November 21, 2011
Peace and Conflict Review

Abstract:

The main argument of this paper is that the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan provides enough space to carry on development activities in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir [J&K;]. It further argues that development activities can continue in a conflict zone, thus letting the conflict situation gradually subside as, among many other factors, poverty and underdevelopment are a cause of violence. Violence has affected the development scenario in the state of J&K;, thereby not only discouraging private investment, but also creating obstacles in effective implementation of the developmental policies initiated by public authorities. However, with the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan and with concomitant initiatives such as opening of the traditional intra-Kashmir routes, the hope for a durable and sustainable development in the state has gained ground, along with a renewed hope for peace....

October 20, 2011
Peace and Conflict Review

Abstract:

In the early 1990s, on the basis of prior experiences of International Development Agencies (IDAs) in conflict zones, a need was identified to explore, understand and carefully address impacts of such projects. In response to concerns regarding development and humanitarian interventions in conflict zones, the concept of Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA) evolved. PCIA emphasizes that IDAs need to conduct conflict analyses at key points during and before entering into project cycles in conflict or conflict-prone areas, to ensure peace and conflict sensitivity. This paper provides a critical analysis of PCIA as adapted by IDAs in Pakistan. It is shown that an understanding of PCIA is non-existent at the grassroots-level, and that there is a lack of comprehension of such tools at a project-level. The gap between theory and practice is analyzed and several recommendations are offered....

May 30, 2011
Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies

Abstract:

The historic Swat, often compared to Switzerland for its natural beauty and picturesque landscape, is situated in a geo-strategic region of the world where the significant regions of Asia—South Asia, China and Central Asia, meet. Swat, which at present is part of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, has held prominence throughout its known history. It has been periodically invaded by huge armies: the deployment of a huge number (since 2007) of the Pakistani security forces is a living example.

During the years 2007-2009, the world saw the upheaval in Swat that not only shook the Pakistani government writ and fabric but at the same time kept the world, at large, alarmed as well. This paper deals with the crises, erupted in 2007, in historical perspective, the factors that stimulated the unrest and disaffection against the prevailing system and government, and attempts to give the blueprint for a permanent solution....

May 30, 2011
Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies

Abstract:

This article deals with the Pak- US Relations during the time of Ayub Khan, the first military ruler of Pakistan, whose rule lasted from 1958 till 1969.

General Muhammad Ayub Khan after taking over the government in a bloodless coup, 1958 made an announcement regarding the foreign policy of Pakistan and mentioned that we are “the most allied ally” of the United States. This shows that during this era Pakistan became more pro-west. Ayub Khan believed that Pakistan could not make progress unless the Kashmir problem was solved, which was not possible without the help of the Western Bloc. That’s why Ayub Khan depended on Western Bloc, especially United States. At that time Pakistan was facing two major problems: the unresolved Kashmir issue and the perceived Security threat from neighbor country, India. On the other side the United States aims were to help Pakistan and to maintain her independence in an area threatened by communism.

On 5th March, 1959 Pakistan and the United States signed the bilateral agreement of Defense for bilateral cooperation. According to this agreement, United States agreed to cooperate with Pakistan to deal with its security threats and its defense requirements. At the same time the Government of the United States was promoting its national interest by maintaining the peace in South Asia and especially by the preservation of the independence and integrity of Pakistan. Pakistan reaffirmed its determination to resist the aggression, when United States promised “that in accordance with the constitution of United States, it will take such appropriate action to promote peace and to combat the communist’s stability in the Middle East and also in Pakistan.” The United States also declared that any attack on Pakistan would be considered as attack on America. This United States-Pakistan alliance, during the height of the cold war, promoted world peace instead of communist aggression and upgraded defense of Pakistan against all aggression including the possible threat from India....

May 20, 2011
Georgetown University // Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service // Mortara Center for International Studies

Abstract:

Combating militant violence—particularly within South Asia and the Middle East—stands at the top of the international security agenda. Much of the policy literature focuses on poverty as a root cause of support for violent political groups and on economic development as a key to addressing the challenges of militancy and terrorism. Unfortunately, there is little evidence to support this contention, particularly in the case of Islamist militant organizations. To address this gap we conducted a 6000-person, nationally representative survey of Pakistanis that measures affect towards four important militant organizations. We apply a novel measurement strategy to mitigate item nonresponse, which plagued previous surveys due to the sensitive nature of militancy. Our study reveals three key patterns. First, Pakistanis exhibit negative affect toward all four militant organizations, with those from areas where groups have conducted the most attacks disliking them the most. Second, contrary to conventional expectations poor Pakistanis dislike militant groups more than middle-class citizens. Third, this dislike is strongest among poor urban residents, suggesting that the negative relationship stems from exposure to the externalities of terrorist attacks. Longstanding arguments tying support for violent political organizations to individuals’ economic prospects—and the subsequent policy recommendations—may require substantial revision....

January 27, 2012
Frontline // Public Broadcasting Service

Abstract:

A revealing look at the CIA’s drone program in Pakistan and covert support for elements of the Taliban by the Pakistani military and its intelligence service, the ISI.

November 4, 2011
Public Broadcasting Service

Abstract:

Acclaimed Pakistani filmmaker and journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Children of the Taliban) talks with us about the insidious tactics employed by the Taliban against women and children in Pakistan.

January 7, 2011
Brookings Institute

Abstract:

Despite the Obama administration’s recent announcement to send 1,400 additional Marines to Afghanistan, the U.S. plan to start drawing down troops in July 2011 remains in place. Bruce Riedel says too few resources were committed to the Afghanistan war from the beginning, and that the U.S. relationship with Pakistan is the real prize in the region.

