Tag: (ISSI)

Islamabad, October 27, 2021 (PPI-OT):The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad organized the Seminar on Commemorating the Black Day: India’s Plunder of Jammu and Kashmir on October 27, 2021, at ISSI.

The welcome remarks were given by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI, who stated that we commemorate October 27, every year that has brought innumerable miseries to the Kashmiris. Unfortunately, the three generations of Kashmiris have been suffering at the hands of Indian atrocities. Though India has violated the United Nations Security Resolution nevertheless, the international community is silent on the Indian genocide of Kashmiris. August 05, 2019, India once again annexed and colonized Kashmir. It is a matter of grave concern that Indian atrocities in Kashmir have not been questioned by the international community. The courage and resilience of the people of Kashmir should be acknowledged that they kept the freedom movement alive DG, ISSI added.

Earlier in his remarks Dr. Saif Malik, Director ISC said that though every day in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, bring miseries in the lives of innocent Kashmiris 27th October is observed and remembered when India on the same day in 1947, contrary to the aspirations of Kashmiris and against the international norms, landed its troops in Srinagar. From that day onward perpetual move of ethnic cleansing, through brutal tactics yet unending. Being the “oldest and unresolved international conflict,” the Kashmir dispute presents a formidable challenge to regional as well as global peace and security, in addition to being a huge question mark viz-a-viz the effectiveness, sincerity and efficacy of the United Nations.

Speaking on the topic Mr Ahmed Qureshi, Executive Director YFK-International Kashmir Lobby Group (Kashmir Dispute and the Role of International Community and Media) maintained that there has been a global shift in Kashmir conflict. There has been constant change in perspectives of the world on Kashmir cause. Now the international community sees Kashmir cause in a different paradigm, the emerging shift goes in Kashmir’s favour. He further added that now even if Pakistan stops speaking on Kashmir there is so much archive present globally on Kashmir issue which is a great achievement for Pakistan. Pakistan has to capitalize on the global shift in Kashmir cause, Qureshi added.

Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, HOD Department of Strategic Studies, NDU (Legal and Security Implications of the 5 August 2019 Annexation of Jammu and Kashmir by India) while shedding light on Article 370 and 35-A said that Pakistan never expected Article 370 and 35-A could be revoked by India. Currently, there are many human rights violations happening in Kashmir and Kashmiri students are considered traitors or Pakistanis.

The revocation of articles 370 and 35-A also violated the Shimla agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1972. She said that Kashmir is a dangerous place for journalists and freedom of speech has been suppressed by the Modi regime in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian democracy has been turned into fascist democracy of the world violating human rights. She further reiterated that the Indian army uses chemical weapons and burning down houses of Kashmiris which is totally against human rights.

Maj Gen Dr Raza Muhammad, HI (M), (Retd), Advisor to President NDU (Kashmir Dispute: Strategic Dimensions and Challenges Ahead) while expressing his views said that Kashmir was his first posting therefore Kashmir runs in his blood. Kashmir was heaven but now it has been turned into hell. The world has woken up we should not miss the prevailing momentum. Talking about Indian growing military expenditure he revealed that India sets US50 billion dollars for arms sale and purchasing arms from the US, UK, Russia and Israel. Pakistan has done a lot for Kashmiris but we are handicapped in many issues but this doesn’t stop us, Pakistan has a potential and the world is responding to our narrative.

General Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M), (Retd) Chief Guest of the event thanked ISC, ISSI and NDU for commemorating the Kashmir back day and said that India has been in the state of denial to accept Kashmir freedom. Kashmiris have been fighting for an identity that cannot be quelled by India. Indian occupation of Kashmir on October 27, 1947, was non-compliance with UN resolution. The conflict of Kashmir has shifted from unilateral to multilateral conflict. China’s embroilment in conflict with India in Ladakh has added complexities for India.

Though India has granted scholarships to the students of Kashmir to study in India, students after getting higher education from India are more resilient and are on the frontline in the freedom movement. The BJP boons are targeting the students of Kashmir. The youth of Kashmir are more educated and well aware of international politics creating a great deal of hardship for India. In the end General Ehsan ul Haq gave the way forward as far as Kashmir cause is concerned and said that Pakistan needs strategic pursuance and we ought not to be distracted and we need to look at smart options by engaging the new generation. Pakistan has to cement its economic and political stability, he added.

In last, the event was attended by people from different walks of life. The event was concluded with the resolve that Pakistan will stand firm with the Kashmiri people in their just fight for their right to self-determination.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/

Islamabad, October 25, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Center for Afghanistan Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) in collaboration with the Sofia Security Forum, South East European Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies (SEECAPS) and the Embassy of Pakistan in Bulgaria held an online discussion titled Security Implications of Developments in Afghanistan – Views from Europe And Pakistan.

