The literacy rate is directly proportional to the development of a society. Pakistan lags behind ... more The literacy rate is directly proportional to the development of a society. Pakistan lags behind other countries of the region in educating its masses. But since society is patriarchal, women face more problems than men in acquiring education. In this research, the prime objective was to find the socio-cultural factors that could become a barrier in acquiring higher education of women. Parental attitudes regarding the importance of educating girls may contribute to the education gender gap in rural areas. This research analyses the data collected from female students pursuing higher education Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Mainly socio-culture factors are highlighted in this research.
Pakistan and Turkey enjoy very cordial and friendly bilateral relations ever since the creation o... more Pakistan and Turkey enjoy very cordial and friendly bilateral relations ever since the creation of Pakistan. The relations between the two countries are special as warm feelings of friendship between the two countries are unprecedented. Both countries also share a common worldview on different international and regional issues. Pakistan and Turkey share common religious, cultural and historical bonds. Both countries have important geostrategic locations too. Their political, economic and military capacities make both as middle powers and important countries within the Muslim world. Despite warm feelings, both countries could not convert it into strong economic and trade relations. This paper looks into the change and process in the bilateral relations, common cultural and religious identities, common security concerns and to review why strong economic relations could not be flourished between two countries. It will also study which of these aspects remained prominent in different periods. For this purpose, the relationship between the two countries is seen with a historical survey in chronological order.
The killing of the Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike in Pakistan ha... more The killing of the Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike in Pakistan has reduced the possibility of peace talks. The new Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has rejected the peace offer of the US and the Afghan government. The new leader is seen as a unifying factor who would continue with the policies of violence of his predecessor. This article looks into the prospects of the peace process under the new leader and argues that the new leader will not have a huge influence on the organizational structure of the group. Haibatullah's lack of political and military experience would make him depend on the Rahbari Shura. It is also argued that in the short term the prospects of the peace process are dim, yet the Taliban would come around after they recover from the shock of Mullah Mansour's death.
Turkey has traditionally looked at the Middle East with caution and ever since its declaration of... more Turkey has traditionally looked at the Middle East with caution and ever since its declaration of a secular republic and tilted towards the West in its foreign policy formulation. However, the onset of the 21 st century brought the Justice and Development Party to rule this country which straddles the two continents. The party has turned around the country on the path of progress and development. On the international front, Turkey has taken an active approach towards the Middle East, especially its neighbouring countries. This paper seeks to investigate this change of heart regarding the Middle East and the counters and changes in this new policy of Justice and Development Party.
Counter-terrorism strategies are increasingly incorporating countering terrorist groups' narrativ... more Counter-terrorism strategies are increasingly incorporating countering terrorist groups' narrative as well. However, there is still ambiguity on the meaning of the narrative. Pakistan has also adopted several counter-narrative initiatives yet all these efforts still need to be synchronized to effectively counter the narratives of different terrorist groups. This paper highlights the importance of narratives, deconstruct the narratives of religious, communal, sectarian and ethnic types of terrorist groups and provide for a counter-narrative model to counter all these different types of terrorist groups in Pakistan.
The main aim of this study is to explore the role of social identity in inter-group discriminator... more The main aim of this study is to explore the role of social identity in inter-group discriminatory behavioral patterns among the religious groups of Shiite and Sunni in the capital city of Pakistan. The theoretical framework of social identity proposed by Tajfel and Turner was utilized to look into socio-cognitive processes influencing the inter-group settings. For selection of the respondents from both religious groups, purposive sampling technique was utilized. The gathered data in the study was looked into with respect to the social identity theory. The results of the study suggested that socio-cognitive processes of social categorization, social identification and social comparison in the individuals resulted in discriminatory patterns in the inter-group relations among the Shiite and Sunni religious schools of thought. The data also illustrated that additional factors of international actor's involvement, state policies, socialization process and real/ perceived deprivation influenced the social identities of the respective religious groups in inter-group settings. The results of the study showed a positive correlation between the role of social identity and inter-group discriminatory patterns supporting the utilization of Tajfel and Turner theoretical framework in the universe of the study. Hence, social identity results in inter-group discriminatory patterns in the universe of the study.