October 12, 2010
Council on Foreign Relations

Abstract:

The nation created as a home for British India's Muslims six decades ago today represents one of the world's most troubling states in crisis. This interactive presentation traces Pakistan's evolution and the competing internal and external influences that have contributed to regular upheaval and stunted political and economic development. It also offers a range of expert perspectives on Pakistan's history and its future prospects. Pakistan's stability is of great consequence to regional and international security. Examine the roots of its challenges, what it means for the region and the world, and explore some plausible futures for the country. This is a special feature presentation from CFR that offers a unique, full-screen experience. TOPICS: 1) Overview 2) Timeline 3) Making Sense of Pakistan 4) A Tough Neighborhood 5) Five Possible Futures 6) Resources...

August 4, 2009
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract:

The international coalition cannot defeat the Taliban without a strengthened Afghan state. It should work through the Afghan government—rather than international agencies—to increase economic opportunity and foster effective political institutions at the district and province level. Visiting Washington after Afghanistan, UK Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander told an audience the Carnegie Endowment that Afghans need to see their government, rather than the international coalition or non-governmental organizations—or the Taliban—delivering improvements if the Afghan state is going to be viable in the long-term. He cited improved security and increased access to justice as the top development priorities, with health, education, and other basic services as critical but secondary. Alexander also called on the international community to support Pakistan's efforts to combat extremism in the provinces bordering Afghanistan....

May 20, 2011
Combating Terrorism Center // West Point

Abstract:

Bibliography of key readings on Afghanistan-Pakistan actors, their interests, key challenges and security dynamics

February 27, 2012
Combating Terrorism Center // West Point

Abstract:

In the past six months, a series of major incidents between the United States and Pakistan has brought their relationship to a new low. Although all of Pakistan’s international relationships are important, it is the one with the United States that is most critical to its future stability as well as the maintenance of peace in South Asia. A key question for the year 2012 will be whether the United States and Pakistan can rebuild a much abused relationship. The cover story article, The U.S.-Pakistan Relationship in the Year Ahead, will review the primary incidents that led to the worsening of relations in 2011, identify some U.S. missteps, warn of a number of flashpoints that could occur in 2012, and finally offer critical suggestions for how the U.S.-Pakistan relationship can be resuscitated in the months ahead.

Other articles in this issue include:

1. Profiles of Mexico’s Seven Major Drug Trafficking Organizations | Peter Chalk

2. Bioterrorism: Still a Threat to the United States | Leonard A. Cole

3. Radicalization Processes in Afghanistan | Marisa L. Porges

4. Individual Jihadist Operations in Europe: Patterns and Challenges | Petter Nesser

5. Al-Shabab’s Western Recruitment Strategy | Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens

6. Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity...

January 27, 2012
International Crisis Group

Abstract:

In Iraq, the official withdrawal of the last U.S. combat troops, nearly nine years after the invasion, was quickly followed by a political crisis. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for the country’s top Sunni politician, Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi, accusing him of running death squads.

Tension remained high after November’s flawed presidential and parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Continued violence and repression by security forces claimed at least 30 lives. Incumbent president Joseph Kabila was sworn in for a second term on 20 December, despite international observers finding that the results “lacked credibility”.

Relations between Sudan and South Sudan deteriorated further. Tension over the status of Abyei continued, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling for the withdrawal of both sides’ armed forces, while the two countries’ militaries clashed in the disputed territory of Jau.

In Senegal, President Abdoulaye Wade showed no signs of reconsidering his candidacy for a controversial third term. Clashes between ruling party and opposition supporters left one dead and several injured.

In Nigeria a spate of violent attacks by militant Islamists Boko Haram left at least 100 dead and 90,000 displaced. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency. In Guinea-Bissau an attempted coup by renegade soldiers on 26 December left at least two dead. The navy chief, former army chief, and a number of politicians suspected of orchestrating it have been arrested.

Tensions between Pakistan’s government and military leadership escalated as the Supreme Court began its probe over a memo last May requesting U.S. help to avert a military takeover. In Afghanistan bomb attacks by Pakistani Sunni militants Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif killed 84 people on the Shia holy day of Ashura. Relations with Pakistan remained strained, as Pakistan’s boycott overshadowed the Bonn conference.

At least fifteen people were killed and 100 injured in Janaozen in western Kazakhstan on 16 December as government forces clashed with a crowd including former oil workers, who have been on strike for 6 months.

Bosnia avoided an intensified political crisis as leaders of the six main political parties agreed to form a government at the end of the month, ending fourteen months of deadlock after the October 2010 elections.

...

December 2, 2011
International Crisis Group

Abstract:

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential and parliamentary vote went ahead on 28-30 November, after a campaign marred by violence and amid allegations of rigging and mismanagement. Political rallies were banned in the wake of election-related clashes in Kinshasa on the eve of polls, and sporadic reports of violence emerged, including from Lubumbashi and West Kasai, during voting. In Burundi state troops clashed with the recently formed Forces for the Restoration of Democracy; the government reported 18 rebels killed.

Relations between Sudan and South Sudan deteriorated further this month. On 9 November the Sudanese Armed Forces reportedly launched cross-border airstrikes on Maban County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, and a day later bombed Yida refugee camp in Unity state, killing 12. Late-month negotiations between the two sides failed to achieve a settlement on contentious oil and transitional financial arrangements. Both Sudan and South Sudan also grappled with internal instability.

