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THE DIPLOMATIC INSIGHT │ 1

2 │ THE DIPLOMATIC INSIGHT


6 Pakistan-Indonesia Relations- Friendship of Thick and Thin

8 Uzbekistan in UNGA

9 Pyeong Chang Olympics: a new cornerstone for peace and prosperity

10 Electoral Reforms the only way out for Sustainable Peace and Governance

13 We leave as winners

14 Complexities in Baluchistan

16 US-China ties on thin ice!

17 China’s Discourse Diplomacy in President Xi’s New Year Oration

20 The European Commission’sStrategy for the Western Balkans

21 Pakistani Woman Activist honored N-Peace Award in Thailand

22 United Nations Security Council: Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship

23 Seminar Dynamics of Trump’s Afghan Policy

24Seminar Shanghai Cooperation Organization After Sochi Meeting

26SeminarBelt and Road Initiative and Regional Development

28 Ibn I Khudun Corner Established


EDITOR IN CHIEF Muhammad Asif Noor

EDITOR Farhat Asif

EXECUTIVE EDITOR M. Murtaza Noor

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mian Noor Ahmed Laiba Yousafzai Shah Rukh Hashmi

ADVISORY BOARD Prof. Dr. Victoria L Fontan Prof. Dr. Ikram Azam Prof. Dr. Munawar A. Anees Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos Prof. Dr. Murray Hunter Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar Prof. Dr. Gulden Ayman Dr. Ali Abu Turab Dr. Ahmad Rashid Malik Prof. Dr. Shahnaz Zaheer

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT EDITOR Sara Flatto (USA) Ximena Holguin (Mexico) Sehar Sabir (China) Ayshan Guliyeva (Azerbaijan) Tatiana Karchenkova (Russia) Shakti Prasad (India) Samaira Khan (Denmark) Bakhtawar Malik (France) Dr. Shamas Yasir (Afghanistan) Hammad Ahmad Malik (Spain) Tanja Miscevic (Serbia)

BUREAU CHIEF Mohammad Hanif (Vehari)

SPECIAL REPORTER Shabbir Haider

DESIGN & LAYOUT Shahzad Ahmed

LEGAL ADVISORS Muhammad Akram Mughal Advocate Supreme Court (AJK)Saleem Ullah Khan Advocate High Coourt of Pakistan Ch. Abdul Khaliq Thind Advocate High Court (IBD)

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The world became more insecure for our children across the length and breadth including Pakistan. In Pakistan, the children remain vulnerable to various forms of violence and exploitation and there is not as yet any substantial and integrated system in place for meeting international standards. Recent gruesome murder and rape of a six year old Zainab, whose lifeless body was found on the heaps of trash just few meters away from her house in Qasur, made Pakistan to revisit and think beyond to create some considerable legal standards for children to be protected. According to the UNICEF, every year, more than 3 million children are not registered, there

are one third of women married below their age of legal standard, there are also estimated 12 million children as laborers and are living in streets. Pakistan needs to develop a comprehensive strategy at all levels to provide ample support to children to live in a safe and secure environment.

A woman of immense characteristics, the fearless and matchless brave fighter for women and human rights, Ms. Asma Jahanghir passed away causing a vacuum that would take years and decades to be filled. Being a staunch supporter of rule of law and eminent lover of democracy, Asma’s services will be remembered for opposing the unjust forces in politics, inequality and injustice. The great lawyer has always promoted the conviction that Pakistan’s salvation will remain in adhering to the principles of rule of law, democracy and constitutionalism. Asma Jahanghir was a unique personality of Pakistan who was an icon in herself. As a result of her fearless work and views, she was labeled as traitors to stifle her voice but her standpoint remained unchanged and unchallenged. An icon for many feminist and human rights activists, Asma will be remembered for her tireless work for the rule of law, her nerve and poise. After her sad demise, there are not single distinguished women as Asma who can be as fearless as herself. To her credit were much international recognition and remained featured as the most legendary women of Pakistan at the international level.