This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-v... more This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-vis terrorism and the reasons for continuous threats from violent non-state actors to the states. The paper argues that the terror landscape has undergone changes and new trends and threats have emerged unlike the past experiences of global terrorism. At some fronts, there are successes while on several other there is a downward spiral of violence. Both cases present new trends and new challenges which could be addressed by adopting new strategies. In short, this paper argues that the world is witnessing a period where experts and policymakers should look beyond the traditional approach of terrorism and focus on the transforming threat of terrorism.
Thirty years of unparalleled economic growth has made China a potential superpower, whose power i... more Thirty years of unparalleled economic growth has made China a potential superpower, whose power is likely to grow. Despite immense concentration of the Chinese leadership on the economic affairs, China‟s foreign policy has also marked an era of great success. China, in essence, is going global, while forging warm relations with its trading partners in Asia and the outside world. It has abandoned low profile foreign policy and is looking to get a greater share in economic and diplomatic engagements throughout the world. This change may pose a threat to some states, but China‟s rise is peaceful and it is likely to integrate itself further into the liberal economic order while continuously endeavoring to change the balance of power in its favor.
This paper discusses the political landscape of South Asia and its reinterpretation vis-à-vis dev... more This paper discusses the political landscape of South Asia and its reinterpretation vis-à-vis developments in South Asian security matters. South Asian security is volatile and beyond the comprehension through the traditional modes of analyses. This paper offers a broad analysis of South Asian security by identifying new variables and their relevance in the security paradigm of South Asia. The paper also discusses the political changes in the region and glimpses at the regional scenario beyond 2015.
The role of media in covering terrorism related incidents has generated quite a debate throughout... more The role of media in covering terrorism related incidents has generated quite a debate throughout the world. Pakistan, with its independent news media, is also facing this problem since the country in engulfed in the flames of terrorism. Pakistan has launched a much awaited Operation Zarb-e-Azb since June last year. How this operation has been portrayed in the mainstream media of Pakistan is the focus of this paper. The researchers argue that the reporting of the operation was counterproductive to the stated policy of the government regarding counter-terrorism. It deviates from the boundaries set forth by the constitution of Pakistan, and in the process creating an enabling environment for the propaganda of terrorists.
This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-v... more This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-vis terrorism and the reasons of continuous threats from violent non-state actors to the states. The paper argues that the terror landscape has undergone changes and new trends and threats have emerged unlike the past experiences of global terrorism. At some fronts, there are successes while on several other there is downward spiral of violence. Both cases present new trends and new challenges which could be addressed by adopting new strategies. In short, this paper argues that the world is witnessing a period where experts and policy makers should look beyond the traditional approach of terrorism and focus on the transforming threat of terrorism.
The virtual world of information and communication has braced itself for the new media environmen... more The virtual world of information and communication has braced itself for the new media environment where websites, blogs and social media all are interconnected in innovative ways. Huge data is generated by the users and shared on different internet platforms. Terrorist groups have taken advantage of this new digital age and are proactively engaged in their strategic communication operations. This presents a unique and hard challenge to the governments in countering the terrorists’ propaganda. This paper argues that there is a lack of research and analysis on the part of the governments to understand this huge data and develop sound counter-terrorism operations on social media. The paper recommends a strategic communication model of counter-terrorism for social media.
In recent years, Pakistan has faced severe shortfall in energy. The energy crisis has affected it... more In recent years, Pakistan has faced severe shortfall in energy. The energy crisis has affected its economic growth. It is struggling to ensure its energy security. On the other hand, its long time friend and neighbor, China, is in the need of increased supply of energy for its ever growing economy. This demand in the region has solidified Pakistan’s position as a major passageway of energy given its geo-strategic location. This study examines the viability of Pakistan becoming an energy transit corridor for China and other regional states and suggests strong cooperation amongst the research and development organizations that will help in investigating the key problems which will categorize the potential areas and will provide assessment that will help in sorting out the appropriate solution of the issue. A close coordination among the government organizations, business community and the research institutions will have synergist impact in overcoming acute energy crises in Pakistan.
Terrorism is one of the menaces that has inflicted huge human losses to the state and society of ... more Terrorism is one of the menaces that has inflicted huge human losses to the state and society of Pakistan. The brazen attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar killed 141 including 132 children and 9 members of the school staff. In reaction, the government adopted 21st amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan on January 7, 2015, which entailed the establishment of military courts to punish the terrorists and their facilitators. This study measures public opinion towards this new public policy of counter-terrorism. The results suggest two outcomes: one, the public accepts that terrorism is one of their main problems; two, there is ethnically diverse view on the military-led public policy to curb terrorism.