In Syria violence continued, with the regime’s brutal crackdown ongoing, elements of the protest movement increasingly militarised, the conflict internationalised and the Arab League’s attempt to end the bloodshed running aground. Tensions continued to rise in Kosovo. Late month violence in the north between international KFOR troops and ethnic Serbs who are barricading customs gates with Serbia left dozens injured.

NATO airstrikes on two Pakistan military border outposts left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead and U.S.-Pakistani relations in tatters. Islamabad swiftly condemned the attacks, requesting NATO vacate its airbase in Balochistan and shutting down its supply routes. The incident also damaged already strained Pakistani relations with Afghanistan, with the Pakistani government threatening to boycott forthcoming Bonn talks on Afghanistan.

Myanmar saw further positive developments this month. The announcement by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD party that they will contest seats in forthcoming by-elections marked their return to the political process. On 1 November leaders of Nepal’s four main political parties signed a landmark deal to integrate one third of former Maoist rebels into the national army and give others financial rehabilitation packages, removing a major stumbling block to the drafting of a new constitution. Morocco held the first elections under its new constitution, approved by referendum in July, which devolved some power from the monarch. Following the official announcement of last months’ historic election results, Tunisia’s new Constituent Assembly held its first session on 22 November. The main parties quickly agreed to form a new government, with Hamadi Jebali, the leader of the moderate Islamist An-Nahda party which took over 41% of the vote, assuming the post of prime minister. The first stage of parliamentary elections in Egypt took place at the end of November. The polls, the first since President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February, were mostly peaceful despite deadly protests earlier in the month against the interim military leaders who replaced Mubarak....

July 26, 2011
Combating Terrorism Center // West Point

Abstract:

The Combating Terrorism Center is an independent educational and research institution based in the Department of social sciences at the United states Military Academy, West point. The CTC sentinel harnesses the Center’s global network of scholars and practitioners to understand and confront contemporary threats posed by terrorism and other forms of political violence.

June 13, 2011
Combating Terrorism Center // West Point

Abstract:

The Combating Terrorism Center is an independent educational and research institution based in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy, West Point. The CTC Sentinel harnesses the Center’s global network of scholars and practitioners to understand and confront contemporary threats posed by terrorism and other forms of political violence.

This volume contains the following articles:

- The Death of Usama bin Ladin: Threat Implications for the U.S. Homeland, By Philip Mudd

- Terrorist Tactics in Pakistan Threaten Nuclear Weapons Safety, By Shaun Gregory

- The Syrian Uprising: Evaluating the Opposition, By Mahmud Hasan

- Can Al-Qa`ida Survive Bin Ladin’s Death? Evaluating Leadership Decapitation, By Jenna Jordan

- Hizb Allah’s Position on the Arab Spring, By Benedetta Berti

- Israel, Hizb Allah, and the Shadow of Imad Mughniyyeh, By Bilal Y. Saab

- The Taliban’s Conduct of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, By Ben Brandt

- Recent Highlights in Terrorist Activity...

July 19, 2011
Carnegie Endowment

Abstract:

Blamed for the large-scale terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has gained prominence as one of the world’s most fearsome terrorist groups. In a Q&A;, Stephen Tankel discusses the growing threat posed by LeT and the group’s relationship with Pakistan’s government and security forces.

Tankel, author of the new book Storming the World Stage: The Story of Lashkar-e-Taiba, explains what should be done to limit LeT’s reach and prevent a fresh attack in South Asia from bringing two nuclear powers to the brink of war....

June 15, 2011
TrustLaw

Abstract:

From rape and domestic violence to lack of healthcare and education, millions of women experience daily peril, but nowhere more than in the five countries a TrustLaw Women expert poll identifies as the world's most dangerous countries to be female in 2011: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, India and Somalia.

TrustLaw Women asked 213 gender experts from five continents to rank countries by overall perceptions as well as by six key risks: sexual violence; non-sexual violence; cultural or religious factors; discrimination and lack of access to resources; and trafficking. These info-graphics hone in on some of the dangers cited in the poll for each country....

May 16, 2011
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract:

Ashley J. Tellis is an influential American foreign and international security policy expert, and is currently senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC. He has previously served as senior adviser to the US ambassador in New Delhi, and on the National Security Council staff as special assistant to the President and senior director for Strategic Planning and Southwest Asia. In this email interview with Anand K. Sahay, Dr Tellis does not visualise Pakistan making a fundamental break with the past although it is under international scrutiny after the death of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. “Even as you read this”, he says, “you can be certain that the ISI is reviewing its tradecraft, assessing its vulnerabilities, and moving and burying its assets more deeply than before. This is a cat and mouse game and the ISI is very good at playing it”....

May 12, 2011
University of Birmingham // Religions and Development Research Programme

Abstract:

Most studies of conflict between Muslims in Pakistan focus on the sectarian rivalry that results in violence. The ways in which protracted conflicts characterized by targeted attacks impact more widely on the communities affected and how such conflicts can be transformed have not been addressed. This research set out not only to understand and explain the dynamics of conflict in two contrasting urban centres within Pakistan, but also to explore the wider effects of the violence and suggest how to restore peace and prevent future violence.

It found that the origins of the Sunni-Shia conflicts in Jhang and Gilgit lie in the effects on the existing social order of the population movements associated with partition, Pakistani government policies and regional politics. The violence peaked in the 1990s, taking the form of targeted murders, street riots and attacks on holy places and processions. It was instigated by rival groups of activists engaged in identity politics. The case studies of two contrasting urban centres reveal the complex interactions between demographic change, pro-Sunni policies and regional power struggles that underlie what are ostensibly doctrinal conflicts....