The opening remarks were given by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI, who stated that it is necessary to get all the perspectives on Afghanistan. He further said that no country is more affected than Pakistan and that Pakistan has suffered for more than four decades and has also hosted refugees. He further said that the region and particularly Pakistan has suffered due to the lack of peace in Afghanistan.

Mr. Yordan Bozhilov, President of Sophia Security Forum also stated that the EU and Pakistan are the main stakeholders in the region. H.E Ms Mariam Aftab, Ambassador of Pakistan in Bulgaria, in her welcome remarks said that such interactions help build bridges between scholars and stakeholders. Ms. Elena Atanasova-Cornelis, Founding Member of SEECAPS stated that the relevance of Afghanistan for the EU cannot be denied at this importance juncture.

The first session, “Dynamics in the South and Central Asia region. Factors, trends and directions of likely future developments in the region” was moderated by Mr. Yordan Bozhilov, President of Sofia Security Forum. Speaking on the topic, Mr. Plamen Tonchev, MERICS European China Policy Fellow and Head of Asia Unit, Institute of International Economic Relations (IIER), Greece, Executive Director of SEECAPS was of the view that the trillion-dollar question is what next in Afghanistan and where the situation in the country heading and what will the international community and Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries going to do about it.

He further said that two key factors which determine a country’s attitude to engage in Afghanistan are geographical proximity and willingness to engage with the Taliban and to what extent these countries are accepted by the Taliban. Moreover, he said a primary concern is that an unstable Afghanistan will bring about a surge in refugees and the resulting threats. While there are objections within the EU, it has become clear that the EU is reopening its diplomatic mission in Kabul in the coming month; however engagement with the Taliban is expected to remain limited. The EU will find it difficult to offer international recognition to the Taliban today because it cannot by pass its institutional constraints he further said.

Ambassador Asif Durrani, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to Iran, while shedding light on the topic stated that challenges in Afghanistan are becoming more serious with the advent of winters in Afghanistan and that we have to prioritize the problems as ten years ago there was no presence of Daesh in the country, but now with their presence, the situation is more challenging and dangerous. He further said that the US has to fulfill its obligations and delist the Taliban from the 1267 sanctions regime. Moreover, he said that the set up in Afghanistan should be inclusive and since international community has frozen 9.5 million dollars of funds, this will result in creating a catastrophic situation in Afghanistan. He said that the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan are one of the foremost challenges.

The second session, “Current Set-Up in Afghanistan – Role of Pakistan and Other Regional Actors,” had two discussants. Mr. Krzysztof Iwanek, Contributor to “The Diplomat”, Warsaw, Poland, while expressing his views talked about Pakistan’s past role in Afghanistan and its possible involvement with Taliban in the future. According to Iwanek, Pakistan has played an instrumental role in getting the Taliban into power in Afghanistan, by providing assistance to them for years.

He said now that the Taliban have taken over Kabul, Pakistan’s relationship with most countries shall transform in a good way, with a few challenges. Furthermore, Pakistan may also help the Taliban regime in the near future by providing technological and economic assistance. Although Pakistan’s capacity to help is not huge, it can convince other states to provide assistance to the Taliban regime. He further said that Pakistan can play a key role in helping the Taliban gain international recognition. He also pointed out that the TTP will be labeled as an internal problem for Pakistan by the Taliban regime and Pakistan shall not receive any assistance from the group in this regard.

Speaking on the topic, Ms. Amina Khan, Director Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA), Islamabad spoke about the overall situation in Afghanistan, and said that while a lot is being said about Pakistan’s role which is perhaps not surprising considering the fact that Pak has become a convenient scapegoat, Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban has been known, so has its stance which has remained consistent. Since 2001, Pakistan has been calling for a political solution to the conflict which includes the Taliban as a major component.

She said that it is unfortunate that it has taken more than two decades of bloodshed, countless lives and wasted resources for the US to realize this. Pakistan has a relationship with the Taliban as do a number of countries within and outside the region. The Taliban have evolved and learnt the art of diplomacy where they have been extensively engaging with the international community which entails de -facto recognition moreover, the group has other sources of support.

In fact if anything, the US legitimized the Taliban by signing the Doha agreement in the absence of Kabul and by announcing their withdrawal without getting anything substantial in return from the Taliban this emboldened the group. It is imperative that the international community remains engaged and provides much needed aid and assistance instead of shifting the onus, Afghanistan must be viewed as a collective responsibility she stated.

The third and last session titled, “Policies of the EU and Pakistan towards Afghanistan and the wider region,” had two speakers. The first speaker, Ms. Barbara Kelemen, Research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) was of the view that the Chinese strategy for a long time has been to use the economic aspect to stabilize a country. She further said that China has interests in Afghanistan that are deeply tied to security and strategy. In this regard, China can help stabilize the country by using economic means. In strategic aspect, there is a history of Chinese engagement due to the close geographic proximity of China and Afghanistan.

