism and access to religious content as some of the reasons for this. Mr. Takkar, while defining abuse, said that it is the power or authority exercised by weak individual, thus, a child is vulnerable to abuse anywhere. He added that our education system gravitates towards academic excellence with minimum focus on social development of students that might teach them how to deal with unpleasant situations. He said that in a broader sense, the main reasons behind child abuse are psychological, economic, social, and cultural issues. While discussing the solutions, the guests stressed that to minimize such incidents, parents and teachers must build confidence among the youth. They were of the opinion that as a society we need to acknowledge child abuse as a real issue, only then we can tackle it. Ms. Nuzhat emphasized that enough legislation is present on national and provincial level, yet the real issue of implementation remains. A report aired during the program shared the public opinion that a well-planned awareness campaign should be initiated to minimize the number of such incidents. Four calls and five text messages were received during the show. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications programme, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from...
Sabawoon Showcase January 24th, 2018
Role of Media in Conflict Resolution The latest episode of Jwandai Jazbey (Alive Spirits) discussed the role of media in conflict resolution, along with journalistic ethics. Incidents are being sensationalized and exaggerated, particularly by electronic media, which is against the ethics of journalism. Media’s role is to inform the public, rather than to create panic. Mr. Umar Farooq, a reporter at Express Tribune, was the studio guest. He said that when compared to print media, electronic media is more irresponsible since it often runs the news without confirmation. This is why many news reports bounce back, creating conflict between reporters. Associate Professor of Journalism Department, Mr. Ali Imran Bangash, participated via phone call in the show. He said that the Journalism Department is going to introduce a conflict resolution related course in the syllabus. The department has also launched a diploma course in conflict resolution. A report by Ceena Naeem was played in the show and there were seven calls received during the show. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications programme, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 KHZ from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, students and women. Socio-cultural affairs are discussed in Ranra on Thursday. The primary objective of the show has been to underline...
Sabawoon Showcase Da Semay Jaaj January 23rd, 2018
The latest episode of Da Semay Jaaj (Regional Review) focused on various issues of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with reports from Kuram Agency, DI Khan and Charsadda, along with the feedback of live callers. A report from Charsadda by Aisha Tehseen, shared the findings of a murder case of a college principal by a student. The report said that the growing intolerance among the youth is a clear indication of extremist attitudes among them. The District Police Officer Charsadda, Zahoor Afridi, suggested that psychosocial support sessions should be offered at educational institutions to identify extremist attitudes early on to help mitigate such incidents. A report from D.I Khan by Shaikir Mehsud, shared the views of the public that democracy is about accountability. However, elected representatives have been inaccessible to the general public post 2013 election. Another report from Kuram Agency by Rehan Mohammad, shared the devastation caused by militancy in the tribal areas. It suggested that a concerted effort and coordination is needed to rebuild and promote girl’s schools in the tribal areas. Total 12 calls and five messages were received during the show. About Sabawoon: Sabawoon airs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) since 2011. It began as a counter-radicalization, strategic communications program, designed to highlight and promote the fundamental governance values such as democracy, rule of law, women’s rights, and equal citizenry, social cohesion. The show airs Monday through Thursday every week under four themes on FM-101.5 Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan 711 kHz from 3:20 PM to 4:00 PM. On Monday, Jarga Maraka covers current affairs and important regional issues with an input from government and other senior officials. On Tuesday, Da Simay Jaaj gives an overview of the top stories from KP and FATA regions. Jwandai Jazbey airs on Wednesday and deals with issues of relevance to, and significance for, youth, students and women....
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TESTIMONIALS
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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.