The 16th December 2014 barbaric attack on Army Public School, Peshawar, by TTP brought the natio... more The 16th December 2014 barbaric attack on Army Public School, Peshawar, by TTP brought the nation to a watershed moment in its long fight against terrorism. It was the death these 147 school children and teachers which moved the conscience of the nation. The tragedy united all the political parties and military leadership of the country to unanimously condemn the attack and make National Action Plan (NAP) to eradicate terrorism. The political rhetoric was powerful: “A line has been drawn. On one side are the coward terrorists and on the other side stands the whole nation,” stated Prime Minister Mohammed Nawaz Sharif in his televised speech on December 24. He also outlined his 20-point National Action Plan where he promised to “eradicate the mindset of terrorism to defeat extremism and sectarianism.”
Over a decade has passed since the United States launched the global “war on terror” in the after... more Over a decade has passed since the United States launched the global “war on terror” in the aftermath of tragic September 11 incident, yet the defeat of Al-Qaeda seems a far cry. This pre-emptive war, spread across the globe, is falling short of achieving its goals as the threat of Al-Qaeda to the security of the US and other allied countries is still very much alive. This global war seems to have no definitive end. This paper argues that the lack of synergy in the global alliance between the US and Muslim countries, where Al-Qaeda has found safe havens, is the key cause of failure. The Muslim states are either weak to establish its writ on both the material and ideational aspects of life in its societies or they do not share the US threat perception about Al-Qaeda. This leaves the efforts of joint counter-terrorism in doldrums. This paper predicts that lack of will and ability in the partner countries of the US will ensure the continuation of international terrorism.
Devastated by thirty years of wars and conflicts, Afghanistan took the final step towards stabili... more Devastated by thirty years of wars and conflicts, Afghanistan took the final step towards stability and democratization when it inaugurated its newly elected parliament on 19 December 2005 - the first in three decades. And with the successful launching of the parliament, the last phase of Bonn conference that had envisioned democracy for Afghanistan concluded. The International community and especially the Afghan people were eagerly waiting for the historic parliamentary session and had pinned their hopes on the fledgeling institution where the majority of the members were new to the system. Faced with great challenges, the Afghan parliament was widely considered a positive change in the political arena of Afghanistan. This paper aims at reviewing the six-month experience of the parliament as well as its formation to ascertain as to what extent it achieved its objectives and fulfilled the stakeholders' expectations. The paper also analyzes the scope, challenges and opportunities lying ahead, and makes viable recommendations. The data for the paper has been collected from open literature and interviews conducted on the field.
This paper argues that the drawdown of the NATO-ISAF forces from Afghanistan will have adverse af... more This paper argues that the drawdown of the NATO-ISAF forces from Afghanistan will have adverse affect on the security of the Af-Pak region. The drawdown will create a vacuum of power in Afghanistan, which the Afghan security forces would hardly be able to fill. As such violent non-state actors like Al-Qaeda and Taliban would try to fill the vacuum. The reason for the resurgence of such groups is the fact that the last ten year trajectory of the violence shows that they are far from being defeated and their havens, structures, and leadership are still intact. The terrorists have not been defeated by the use of soft power either. In addition, the regional rivalries would also add fuel to the fire. Thus, this paper will provide recommendations on how to replace power vacuum by legitimate force and apply soft power to avoid the resurgence of violent non-state actors who may threaten the security of not only the region but beyond that.
The literacy rate is directly proportional to the development of a society. Pakistan lags behind ... more The literacy rate is directly proportional to the development of a society. Pakistan lags behind other countries of the region in educating its masses. But since society is patriarchal, women face more problems than men in acquiring education. In this research, the prime objective was to find the socio-cultural factors that could become a barrier in acquiring higher education of women. Parental attitudes regarding the importance of educating girls may contribute to the education gender gap in rural areas. This research analyses the data collected from female students pursuing higher education Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Mainly socio-culture factors are highlighted in this research.
Pakistan and Turkey enjoy very cordial and friendly bilateral relations ever since the creation o... more Pakistan and Turkey enjoy very cordial and friendly bilateral relations ever since the creation of Pakistan. The relations between the two countries are special as warm feelings of friendship between the two countries are unprecedented. Both countries also share a common worldview on different international and regional issues. Pakistan and Turkey share common religious, cultural and historical bonds. Both countries have important geostrategic locations too. Their political, economic and military capacities make both as middle powers and important countries within the Muslim world. Despite warm feelings, both countries could not convert it into strong economic and trade relations. This paper looks into the change and process in the bilateral relations, common cultural and religious identities, common security concerns and to review why strong economic relations could not be flourished between two countries. It will also study which of these aspects remained prominent in different periods. For this purpose, the relationship between the two countries is seen with a historical survey in chronological order.