Talking about the security aspect, she said that border sharing and the history of militant groups plays an important role in shaping China’s interest in Afghanistan, especially when considering the Uyghur issue. China’s interests have been more prominent in the past 8 years and many important projects can be initiated by China in Afghanistan, involve connectivity, infrastructure, export and minerals she concluded. The last speaker of the third session, Dr Talat Shabbir, Director China Pakistan Study Center (CPSC), Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, while expressing his views stated that the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) is an ambitious project of China and is one among many.

He also said that its effectiveness can be enhanced if the scope of connectivity that it offers is interpreted in a holistic way. BRI is a highly flexible arrangement with major projects in energy, infrastructure and transport sector, he stated. Moreover, he said that China being the global economic power is one of the prominent investors in Eurasia; therefore, this deep engagement allows Beijing to make various connectivity routes passing from South Asia to Central Asia, Russia and Europe. Therefore, if peace and stability prevail in Afghanistan, the benefits of economic connectivity will multiply and that is why peace in the region and specifically in Afghanistan is of utmost importance.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/

Islamabad, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised a Public Talk titled, “Celebrating 70 Years of Pakistan-Germany Relations,” on October 21, 2021. H.E. Bernhard Schlagheck, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan was the Guest Speaker for the event.

In her introductory remarks Dr Neelum Nigar, Director, CSP, said that Pakistan and Germany have enjoyed seven decades of close and diverse relations based on mutual respect and cooperation. Germany has also provides development support to Pakistan mainly centred on renewables, climate protection, business, and health care.

While in his welcome Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI said that Germany is an extremely important country and it’s Pakistan’s biggest trading partner in Europe. There has been a recent boost in the people-to-people contact between Pakistan and Germany which has helped relations to enhance further. Ambassador Chaudhry called Europe a resilient continent and said people would like to know where it stands with regards to changing geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific.

The Guest Speaker Ambassador Schlagheck in his talk said that Germany and Pakistan are engaged in high level bilateral visits which shows the level of trust between the two countries. Both countries are relatively young as both gained independence within two years of each other.

On the recent development in Afghanistan, Ambassador Schlagheck said that Germany is appreciative of Pakistan’s assistance in the Doha Process and in securing safe passage for its nationals from Afghanistan. He further said that there are several areas in the political sphere where the two sides can work closely; Afghanistan being one of them.

On Pakistan’s GSP+ status, Ambassador Schlagheck stated that after 2023 Pakistan’s status will be revaluated according to the new conventions and emphasised that Pakistan needs to make efforts to address certain challenges in this regard. Later, an interactive session was held which was moderated by Ambassador Chaudhry. At the conclusion, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood Chairman BoG, presented ISSI’s memento to Ambassador Schlagheck.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/

Islamabad, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organised a webinar on “Emerging Global Military Trends and National Security: Challenges and Options” on October 21, 2021. Eminent speakers included Dr Asma Shakir Khawaja, HOD, Department of Strategic Studies, National Defence University (NDU), Dr Ivan V. Danilin, Associate Professor, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Russia, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Faaiz Amir, former Vice-Chancellor Air University, and Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Professor SPIR, Quaid-e-Azam University.

Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC-ISSI in his introductory remarks said that a careful review of military spending trends reflects that all the major powers are involved in strategic competition and investing in their weapons and military modernisation programmes. Major states are engaged in a new arms race and spending more and more on modern and lethal weapons technologies. India, the third-largest military spender in the world wanted to modernise its armed forces and has concluded major defence deals with Russia, the US and Israel. Some major powers have already withdrawn from key international arms control treaties and norms and have shifted to warfighting doctrines and postures.

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI, said that four main trends are apparent. There are incentives for an arms race, a multipolarity of powers where every power is guided by unilateralism and other powers react. The second trend is pre-emption versus deterrence. States build capabilities for pre-emption that has increased the potential for conflicts. Also, realpolitik has trumped all ethics. Last but not least, there is greater reliance on emerging technologies especially Artificial Intelligence (AI). This will increase the gap between the haves and have-nots. Overall, he concluded that it looks like a grim picture.

Dr Asma Shakir Khawaja, talking about “Emerging Military Trends and Reconceptualisation of National Security” emphasised non-traditional military trends in security. She said that the trend of information warfare, which is increasingly sophisticated, creates a fog of war. The second trend is the use of cyber technology as a tool of warfare that has the potential to shut down offensive and defensive systems and command and control systems. She also talked about the proliferation of hypersonic missiles that have changed deterrence equations and increased chances of escalation. National security is not only about able to persuade the adversary by force. Coercive methods of warfare have been replaced by soft methods. National security conceptualisation is multidimensional now – military and non-military, traditional and non-traditional.

