Indo-Pakistan normalization process: The role of CBMS in the post-Cold War Era

Arms Control & Domestic and International Security (ACDIS

The road to peace in South Asia: Lessons for India and Pakistan from the Arab-Israeli peace process

This is the third edition of the article

SOUTH ASIAN RESPONSE TO THE WAR ON TERROR

Five years after the U.S. led war on terror, it is time to analyze the response ofSouth Asian countries to the efforts of international coalition to deal with the menace of terrorism. Since September 11, 2001 when terrorism per se got substantial recognition amidst the U.S. led drive against Al-Qaeda, the issue of terrorism in South Asia was viewed differently. Although, almost all the countries of South Asia had suffered enormously from the lethal implications of terrorism prior to the events of September 11, 2001, it was primarily Indo-Pak divergent perceptions on terrorism, which indicated different strategies pursued by New Delhi and Islamabad to deal with the issue of terrorism

PAKISTAN’S POLICY ON IRAQ

Since September 11, 2001, Pakistan is constantly under a _ crisis situation. Beginning from the US. led war against terrorism to the attack on the indian parliament and the subsequent threat of war with New Delhi in January and May 2002 to the recent onsiaught on Iraq, Pakistan faced a paradoxical situation. By ali estimate it was feit that had the Pakistan’s Government supported the American resolution in the UN Security Council, it certainly would have faced a serious domestic backlash- but it never happened as the Resolution was not moved by the United States

Benazir's assassination: lingering mystery casts doubt

The continued mystery of Benazir Bhutto's assassination raises questions about the PPP-led government's commitment to solving the crime. It will also cause a setback to Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts

Enlightenment and the Challenge of Extremism in Pakistan

The surge of religious extremism in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon and it got an impetus after 9/11. Back to back events like the U.S led war in Afghanistan; frequent drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan; the Red Mosque operation of July 2007 against religious extremist elements; military operation in Swat and North and South Waziristan deepened the level of religious anger, antagonism, intolerance, violence and terrorism. Yet, extremism, whether religious, political or ethnic existed even before 9/11 but its scope and intensity was limited. Religious extremist groups got an impetus during the martial law regime of General Zia-ul-Haq because of the free hand which was given to those who preached their own brand of Islam under the pretext of Shariah and coerced others to adhere to their way of life. Hence, there is a greater degree of contrast between extremism which existed in Pakistan before the Afghan Jehad and after, as militancy and intolerance before 1979 existed but it was in a low profile whereas after 1979 it permeated in the societal structures and even stateinstitutions couldn‟t escape from the ramifications and the surge of extremism. The proliferation of inter and intra sectarian violence in the backdrop of Afghan Jihad sharply divided Pakistani society and unleashed a cycle of violence resulting into colossal physical losses

Conflict Management and Good Governance in Pakistan: Lessons from Germany

Pakistan, like many post-colonial states, is still grappling with the issuesencompassing the whole range of governance and the unresolved conflicts threatening the lives of millions of people. As a fragile state with multiple domestic and external security challenges, the issue of good governance is central to the existence of ethnic, sectarian, political and resource based conflicts in Pakistan. Several governments in the recent past expressed their resolve to strive for good governance but in reality such commitments never went beyond statements, promises and rhetoric. The question arises: can foreign assistance help achieve the goal of good governance in Pakistan? What is the role and involvement of Germany in the sphere of providing technical expertise to Pakistan in the area of good governance

Egypt post-Mubarak : will it be the next Pakistan?

The lesson from the launching of popular movements in Egypt and Pakistan is that in both cases, the military subverted the aspirations of the people by seizing power and sustaining its rule through political suppression

Changing dynamics of Pakistan-US relations and the challenge of soft power

There is a history of ups and downs in Pakistan-US relations since early 1950s till today. From the period of alliances to ostensible hostility and indifference, the changing dynamics of Pakistan-US relations must be analysed from a pragmatic point of view where power, national interests, security and sovereignty matter. Furthermore, mistrust, suspicions, ill-will and paranoia still influence the political, security, economic and power dynamics of relations between Pakistan and the United States. This research follows the theory of soft power due to two main reasons. First, instead of being a ‘patron-client’ relationship, Pakistan-US relations could be transformed by focusing on diplomacy, trade and technology instead of threats and coercion. Second, President Obama’s policy of ‘do more’ for Pakistan in combating terrorism in Afghanistan proved to be counterproductive as anti-Americanism surged in Pakistan. Overcoming the bitterness of the past in Pakistan-US relations will be a major challenge to the Biden-Harris administration. Moving forward in Pakistan-US relations will require political will, determination, prudence and trust from both sides. It is up to the leadership from both countries to foster trust and take confidence building measures which can transform their relations from patron-client to partners in progress. Shift from geopolitics to geoeconomics will ensure a win-win situation for both sides in the years to come

Conflict Prevention and the New Provincial Map of Pakistan: A Case Study of Hazara Province

This article will examine in detail how conflicts can be prevented in the new provincial set-up of Pakistan. There exists a potential threat of the outbreak of conflict between different ethnic and lingual groups if new provinces are created without taking into account the interests of major stakeholders and the concerns ofminority-majority ethnic and lingual groups. The case study of Hazara by focusing on the movement for a separate province will look into the dynamics of conflict formation and prevention in that region of Pakistan