April 13, 2011
Brookings Institute

Abstract:

Leaving aside all the new conflicts in the Middle East, how are our nation's longstanding struggles in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan going? This factsheet lists U.S. troop numbers, U.S. troop deaths, security force numbers, security force deaths, civilian deaths from war, number of attacks, cost, and other factors for conflicts in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan for the first quarters of 2009, 2010, and 2011.

October 15, 2010
Institute for the Study of War

Abstract:

As operations in Afghanistan escalate, we are also witnessing a surge in activity across the border in the remote tribal areas of Pakistan. A flurry of surgical drone strikes targeting senior Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders on the Afghan-Pakistan border demonstrates the importance of dismantling enemy networks such as the Haqqani Network as part of ISAF’s overall strategy. Available to the public for the first time, ISW has released a new map of the Afghan/Pakistan border that details visually the disposition of ISAF troops, Pakistani military forces and the Frontier Corps. In Afghanistan, the full force of ISAF’s counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy is now in effect as the entire “Surge” forces have finally arrived in country. These soldiers and Marines are moving along a number of fronts to secure strategic positions across the theater of war....

October 13, 2010
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre // United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Abstract:

This map illustrates the internal displacement of population from areas affected by military operations in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa and F.AT.A. between February 2009 and April 2010. 1. Swat, Buner, Lower Dir and Shangla: Between April and May 2009, around two million people seek refuge in the southern districts of Malakand Division. From July 2009, the majority (90%) of those IDPs returned to their areas of origin. 2. Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies: Between August 2008 and April 2010, 80,000 families were displaced to Malakand division. Since April 2010 around 22,000 families had returned to both agencies. 3. Khyber Agency: In September 2009, military operation was launched in Bara area leading to new displacement of about 10,000 families 4. Orakzai: Around 30,000 families fled military operations in hosted districts of Hangu and Kohat 5. South Wazirstan Agency In October 2009, more than 40,000 families fled to the districts of Tank and D.I. Kham....

September 30, 2010
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre

Abstract:

This map represents the areas affected by conflict, the areas receiving internally displaced persons (IDPs), areas where IDPs have returned, and regions affected by the 2010 floods.

May 26, 2010
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Abstract:

This map represents the number of returned and internally displaced families within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan as of 30 April 2010.

April 20, 2010
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs // ReliefWeb

Abstract:

Relief work has been suspended at the Kacha Pakha camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) outside of Kohat town after two bomb attacks killed 41 IDPs. Fresh fighting in Orkzai and Kurram is bringing new IDPs to the camp which houses an estimated 1,000 people. This map represents the IDP camp attacks in Pakistan as of April 18th, 2010.

December 1, 2011
STRATFOR

Abstract:

In this piece, Nate Hughes provides context needed to understand the likely causes of the American attack on Pakistani soldiers on November 26. The article reviews the claims surrounding the attack, by both the Pakistani and the Americans. It describes the types of patrols usually undertaken on this section of the Afghan-Pakistan border, and the agreements and information the forces on both sides have, in general, about each side's standard operating procedures. It explains the factors playing into the perceptions of both sides' forces on the ground, and the likely reasons for the presence of close air support on behalf of the US forces. Finally, the article places this single incidence in the big picture, explaining its likely impact on relations between the US and Pakistan, as well as possible implications for the conflict in Afghanistan....

November 30, 2011
STRATFOR

Abstract:

Days after the Pakistanis closed their borders to the passage of fuel and supplies for the NATO-led war effort in Afghanistan, for very different reasons the Russians threatened to close the alternative Russia-controlled Northern Distribution Network (NDN). The dual threats are significant even if they don’t materialize. If both routes are cut, supplying Western forces operating in Afghanistan becomes impossible. Simply raising the possibility of cutting supply lines forces NATO and the United States to recalculate their position in Afghanistan.

The possibility of insufficient lines of supply puts NATO’s current course in Afghanistan in even more jeopardy. It also could make Western troops more vulnerable by possibly requiring significant alterations to operations in a supply-constrained scenario. While the supply lines in Pakistan most likely will reopen eventually and the NDN likely will remain open, the gap between likely and certain is vast....

April 28, 2011
Pak Institute for Peace Studies

Abstract:

- Building Peace across Pak-Afghan Borders
- PIPS Launches Pak-Afghan Media Collaboration Initiative with Kabul Moot
- Dynamics of Unrest in Middle East and its Implications for Pakistan
- The Pakistan Phantasmagoria: Between Liberalism and Extremism

April 14, 2011
Slate Magazine

Abstract:

How many terror groups are there in Pakistan, and what do they all want? At least a dozen, and all sorts of things. Keeping tabs on every terrorist organization in Pakistan is a daunting task, in large part because they regularly change names, merge, and splinter.

April 13, 2011
The Guardian

Abstract:

Miles away from the war on terror being fought in Pakistan's north on the border with Afghanistan is another insurgency whose hub is the port city of Gwadar, located near Iran on the Makran coast. Unlike the battle against the Taliban, this uprising receives little international attention, although it is set against the backdrop of competing superpower interests, reminiscent of the Great Game when Russia and the British empire fought for control over this region.