The killing of the Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike in Pakistan ha... more The killing of the Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike in Pakistan has reduced the possibility of peace talks. The new Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada has rejected the peace offer of the US and the Afghan government. The new leader is seen as a unifying factor who would continue with the policies of violence of his predecessor. This article looks into the prospects of the peace process under the new leader and argues that the new leader will not have a huge influence on the organizational structure of the group. Haibatullah's lack of political and military experience would make him depend on the Rahbari Shura. It is also argued that in the short term the prospects of the peace process are dim, yet the Taliban would come around after they recover from the shock of Mullah Mansour's death.
Turkey has traditionally looked at the Middle East with caution and ever since its declaration of... more Turkey has traditionally looked at the Middle East with caution and ever since its declaration of a secular republic and tilted towards the West in its foreign policy formulation. However, the onset of the 21 st century brought the Justice and Development Party to rule this country which straddles the two continents. The party has turned around the country on the path of progress and development. On the international front, Turkey has taken an active approach towards the Middle East, especially its neighbouring countries. This paper seeks to investigate this change of heart regarding the Middle East and the counters and changes in this new policy of Justice and Development Party.
Counter-terrorism strategies are increasingly incorporating countering terrorist groups' narrativ... more Counter-terrorism strategies are increasingly incorporating countering terrorist groups' narrative as well. However, there is still ambiguity on the meaning of the narrative. Pakistan has also adopted several counter-narrative initiatives yet all these efforts still need to be synchronized to effectively counter the narratives of different terrorist groups. This paper highlights the importance of narratives, deconstruct the narratives of religious, communal, sectarian and ethnic types of terrorist groups and provide for a counter-narrative model to counter all these different types of terrorist groups in Pakistan.
The main aim of this study is to explore the role of social identity in inter-group discriminator... more The main aim of this study is to explore the role of social identity in inter-group discriminatory behavioral patterns among the religious groups of Shiite and Sunni in the capital city of Pakistan. The theoretical framework of social identity proposed by Tajfel and Turner was utilized to look into socio-cognitive processes influencing the inter-group settings. For selection of the respondents from both religious groups, purposive sampling technique was utilized. The gathered data in the study was looked into with respect to the social identity theory. The results of the study suggested that socio-cognitive processes of social categorization, social identification and social comparison in the individuals resulted in discriminatory patterns in the inter-group relations among the Shiite and Sunni religious schools of thought. The data also illustrated that additional factors of international actor's involvement, state policies, socialization process and real/ perceived deprivation influenced the social identities of the respective religious groups in inter-group settings. The results of the study showed a positive correlation between the role of social identity and inter-group discriminatory patterns supporting the utilization of Tajfel and Turner theoretical framework in the universe of the study. Hence, social identity results in inter-group discriminatory patterns in the universe of the study.
This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-v... more This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-vis terrorism and the reasons for continuous threats from violent non-state actors to the states. The paper argues that the terror landscape has undergone changes and new trends and threats have emerged unlike the past experiences of global terrorism. At some fronts, there are successes while on several other there is a downward spiral of violence. Both cases present new trends and new challenges which could be addressed by adopting new strategies. In short, this paper argues that the world is witnessing a period where experts and policymakers should look beyond the traditional approach of terrorism and focus on the transforming threat of terrorism.
Thirty years of unparalleled economic growth has made China a potential superpower, whose power i... more Thirty years of unparalleled economic growth has made China a potential superpower, whose power is likely to grow. Despite immense concentration of the Chinese leadership on the economic affairs, China‟s foreign policy has also marked an era of great success. China, in essence, is going global, while forging warm relations with its trading partners in Asia and the outside world. It has abandoned low profile foreign policy and is looking to get a greater share in economic and diplomatic engagements throughout the world. This change may pose a threat to some states, but China‟s rise is peaceful and it is likely to integrate itself further into the liberal economic order while continuously endeavoring to change the balance of power in its favor.