There was a great hustle bustle in the diplomatic relations front in Islamabad these days. Since the beginning of this year, several important visits were made. In the early January, a historic milestone in Pakistan-Indonesia relations was achieved when President of Indonesia, a visionary people’s leader of one of the largest Muslim country of the world, Mr. Joko Widodo arrived in Islamabad on a two days state level visit. The ties between Indonesia and Pakistan are based on the history, religion, culture and commonality of interest at all international and regional forums. Pakistan and Indonesia stood by each other at every platform and continued supporting each other for common future of peace, progress, prosperity, stability, development and territorial integrity. On the other hand, earlier this month, King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was in Islamabad on a two days state visit after eleven long years. Having historic, cultural and religious ties, Pakistan and Jordan enjoy deep rooted diplomatic, cultural, strategic, political and economic relations since the inception of the formal ties. The congeniality of relations is reflective of the fact that it is a regular practice from both sides to have high level visits, keeping in view the warmth and closeness that both states enjoy. For Pakistan, it is important that although there are many countries in the world where Pakistan is having deep rooted relations, but there is lack of substantial conversation of the good will into meaningful projects and joint ventures. There is a strong need from all quarters and ministries in Pakistan to review and strategies the effective implementation of the agreements into concrete steps. There is a need to address the challenges and avail the opportunities offering to Pakistan by all the friendly countries to Pakistan.

At the eve of the anniversary of the late Afzal Guru and Kashmir Solidarity Day, Indian-held Kashmir remained under tight military control and siege. There are continuous skirmishes between Pakistan and India at the so called line of control, where both states are threatening for dire consequences for any misadventure. The disputed Himalayan region has witnessed violence and strict curfews in past few years as a result of the extra judicial acts of Indian forces on innocent Kashmiris. The hanging of Afzal and later martyrdom of Burhan Wani, has broken the possibility of truce amongst the parties. The Kashmiri demand right of self determination which is the justified right given by the International community. This will continue unless and until India will not accept the reality and international community will remain silent on the ongoing human rights violations.


A historic milestone in Pakistan-Indonesia relations was achieved when President of Indonesia, a visionary people’s leader of one of the largest Muslim country of the world, Mr. Joko Widodo arrived in Islamabad on a two days state level visit. Mr. Widodo was welcomed with official protocol as President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain himself was present at the Nur Khan Base to welcome his counterpart from a brotherly Islamic country with having decades of congeniality of relations between the two states. During his visit, Mr. Widodo became the second President from Indonesia to address the joint sessions of the Parliament after President Dr. Ahmed Soekarno, who had made the his address to the highest institution in 1963. The joint session was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, all three Armed Forces Chiefs and the Parliamentarians. President Widodo became the 17th foreign dignitary to address the joint session of the Parliament. Mr. Widodo arrived with high level members of his delegation alongwith the Businessmen for bilateral talks at all levels. During the visit, several important agreements of cooperation have been signed including especially on the import of LNG and POL products, additional protocol to Preferential Trade Agreement for 20 new Tariff lines, trade facilitation and cooperation between the Foreign services institutions. The ties are based on the history, religion, culture and commonality of interest at all international and regional forums. Pakistan and Indonesia stood by each other at every platform and continued supporting each other for common future of peace, progress, prosperity, stability, development and territorial integrity.

With relations dates back prior to the independence of Pakistan, when

Pakistan-Indonesia Relations- Friendship of Thick

and ThinMuhammad Asif Noor

Indonesia was passing through the similar struggle against the Dutch Colonial rule, leaders of All India Muslim League sent the support to the country supporting its path to freedom. When reviewing through the glorious historic past between Pakistan and Indonesia, one can easily assume the level of congeniality between the two brotherly Islamic countries. During the harsh colonial times in mid of 40s, when the independent movement was going in the South Asia, East Asian nations were struggling for freedom from Dutch colonial rules. During that time Muslim brethren from this part of the world were able to begin strong ties with the Indonesian Muslim and around about 600 soldiers were sent to support the resistance against the colonial aggression. Some of them laid the martyrdom while few of them returned back or settled in Indonesia to remain as a lasting bridge between the two nations. Later the great Indonesian nation never forgot those glorious sacrifices made by martyrs with Indonesians during tough times of the colonial history. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, father of the nations also ordered detention of the Dutch planes taking off and setting for the aggression to the Indonesian Muslims. As a result of these momentous past, it actually set the directions for the exemplary Muslim brotherhood that has remained iconic in the relationship of both countries. The actions taken by the great visionary leader of Pakistan, during that time has also manifested that Pakistan has a glorious past of supporting the countries in their fight against aggression especially


the Muslim countries. The then Foreign Minister Sir Zafarullah Khan also that the aggression of the Dutch planes towards Indonesia will be consider as equal to the attack on the soul of the Asia. In August 1995, Indonesia, during its golden jubilee celebrations fought with Indonesian freedom fighters and gave them highest medal of Indonesia and for Founder of Pakistan, Indonesia presented “ Adipura” medal to him for his love for Indonesian brothers.