Eight years ago, the dream was for the small fishing port of Gwadar in Pakistan's Balochistan province to be transformed into a duty-free port and a free economic zone. The hope was that Gwadar would become a regional hub of shipping, commercial and industrial activities, providing a link between Pakistan and the vast oil and gas reserves of central Asia....

January 28, 2009
Pashtun Post

Abstract:

A group of journalists in Peshawar, Pakistan have coordinated their efforts to launch a news and analysis magazine-Pashtun Post. The magazine will focus on socio-political and cultural tpoics and development issues in the conflict ridden North Western Pakistan.

January 18, 2007


Abstract:

Ockenden International works with some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. It works to provide opportunities to rebuild lives torn apart by conflict or natural disaster, helping restore self-reliance to displaced people.

January 9, 2007


Abstract:

LHRLA was formed to meet the ever-growing demands of those who cannot afford the expenses of litigation. The masses that seek help are mainly destitute women and children. This segment of the population is illiterate and financially deprived; it is also totally ignorant of its legal rights. Even among the educated class, the individuals have only a negative view of the legal system and are mostly unaware of their basic fundamental rights. Hence there was a dire need for an organization which would be guided by the UN resolutions for upholding human rights and which would devote all of its energies and resources single-mindedly to provide preventive and remedial legal help. The system that LHRLA has adopted is to provide direct legal aid by approaching law enforcement agencies, the D.I.G. police, the Home Secretary, the provincial governor and other highly placed officials with reports, petitions and statistics. It is a strong issue-oriented organization with a motto for action, not mere rhetoric. The organization welcomes all cases where there has been an infringement of human rights; it focuses primarily on cases of woman and child abuse, trafficking, illegal detention, rape, torture, dissolution of marriage, child custody, the juvenile justice system, jail reforms and public interest litigation. In other words, it takes on all human rights violation cases; and last but not least, cases involving the Hudood Ordinance, which has been distorted and used against the victims, rather then the culprits....

December 19, 2006


Abstract:

WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean consists of four technical divisions headed by directors reporting to Deputy Regional Director/Regional Director. They are: Health Protection and Promotion (DHP), Health Systems and Services Development (DHS), Communicable Disease Control (DCD), General Management (DAF). There are two departments in the office of the Assistant Regional Director and they report directly to the Assistant Regional Director. The two departments are Knowledge Management & Sharing and Policy & Strategy Support. Five priority programmes are supervised by the Regional Directory/Deputy Regional Director while reporting through their respective divisional directors. The priority programmes are the Tobacco Free Initiative, Roll Back Malaria, Stop TB, Community-based Initiatives, Women in Health and Development. Further, the regional office runs a special programmes on Polio Eradication, which reports directly to the Regional Director. Another is the UNAIDS Inter-Country Programme. It gives support to the development of an expanded response to HIV/AIDS through the coordinated action of the UN theme groups on HIV/AIDS as well as the process of national strategic planning; collaborates with EMRO in the joint response to HIV/AIDS at the regional and country level; strengthens partnerships with UNAIDS cosponsers through joint regional initiatives in HIV/AIDS priority areas. ...

December 7, 2006


Abstract:

The Srinagar-based Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, founded in 2000, is an amalgam of eight non-profit organizations working for the betterment of civil society in Kashmir.

October 20, 2005
Institute for Conflict Management

Abstract:

SATP is the largest website on terrorism and low intensity warfare in South Asia, and creates the database and analytic context for research and analysis of all extremist movements in the region. SATP has been set up to counter the progressive distortions regarding, and the international community's neglect of, the wide range of terrorist movements within South Asia, and particularly in India. SATP establishes a comprehensive, searchable and con#tinuously updated database on all available information relating to terrorism, low intensity warfare and ethnic/communal/sectarian strife in South Asia....

April 18, 2005
British Broadcasting Corporation

Abstract:

This portal contains news, background information and analysis on developments concerning the disputed territory of Kashmir.

October 25, 2004
Global Policy Forum

Abstract:

Since the founding of India and Pakistan as separate states in 1948, the dispute over who should control Kashmir has been one of the world's most enduring and violent conflicts. In 1999, the two states came close to war over a border incursion by Muslim partisans into the Kargil region which borders Kashmir in India. According to the Indian government those involved were trained in and backed by Pakistan. In 1998, both India and Pakistan successfully test-exploded nuclear devices, leading many to fear a new arms race. India claims it needs nuclear weapons in case of possible future confrontations with China, with whom it fought a border war in the 1960s. There are also signs of a religious conflict at play, pitting predominantly Hindu India against Muslim Pakistan. The US led war against neighboring Afghanistan is raising concerns that the conflict may escalate tensions in Kashmir as skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces are regularly reported along the Line of Control. ...

August 18, 2011
Eisenhower Research Project // // Watson Institute for International Studies // Brown University

Abstract:

The 'Costs of War' project, which involved more than 20 economists, anthropologists, lawyers, humanitarian personnel, and political scientists, provides new estimates of the total war cost as well as other direct and indirect human and economic costs of the U.S. military response to the 9/11 attacks. The project is the first comprehensive analysis of all U.S., coalition, and civilian casualties, including U.S. contractors. It also assesses many of the wars’ hidden costs, such as interest on war-related debt and veterans’ benefits.