This paper discusses the political landscape of South Asia and its reinterpretation vis-à-vis dev... more This paper discusses the political landscape of South Asia and its reinterpretation vis-à-vis developments in South Asian security matters. South Asian security is volatile and beyond the comprehension through the traditional modes of analyses. This paper offers a broad analysis of South Asian security by identifying new variables and their relevance in the security paradigm of South Asia. The paper also discusses the political changes in the region and glimpses at the regional scenario beyond 2015.
The role of media in covering terrorism related incidents has generated quite a debate throughout... more The role of media in covering terrorism related incidents has generated quite a debate throughout the world. Pakistan, with its independent news media, is also facing this problem since the country in engulfed in the flames of terrorism. Pakistan has launched a much awaited Operation Zarb-e-Azb since June last year. How this operation has been portrayed in the mainstream media of Pakistan is the focus of this paper. The researchers argue that the reporting of the operation was counterproductive to the stated policy of the government regarding counter-terrorism. It deviates from the boundaries set forth by the constitution of Pakistan, and in the process creating an enabling environment for the propaganda of terrorists.
This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-v... more This paper addresses the questions of current prevailing international security situation vis-a-vis terrorism and the reasons of continuous threats from violent non-state actors to the states. The paper argues that the terror landscape has undergone changes and new trends and threats have emerged unlike the past experiences of global terrorism. At some fronts, there are successes while on several other there is downward spiral of violence. Both cases present new trends and new challenges which could be addressed by adopting new strategies. In short, this paper argues that the world is witnessing a period where experts and policy makers should look beyond the traditional approach of terrorism and focus on the transforming threat of terrorism.
The virtual world of information and communication has braced itself for the new media environmen... more The virtual world of information and communication has braced itself for the new media environment where websites, blogs and social media all are interconnected in innovative ways. Huge data is generated by the users and shared on different internet platforms. Terrorist groups have taken advantage of this new digital age and are proactively engaged in their strategic communication operations. This presents a unique and hard challenge to the governments in countering the terrorists’ propaganda. This paper argues that there is a lack of research and analysis on the part of the governments to understand this huge data and develop sound counter-terrorism operations on social media. The paper recommends a strategic communication model of counter-terrorism for social media.
In recent years, Pakistan has faced severe shortfall in energy. The energy crisis has affected it... more In recent years, Pakistan has faced severe shortfall in energy. The energy crisis has affected its economic growth. It is struggling to ensure its energy security. On the other hand, its long time friend and neighbor, China, is in the need of increased supply of energy for its ever growing economy. This demand in the region has solidified Pakistan’s position as a major passageway of energy given its geo-strategic location. This study examines the viability of Pakistan becoming an energy transit corridor for China and other regional states and suggests strong cooperation amongst the research and development organizations that will help in investigating the key problems which will categorize the potential areas and will provide assessment that will help in sorting out the appropriate solution of the issue. A close coordination among the government organizations, business community and the research institutions will have synergist impact in overcoming acute energy crises in Pakistan.
Terrorism is one of the menaces that has inflicted huge human losses to the state and society of ... more Terrorism is one of the menaces that has inflicted huge human losses to the state and society of Pakistan. The brazen attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar killed 141 including 132 children and 9 members of the school staff. In reaction, the government adopted 21st amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan on January 7, 2015, which entailed the establishment of military courts to punish the terrorists and their facilitators. This study measures public opinion towards this new public policy of counter-terrorism. The results suggest two outcomes: one, the public accepts that terrorism is one of their main problems; two, there is ethnically diverse view on the military-led public policy to curb terrorism.
The 16th December 2014 barbaric attack on Army Public School, Peshawar, by TTP brought the natio... more The 16th December 2014 barbaric attack on Army Public School, Peshawar, by TTP brought the nation to a watershed moment in its long fight against terrorism. It was the death these 147 school children and teachers which moved the conscience of the nation. The tragedy united all the political parties and military leadership of the country to unanimously condemn the attack and make National Action Plan (NAP) to eradicate terrorism. The political rhetoric was powerful: “A line has been drawn. On one side are the coward terrorists and on the other side stands the whole nation,” stated Prime Minister Mohammed Nawaz Sharif in his televised speech on December 24. He also outlined his 20-point National Action Plan where he promised to “eradicate the mindset of terrorism to defeat extremism and sectarianism.”