Dr Ivan V. Danilin said that digital technology presently is 4-5 % of global GDP. The civilian high-tech sector can affect the security of a state. It is important to know that the globalisation of the digital sector. The globalised structure is a matter of regional and global security and features prominently in the policies of states. High technology markets conflicts are now real. The US sanctioned 5G technology developed by China. There are trade and economic wars among major powers. There is rising securitisation of technology. China and the US’s digital markets are a zero-sum game. There is a competition where the adversary state is prevented from gaining dominance. He said that we cannot afford to get into the digital arms race.

Air Vice-Marshal (Retd.) Faaiz Amir talking about “Emerging Military Trends and Future of Warfare” said that interstate and intrastate conflicts show a decline. However, the space between war and peace is not empty. He further said that the lines between foreign and domestic, national and international wars have been blurred. Disruptive technologies are having an impact on warfare. Future warfare will use speed, information warfare and AI. Thus, the decision-making process in warfare will require greater speed. Kinetics engagements will be less and will depend on the capacity of the state, the prevalence of democracy, ethnicity and economic growth as well as military capacity. Modern warfare is more on the lines of Hybrid warfare.

Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal said that military modernisation is about more than hardware, it is about organisational reforms, command, control and doctrines. Pakistan armed forces have been going through up-gradation. Pakistan has to keep in mind the adversary’s capabilities. India has been working on integrated offensive and defensive systems. India had invested in offensive and defensive missile capability as well as hypersonic missiles with the help of the US and Israel. Talking about the options for Pakistan, he said that there is a need to modernise and be competent in air, land, sea, space, cyberspace and AI. Pakistan needs to invest in technologies like hypersonic missiles, cruise and ballistic missiles, cybersecurity, IA, area-denial capabilities and space capabilities.

He emphasised the need to work with China and attract new partners like Russia to keep pace with Indian modernisation. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors, ISSI, concluded by saying that new technologies are causing concerns in the civil and military domains. It also has an impact on issues of deterrence and conduct of warfare. As the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said “whoever dominates in IA would control the world.” These technologies have changed the character of the battlefield. On one hand, these technologies have benefits but on the other hand, they are also disruptive. They are leading to arms races. He emphasised the need to develop regulations to control emerging new technologies through international cooperation.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/

Islamabad, October 15, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), organized a web talk under its Ambassadors’ Platform titled, “Pakistan and the US; Next Steps in Relationship.” The speaker at the talk was Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Dr. Asad Majeed Khan. Following the Ambassador’s talk, Dr. Rifaat Hussain, Professor of Public Policy, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad and Dr. Rabia Akhtar, Director Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore offered their reflections as discussants. The talk was moderated by Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

Dr Neelum Nigar, Director CSP in her opening remarks stated that the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan provides an important opportunity for Pakistan to reassess its relations with the US in light of shared interests and shared priorities. Ambassador Khan while shedding light on the state of affairs of Pakistan-US relations stated that the events of the past few decades have essentially made Pakistan-US relations a security centric relationship. He was of the view that the Biden administration inherited a lot of unprecedented issues and problems including the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

The collapse of the Afghan National Army came as a surprise for the US. This has also given rise to internal finger-pointing in the US generating a sentiment of reflection and introspection. While talking about Pakistan-US relations Ambassador Khan opined that Afghanistan will remain the primary and principal subject of conversation between the two capitals. Over the years, Pakistan has reduced its dependence on the economic and military assistance that the US once provided; Pakistan has been on the giving end in the context of providing and facilitating the peace process.

While talking about the official mood in the US, Ambassador Khan stated that the conversations between the two countries remain cordial, however there are two additional stress points on the relationship; US-China escalation and US-India strategic partnership. Concluding his remarks Ambassador Khan said that the bilateral interactions between the two capitals are gaining momentum on multiple tracks including climate change and clean energy.

Dr. Rifaat Hussain while making his remarks stated that Afghanistan will remain the main driver for the conversations between the two capitals. He raised caution on the current Indian mindset and attitude that encourages fighting war on two fronts and questioned the stalemate that is present at the highest level of the leadership. He was of the view that there is tremendous ambiguity that exists in the US Congress as well as in the Pentagon about the kind of relationship the US wants with Pakistan.

Dr. Rabia Akhtar in her remarks stated that today Pakistan is free of tags with regards to its relationship with the US with the breaking of the Af-Pak prism and the Indo-Pak dehyphenation. She was of the view that Pakistan’s identity for the first time is not help up by any tag and this opportunity should be used to craft an independent foreign policy with a focus on regional connectivity, completion of CPEC projects, as well as building back its economy. Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry summed up the discussions and concluded the meeting with a vote of thanks to Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan.

For more information, contact:
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
Sector F-5/2, Islamabad – 44000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9202481
Fax: +92-51-9204658
E-mail: strategy@issi.org.pk
Website: http://issi.org.pk/