Estimates by the 'Costs of War' project provide a comprehensive analysis of the total human, economic, social, and political cost of the U.S. War on Terror. Among the group’s main findings:

1. The U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan will cost between $3.2 and $4 trillion, including medical care and disability for current and future war veterans. This figure does not include substantial probable future interest on war-related debt.
2. More than 31,000 people in uniform and military contractors have died, including the Iraqi and Afghan security forces and other military forces allied with the United States.
3. By a very conservative estimate, 137,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by all parties to these conflicts.
4. The wars have created more than 7.8 million refugees among Iraqis, Afghans, and Pakistanis.
5. Pentagon bills account for half of the budgetary costs incurred and are a fraction of the full economic cost of the wars.
6. Because the war has been financed almost entirely by borrowing, $185 billion in interest has already been paid on war spending, and another $1 trillion could accrue in interest alone through 2020.
7. Federal obligations to care for past and future veterans of these wars will likely total between $600-$950 billion. This number is not included in most analyses of the costs of war and will not peak until mid-century....

April 19, 2010
New America Foundation

Abstract:

Few places in the world have assumed as much importance for the United States and its allies since 2001 as Pakistan’s northwestern tribal regions, which have served as a base for the mix of militants seeking to attack the governments, militaries, and civilians of the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and others. In just over half of the serious plots against the West since 2004, alleged militants received training at camps in Pakistan. This project combines a series of policy papers, 'The Battle for Pakistan,' written by local Pakistani researchers and other experts on politics and militancy in Pakistan’s tribal areas, with a series of detailed maps of Pakistan's tribal areas, 'Mapping the Battle for Pakistan.'...

February 16, 2010
Insight on Conflict

Abstract:

Insight on Conflict provides information on local peacebuilding organisations in areas of conflict. Local peacebuilders already make a real impact in conflict areas. They work to prevent violent conflicts before they start, to reduce the impact of violence, and to bring divided communities together in the aftermath of violence. However, their work is often ignored – either because people aren’t aware of the existence and importance of local peacebuilders in general, or because they simply haven’t had access to information and contacts for local peacebuilders. We hope that Insight on Conflict can help redress the balance by drawing attention to important work of local peacebuilders. On this site, you’ll be able to find out who the local peacebuilders are, what they do, and how you might get in touch with them. Over half the organisations featured on Insight on Conflict do not have their own website. Insight on Conflict is a project launched by Peace Direct, the UK-based charity that finds, funds and promotes local peacebuilders in conflict areas around the world. Peace Direct wants to change the balance of power and resources between local people and outsiders so that local peacebuilding is central to all strategies for managing conflict....

September 4, 2009
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

Abstract:

Many initiatives on peace and confidence building in the subcontinent have been held hostage to events in Kashmir valley. It is imperative to keep the dialogue process open, so as to reach an understanding on resolution of various conflicts between India and Pakistan. This project aims to facilitate a dialogue process on major bilateral issues and keeping official channels informed, with an objective to formulate areas of common action and policies. A key objective of this project is also to build a core group of concerned senior experts to address these issues of mutual concern and suggest feasible alternative resolution mechanisms. This project is supported by the Ploughshares Foundation....

January 6, 2006
University of Toronto

Abstract:

The Project produced two types of publications: thematic reports and case studies. Together, these papers make up an integrated package of materials. Thematic reports provide readers with an overarching understanding of general issues relating to environment, population, and security. Case studies examine in considerable detail these linkages in specific countries of interest to policymakers. These two types of reports complement each other: the thematic reports provide theoretical insights that can be explored in the case studies; the case studies provide illustrations of crucial theoretical points raised in the thematic reports. Each thematic report and case study was reviewed by several leading authorities before dissemination....

March 14, 2012
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract:

Though the international community first began taking notice of the terrorist group Lashkare- Taiba (LeT) after its spectacular coordinated bombing and shooting attacks in Mumbai, India, in November 2008, the group was established in 1987 at a time when Pakistan was in the throes of Islamic ferment. Then, LeT had access to a steady supply of volunteers, funding, and—most important of all—concerted state support. Long bolstered by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, this Wahhabi group promotes the vision of a universal Islamic caliphate through tableegh and jihad—preaching and armed struggle. Though India and Kashmir have been LeT’s primary area of operations so far, the group has an unsettling presence internationally.

It is clear that after al-Qaeda, LeT is the most dangerous terrorist group operating in South Asia because of its:

1. Global vision and international ambitions
2. Distinct ideology that underwrites Islamic revanchism, justifying collaboration with other terrorist groups
3. Loyalty to Pakistan and willingness to protect its patron state against domestic opponents
4. Diversified network for mobilizing resources, promoting its international presence, and recruiting members, which minimizes its dependence on the state
5. Involvement in terrorism and social development concurrently, which limits Pakistan’s ability to target the group even if it were so inclined
6. Cohesive and hierarchic organizational structure that is effective at both the conduct of violence and the delivery of social programs
7. Proficiency at exploiting science and technology, extra-national social links, and state vulnerabilities in order to advance its political aims


LeT is a formidable and highly adaptable adversary with a genuinely global reach and the ability to grow roots and sustain operations in countries far removed from its primary theater of activity in South Asia. Though India’s proximity to Pakistan has resulted in New Delhi absorbing most of the blows unleashed by LeT, the carnage in Mumbai demonstrates that the terrorism facing India is not simply a problem for New Delhi alone. An attack could even reach U.S. soil.

The only reasonable objective for the United States is the permanent evisceration of LeT and other vicious South Asian terrorist groups—with Pakistani cooperation if possible, but without it if necessary....