Over a decade has passed since the United States launched the global “war on terror” in the after... more Over a decade has passed since the United States launched the global “war on terror” in the aftermath of tragic September 11 incident, yet the defeat of Al-Qaeda seems a far cry. This pre-emptive war, spread across the globe, is falling short of achieving its goals as the threat of Al-Qaeda to the security of the US and other allied countries is still very much alive. This global war seems to have no definitive end. This paper argues that the lack of synergy in the global alliance between the US and Muslim countries, where Al-Qaeda has found safe havens, is the key cause of failure. The Muslim states are either weak to establish its writ on both the material and ideational aspects of life in its societies or they do not share the US threat perception about Al-Qaeda. This leaves the efforts of joint counter-terrorism in doldrums. This paper predicts that lack of will and ability in the partner countries of the US will ensure the continuation of international terrorism.
Devastated by thirty years of wars and conflicts, Afghanistan took the final step towards stabili... more Devastated by thirty years of wars and conflicts, Afghanistan took the final step towards stability and democratization when it inaugurated its newly elected parliament on 19 December 2005 - the first in three decades. And with the successful launching of the parliament, the last phase of Bonn conference that had envisioned democracy for Afghanistan concluded. The International community and especially the Afghan people were eagerly waiting for the historic parliamentary session and had pinned their hopes on the fledgeling institution where the majority of the members were new to the system. Faced with great challenges, the Afghan parliament was widely considered a positive change in the political arena of Afghanistan. This paper aims at reviewing the six-month experience of the parliament as well as its formation to ascertain as to what extent it achieved its objectives and fulfilled the stakeholders' expectations. The paper also analyzes the scope, challenges and opportunities lying ahead, and makes viable recommendations. The data for the paper has been collected from open literature and interviews conducted on the field.
This paper argues that the drawdown of the NATO-ISAF forces from Afghanistan will have adverse af... more This paper argues that the drawdown of the NATO-ISAF forces from Afghanistan will have adverse affect on the security of the Af-Pak region. The drawdown will create a vacuum of power in Afghanistan, which the Afghan security forces would hardly be able to fill. As such violent non-state actors like Al-Qaeda and Taliban would try to fill the vacuum. The reason for the resurgence of such groups is the fact that the last ten year trajectory of the violence shows that they are far from being defeated and their havens, structures, and leadership are still intact. The terrorists have not been defeated by the use of soft power either. In addition, the regional rivalries would also add fuel to the fire. Thus, this paper will provide recommendations on how to replace power vacuum by legitimate force and apply soft power to avoid the resurgence of violent non-state actors who may threaten the security of not only the region but beyond that.
The relationship between terrorism and mass media has often been termed as ‘symbiotic’ by scholar... more The relationship between terrorism and mass media has often been termed as ‘symbiotic’ by scholars. Terrorist organizations want larger audience for their political message while mass media hanker for higher ratings and thus increased revenues. These different motivations, although with different agendas, work to benefit each other. This paper will answer the question as to what extent the newly independent media has played a role in spreading terrorism in Pakistan. This study will examine the effects of the media in the spread of terrorism in Pakistan and will identify the security challenges that are emerging from the nexus of terrorism and the media.
The US-led "War on Terror" so far has not achieved its goal to end or limit the terror incidents ... more The US-led "War on Terror" so far has not achieved its goal to end or limit the terror incidents across the world. The preemptive doctrine to destroy terrorists' infrastructure and facilities, especially in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal areas, have rather caused an increase in terrorist recruitment and now more countries have exposed to terrorism. Al Qaeda may have no direct control over sleeper cells of terrorists or independent terrorists groups but it's a big source of inspiration. The epicenter of this Al Qaeda-inspired terrorism is the law-evading rugged mountainous terrains on Afghanistan and Pakistan border. The NATO-US forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani troops on its side have failed to rein in extremists. Osama and his top aides are still at large.
This paper would specifically focus on questions why religious terrorism is on the rise in the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan. How Al Qaeda is shielding itself; what are the strategic mistakes taken in pursuit of war on terror; and how ground realities affect this war. The paper would also suggest strategic policy options in this war on terror.
The US “War on Terror” witnessed its first casualty in Afghanistan and has reckless security bear... more The US “War on Terror” witnessed its first casualty in Afghanistan and has reckless security bearings on sovereign nations. Its ramifications on the framework of international law in dealing with terrorism are enormous. The US predators’ attacks on suspected militant hideouts in Pakistan, its missile strikes in Sudan and its willingness to strike suspected terrorists in hot pursuit anywhere in the world have raised questions about the legality of such actions in international law with regard to the use of use of force.