When you have such magnificent past, then the countries continue their journey towards freedom and togetherness. Being leaders of the Islamic world, Pakistan and Indonesia have played their key role in putting forward the interests and support to the Muslim world with peace and prosperity. Both states stood with each other on the issues of bilateral and multilateral nature. Leadership on both sides had frequent sessions of meetings at bilateral levels and at the several international forums on regular basis including D-8, OIC, Non Aligned Movement besides being the initiators of Asia-Africa Conference and similar forums. Both states consider it significant to support each other especially Indonesia support Pakistan’s bid to be full dialogue partner of ASEAN and Indian Ocean Rim Association. Earlier several high level visits have been done in the past to increase the level of engagement between the two countries on all levels. The exchanges are meant to increase the scope of relationship to various levels including political, economic and socio cultural levels. Building on history, Indonesians always stood by Pakistan in the time of duress especially during the disastrous earthquake of 2008 and later floods of 2010. The relationships are not only based on the mutual respect but can be considered as iron brotherhood and support dynamics that has diversified to much higher level since the inception.

Indonesia is eight largest trading partner of Pakistan amongst the ASEAN countries. Currently the bilateral trade between the countries is standing around 2.3 billion USDs, which need to be improved through expansion of the potential of trade options. This needs to be done through exploring several other sectors including joint agricultural linkages and reviving the relationship amongst the trade bodies There is also need to exploit the Preferential Trade Agreement(PTA) between the two in order to work towards Free Trade Agreement. There is a strong need to enhance partnerships amongst the business enterprises through several initiatives including diversifying the trade options and outreaching to new markets of both sides. Indonesia and Pakistan are rich in natural and human resources, there is also strong need to build on our relations to cement the ties further. There is also need to develop strong linkages at the people-to-people level including exchange of civil society learning institutions, academic exchange, literature and other relevant departments from both sides that might help build the relationship and understanding on both sides.

Both Pakistan and Indonesia face similar levels of challenges including religious fundamentalism, terrorism, drug trafficking, human smuggling and violent extremism. Pakistan has been suffering and fighting against the religious intolerance and has her own war against terrorism that has moved from regional level to the domestic level with several military operations are ongoing. Sacrifices of Pakistan has been acknowledged and supported by international and regional levels. Pakistan like Indonesia

has tough laws regarding the drug trafficking however recently Pakistan has moved the leadership in Indonesia for the humanitarian release of Mr. Zulfiqar who was falsely charged with the drugs trafficking who is terminally ill and languishing in the Indonesian Jail. PM Abbassi discussed the issue during the bilateral talks with the visiting President. Being a young democratic country, Pakistan needs to learn a lot from Indonesia in its path towards popular democracy. The current President Mr. Joko Widodo is a true people’s leader where he drives and connects with the nations through utilizing social media and never hesitates to mingle with the general public at all levels. One may recall his walk of three miles after his motorcade was stuck in heavy traffic jam in Jakarta.

Both Pakistan and Indonesia need to continue building their strengths by supporting each other at levels for the benefit and good of not only the Muslim world but entire Asian region. Both have strengths and powers to transform the regional dynamics towards the mutual goals of peace and prosperity but as the President of Indonesia in his speech has highlighted and said that “ Conflict and wars will benefit no one”, both nations may join hands toward eradicating and eliminating traditional and nontraditional security threats through democracy, participation as true partner of the world peace.

The writer is Director, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies.


The maiden United Nations General Assembly speech by President of Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoev, after assuming power

recently, has a phenomenal reflection of the upcoming strategic, political and economic priority areas of Uzbekistan as a country that will play a leading role in the region and in the world. To understand the vision of the leadership, the speech can be divided into three main components; the country’s domestic priority areas including individuals and youth, regional manifestation and headways along with the international standing and finally the role Uzbekistan intends to play in the world. However, the main object of attention and focus of the speech was the unit of the state i.e. the individual, citizens and assurance of promoting their development, security and prosperity. One of the dimensions of the speech was to build on this promise by pledging alliance with the UN to make assurance to make the world a better place through joint working together in the areas of sustainable development goals. It is heartening to note that Uzbekistan is a rapidly developing economy and is thriving through the recent historic and path breaking initiatives and reforms, having lasting impacts over the economic well being of the country. The key principle of the President and the government of Uzbekistan for putting “human interest come first”, will put a new vigor into the democratic set up of the country. It is important to note here that when the countries begin to grow, rise and shine, they not only look towards the new paths for the prosperity but also try to build and learn from the past failures, which the President of the country has mentioned. From having a glorious past, rich centuries old historical legacy and vision to the future, the country is all set to outshine and stand out amongst the comity of nations.