March 9, 2012
Peace Research Institute Oslo

Abstract:

Is Afghanistan the heart of Asia, from where regional security can be threatened and cooperation induced? Or is it an artificial heart whose beat does not echo the genuine security interests of neighbouring countries? This question is the essence of the PRIO research project ‘Afghanistan in a Neighbourhood Perspective’, which this third paper in the series aims to answer from the point of view of the Central Asian Regional Security Complex [CA RSC].

In the lead-up to the Bonn II Conference by the end of 2011, the USA and Coalition partners had broadened their ‘regional approach’ to peace in Afghanistan from its initial narrow focus on the AfPak region, to a new ‘Heart of Asia’ concept which cast Afghanistan as the political and economic hub of a conglomeration of regional countries, near and distant. The widened approach was based on two assumptions: First, that potential insecurity instigated by the destructive behaviour of non-state actors necessitated new collective security arrangements for all neighbouring countries; and second, that the stabilization of Afghanistan would herald positive externalities and economic dividends, which the US administration envisioned as a New Silk Road. Yet, the ‘Heart of Asia’ concept had two conceptual limitations in addition to a number of political impediments. First, it fundamentally underestimated the potential for non-cooperation among states, even if they shared common concerns for dangers emanating from non-state actors. Second, by assuming that there was a large region where interests merged for cooperative security, the ‘Heart of Asia’ vision failed to recognize genuine security dynamics within sub-regions and how Afghanistan is surrounded by three Regional Security Complexes [RSCs], each with its own security dynamic.

The author argues that the Central Asian states’ [lack of] involvement with Afghanistan is reflected specifically by this RSC’s internal rivalry and common need to balance external actors. While CA countries are concerned about insecurities stemming from Afghanistan, their main security problems lie elsewhere....

February 23, 2012
Stimson Center

Abstract:

To paraphrase Raymond Aron, crises have become the substitute of wars between nuclear-armed states. This corollary to nuclear deterrence applies to South Asia, where Pakistan and India have so far experienced two crises with the advent of covert nuclear weapon capabilities and three more after carrying out underground tests of nuclear weapon designs. One of these crises prompted a war limited in geographical scope, duration, and intensity.

The most recent of these crises was sparked by mass-casualty assaults in November 2008 against iconic targets in Mumbai, including two luxury hotels and the central train terminus. The perpetrators of these attacks were trained, equipped, and directed by handlers within Pakistan. They were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT], an extremist group with ties to Pakistan's military and intelligence services. The Government of India quickly chose not to strike back against the LeT or other targets within Pakistan. An earlier coalition government in New Delhi showed similar restraint after another extreme provocation in 2001, an attack against the Indian Parliament building and those within it. The perpetrators of the attack on Parliament are widely believed to be affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammed [JeM], another extremist group which, at that time, maintained close ties to Pakistan's security apparatus.

The progression of attacks carried out by Pakistani nationals directed against Indian targets has raised questions about whether New Delhi's forbearance might be expected to continue in the event of future mass-casualty assaults against iconic targets that can be traced back to Pakistan. This essay assesses the progression of five crises between Operation Brasstacks in 1986-7 to the Mumbai crisis in 2008, looking for patterns, shifts, and implications for crisis management and escalation control....

February 14, 2012
Clingendael // Netherlands Institute of International Relations // Conflict Research Unit

Abstract:

Fragile states have been at the heart of Western development and security strategy for over a decade. Bringing together the findings of five case studies of states that show clear signs of illegitimacy or a weak capacity to govern, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Kosovo and Pakistan, this paper examines the roots and dynamics of state fragility by placing the spotlight on the way political power works. The paper highlights the aspects of political economy that give rise to weak or fragile state institutions, freeze or reverse attempted reforms, create public insecurity and paralyse economic development.

The paper concludes with suggestions that may help guide a pragmatic and realistic approach. Above all, donors must be constantly sensitive to the structures of power, interests and incentives that can capture and subvert new formal governance arrangements....

January 19, 2012
Aspen European Strategy Forum // The Aspen Institute // Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Abstract:

After foreign troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan in late 2014, the future stability of the country, neighboring Pakistan, and the general regional neighborhood will be open to question. A renewed civil war and an eventual return of the Taliban to power cannot be ruled out. Pakistan itself may continue to be characterized by growing instability. The surrounding region will be the subject of great power competition involving regional and extra-regional actors. Given the importance that the Afghanistan-Pakistan area has for the stability of the wider region, for the fight against Islamist terrorism, and for future nuclear non-proliferation, the strategic challenges that NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan pose for the international community are enormous. The 2012 Aspen European Strategy Forum will tackle this challenge by seeking to address a number of related questions.

Table of Contents

- "U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Ten Years after 9/11" by Christine Fair
- "The NATO Drawdown: Implications for Afghanistan and Pakistan" by Keith Crane
- "Launching an Afghan Peace Process" by James Dobbins
- "Transition in the Afghanistan-Pakistan War and the Uncertain Role of the 'Great Powers'" by Anthony Cordesman
- "Militant Islam in South Asia: Past Trajectories and Present Implications" by Sumit Ganguly
- "Afghanistan between Democratization and Civil War: Post-2014 Scenarios" by Thomas Ruttig
- "Scenarios for Afghanistan & for the Region & Political Options for the International Community" by Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh...

July 22, 2011
Brookings Institution // Saban Center for Middle East Policy

Abstract:

The Pakistan Index is a statistical compilation of economic, public opinion and security data. This resource will provide updated and historical information on various data, including security, governance, quality of life, economic development, and job creation.