This paper will study the framework of international law with respect to the use of lethal force against a sovereign nation and its impact on international humanitarian law. In this respect two cases, Sudan and Pakistan, would be studied.
European Union is faced with the threat of religious or Islamic terrorism. This was highlighted b... more European Union is faced with the threat of religious or Islamic terrorism. This was highlighted by the fact that it provided a base for September 11 attacks on the US and witnessed several terrorists’ attacks including those in Madrid and London. There were several foiled attacks too. The EU has no comprehensive strategy to counter the threats of terrorism as one general body but rather has a cross pillar system to deal with these threats. There are several flaws in its counter-terrorism strategy.
This paper will discuss these flaws in the counter terrorism efforts and would answer question as to why religious terrorism could not be checked in the current environment. The paper would also propose some policy guidelines for dealing with the issue.
Two realists’ concept marked the Cold War. One was the balance of power between the U.S. and the ... more Two realists’ concept marked the Cold War. One was the balance of power between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. The balance of power was a system that had preserved the stability of the nation-states. The other dominant concept was of security dilemma where nation-states felt threatened or provoked when other nation-states tried to increase their security. But after the dissolution of former Soviet Union new threats emerged in the unipolar world. This new international system gave rise to non-state actors including some violent ones. In this new system, a threat to the security of the nation-states emerged from these non-state actors. Violent non-state actors, such as religious terrorists, pose a great security threat to the world including the Muslim states. This paper will study why such threats evolved in the post-Cold war world and how they impact the security of the nation-states.
Conflict and Cooperation in South Asia: Role of Major Powers, 2020
The security architecture of South Asia is undergoing some visible trends. The region is home to ... more The security architecture of South Asia is undergoing some visible trends. The region is home to the ongoing rivalry between two nuclear states: Pakistan and India. The rivalry has also shifted to the western border of Pakistan in Afghanistan where the US is trying for peaceful exit in wake of the resurgent Taliban. China is helping Pakistan with its belt and road initiative by investing billions of dollars through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Russia and Iran have made contacts with the Taliban while Pakistan has initiated active diplomacy to find a regional solution to the Afghan problem. Pakistan and Sri Lanka both have defeated terrorist inside their territories but there is a spillover of ethnic and religious groups across the boundaries. Given these trends, the paper seeks to analyze the South Asian security architecture and determine the role of Pakistan in the unfolding situation.
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Papers by Sheharyar Khan
Mohammed Nawaz Sharif in his televised speech on December 24. He also outlined his 20-point National Action Plan where he promised to “eradicate the mindset of terrorism to defeat extremism and sectarianism.”
that the lack of synergy in the global alliance between the US and Muslim countries, where Al-Qaeda has found safe havens, is the key cause of failure. The Muslim states are either weak to establish its writ on both the material and ideational aspects of life in its societies or they do not share the US threat perception about Al-Qaeda. This leaves the efforts of joint counter-terrorism in doldrums. This paper predicts that lack of will and ability in the partner countries of the US will ensure the continuation of international terrorism.
Conference Presentations by Sheharyar Khan
Mohammed Nawaz Sharif in his televised speech on December 24. He also outlined his 20-point National Action Plan where he promised to “eradicate the mindset of terrorism to defeat extremism and sectarianism.”
that the lack of synergy in the global alliance between the US and Muslim countries, where Al-Qaeda has found safe havens, is the key cause of failure. The Muslim states are either weak to establish its writ on both the material and ideational aspects of life in its societies or they do not share the US threat perception about Al-Qaeda. This leaves the efforts of joint counter-terrorism in doldrums. This paper predicts that lack of will and ability in the partner countries of the US will ensure the continuation of international terrorism.
This paper would specifically focus on questions why religious terrorism is on the rise in the borderlands of Afghanistan and Pakistan. How Al Qaeda is shielding itself; what are the strategic mistakes taken in pursuit of war on terror; and how ground realities affect this war. The paper would also suggest strategic policy options in this war on terror.
This paper will study the framework of international law with respect to the use of lethal force against a sovereign nation and its impact on international humanitarian law. In this respect two cases, Sudan and Pakistan, would be studied.
This paper will discuss these flaws in the counter terrorism efforts and would answer question as to why religious terrorism could not be checked in the current environment. The paper would also propose some policy guidelines for dealing with the issue.