The index is designed to assemble the best possible quantitative indicators of the reconstruction and security efforts underway in Pakistan, to track them over time, and to offer an objective set of criteria for benchmarking performance. It serves as an in-depth, non-partisan assessment of U.S. and international efforts in Pakistan, and is based on data compiled primarily from government and non-government organizations, both in Pakistan and the United States. Although measurements of progress in any counterinsurgency effort – like that of the Pakistan-led and U.S.-supported strategy – can never be reduced to purely quantitative data, a comprehensive compilation of such information can provide a clearer picture and contribute to a healthier and better informed debate.

Michael O'Hanlon spearheads the Pakistan Index project at Brookings, with assistance from Senior Research Assistant Ian Livingston. O'Hanlon is director of research and senior fellow in Foreign Policy at Brookings....

June 6, 2011
Center for Global Development

Abstract:

An accompaniment to the report Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Fixing the U.S. Approach to Development in Pakistan, this data set describes budgeted levels of U.S. military and economic assistance to Pakistan for the period from 1948 to 2010. Most of the data is drawn from the U.S. Overseas Grants and Loans database (the U.S. Greenbook). That is complemented by Congressional Research Service estimates of military reimbursements for the period since 2002 and by information on the fiscal year 2010 budget compiled by CRS. All figures are adjusted for inflation and are presented in constant 2009 dollars....

November 15, 2010
The Brookings Institution

Abstract:

The Pakistan Index is a statistical compilation of economic, public opinion and security data, and updates every two weeks. This resource will provide updated and historical information on various data, including security, governance, quality of life, economic development, and job creation. The index is designed to assemble the best possible quantitative indicators of the reconstruction and security efforts underway in Pakistan, to track them over time, and to offer an objective set of criteria for benchmarking performance. It serves as an in-depth, non-partisan assessment of U.S. and international efforts in Pakistan, and is based on data compiled primarily from government and non-government organizations, both in Pakistan and the United States. Although measurements of progress in any counterinsurgency effort – like that of the Pakistan-led and U.S.-supported strategy – can never be reduced to purely quantitative data, a comprehensive compilation of such information can provide a clearer picture and contribute to a healthier and better informed debate....

March 4, 2010
Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism

Abstract:

The Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism maintains a searchable database on all suicide attacks from 1981 to 2001 and additional years will be added. The database includes information about the location of attacks, the target type, the weapon used, and systematic information on the demographic and general biographical characteristics of suicide attackers. The database expands the breadth of the data available in English using native language sources (e.g., Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Tamil) that are likely to have the most extensive relevant information. The database allows filtering by location, group, campaign, target type, weapon and gender....

February 25, 2010
New America Foundation

Abstract:

This data source includes detailed accounts of each reliably reported (see data source for explanation) drone strike. The data source includes tabulations of casualties reported, as well as a map showing each strike included in the dataset.

August 10, 2010
Foreign Policy

Abstract:

The AfPak Channel is a unique partnership between Foreign Policy magazine and the New America Foundation that has become a premier clearinghouse of news and analysis from and about Afghanistan, Pakistan, and issues of transnational terrorism. With dozens of contributing experts who have spent substantial amounts of time reporting in and about the region, the AfPak Channel is at the center of an important conversation about this most pressing foreign-policy challenge facing the United States, its allies, and the rest of the world. As presidents and prime ministers the world over make decisions regarding policies toward South Asia, the AfPak Channel offers insight on everything from security in Waziristan to electoral politics in Kabul to the role of al Qaeda in the global jihadist movement. Our goal is to elevate the level of discourse from punditry alone and present a nuanced examination of topics as varied as the ins and outs of tribal politics, U.S. military operations, human rights and detention issues, NATO, and occasionally the lighter side of a troubled region. The AfPak Channel also puts out the AfPak Daily Brief, an essential collection of of news from and about South Asia, subscribed to by thousands of U.S. and international policymakers and government officials, journalists, academics, and observers from all walks of life....

August 10, 2010
The Pakistan Policy Blog

Abstract:

The Pakistan Policy Blog (TTPB), created in August 2007 by Arif Rafiq (bio below), provides a regular, critical perspective on Pakistan’s domestic and foreign affairs. Its goals are to:* stimulate discourse on policies furthering a prosperous, progressive, and secure Pakistan, * and bridge the gap between the U.S. and Pakistani policy communities. The TPPB, featured in the Online Journalism Review, has a loyal readership within the policy and intelligence communities and media in the United States, western Europe, Pakistan, and elsewhere. Arif Rafiq, the blog's editor, is president of Vizier Consulting, LLC, which provides strategic guidance on Middle East and South Asian political and security issues. Previously, he worked for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and public relations firms Ruder Finn and Burson-Marsteller. Rafiq also wrote speeches for a head of state in the Middle East....

August 10, 2010
Reuters

Abstract:

A blog about governance and security issues in Pakistan.

August 10, 2010
Circling the Lion's Den

Abstract:

A blog about various issues facing Afghanistan and Pakistan; written by Nick Fielding. He notes: "I first visited Afghanistan in the mid-1970s and have continued to follow events there very closely ever since. I was there again in January-February 2002 and, most recently, in the summer of 2008. Over the years I have never lost my interest in Afghanistan and its people and continue to believe in a great and dignified future for both. My background is as a journalist. I worked for the Sunday Times as a senior reporter for many years and before that for the Mail on Sunday. I have written two books: Masterminds of Terror (together with Yosri Fouda), Mainstream, 2003; and Defending the Realm: MI5 and the War on Terrorism (with Mark Hollingsworth), Andre Deutsch, 2003."...