Refereeing to the five year of development strategy of Uzbekistan, the state has put the importance to the people, their rights with declaring this year as the year of dialogue with People and Human Interests. This also shows that the incumbent government of the country and leadership is seeking a reconciliatory path with all the factions in the society hence focusing on more inclusive government policy. One of the pillars of the democracy is to have free, fair, easy and timely access to justice which has been made mandatory through the establishment of the People’s Reception Offices of the President in the entire country wherein the citizens have their resolutions of the matters in the urgent possible manner. Several other laws and regulations have been upgraded and reformed including the labor laws, establishment of the ombudsman office, liberalization of the entire economic system and creation of the most favorable investment environment are few of the steps that will prove a long way in the historic journey of the country in the years to come. The prosperity that the country will gain will be based on tone simple truth as mentioned by the President that the richer the people are the stronger shall be the state and it surely

Uzbekistan in United Nations General Assembly

Farhat Asif

will in near future if there will be consistency in the current process of the development and prosperity.

Firm commitment of promoting the peace and justice through inclusiveness and reconciliation is not only reflective in the internal policies of the President, but quite recently the country has signed a historic treaty with neighboring Kyrgyzstan related to the State border on a sensitive issue. This echoes the path of engagement, dialogue, and constructive interaction and strengthens the good neighborliness with all the states in the region that the visionary leadership of the country is foreseeing in the future for development and prosperity for the entire region. The President has also aptly pointed out towards the contribution of Uzbekistan in the post conflict reconstruction and development of Afghanistan through providing support in energy, infrastructure, and training of national personnel. Uzbekistan is a hub of traditional and basin of historical and scientific research in the earlier centuries, the vision of the today’s leadership is to amalgamate the history and tradition with modernity through adopting new ways of governance and alliance. For Pakistan, Uzbekistan will remain a reliable ally in the regional peace and security dimension.

**The writer is President , Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies

and President Pakistan-Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Friendship Forum.


All eyes are on the 23rd Olympic Winter Games and 12th Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang this February. Top athletes will carry

their national flags in an opening ceremony which has come to epitomize the international community. Sports fans worldwide eagerly await the Olympics, and this time there is cause for cautious optimism that sport diplomacy may lower tensions on the Korean Peninsula itself. Leaders, diplomats and citizens from the world over will witness North and South Korean athletes walking side by side. For this, there could be few better places than PyeongChang, which means peace (Pyeong) and prosperity (Chang): goals integral to the mission of the United Nations and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games attract people from around the world and help reinforce a set of unifying objectives. The goal of Olympism, as the Olympic Charter states, is “to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity”. Achieving sustainable peace and sustainable development are critical objectives and the Games in PyeongChang offer promise of peace and prosperity.

In this spirit, the first Olympics in South Korea held in 1988 served to foster relationships at a time of rapid geopolitical shifts. These games featured many participating nations, including sizeable delegations from both the USA and USSR. The thaw in relations to which the Olympics contributed led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with neighbors such as Russia and China in the years following the games. The Republic of Korea became a member of the United Nations in 1991.

The Olympics also heralded the economic transformation of the South Korean economy that is now known as “the Miracle on the Han River.” For the decade after the games, its economy grew at an average rate of around 8.5% per year, transforming the country from an aid recipient country to a key aid donor. The material improvement in the lives of people in South Korea was nothing short of a miracle. From 1960 to 1995, GDP per capita increased more than one hundred-fold, virtually eliminating absolute poverty from more than half of the population to less than 5%.

This miracle was linked with another key value of the Olympics and the United Nations - international collaboration. South Korea successfully leveraged international aid, international trade, and international investment with its domestic ingenuity, to show the world it is possible to transform in one generation an agrarian economy into a dynamic technological and cultural producer.

Along with the rapid economic transformation, social and environmental concerns have also risen to the fore. In recent years, we have seen South Korea make commendable steps towards environmental sustainability and inclusive social policies such as the aged pension. Integrating the economic,

Pyeong Chang Olympics: a new cornerstone for peace

and prosperityShamshad Akhtar

social and environmental dimensions is the cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals. South Korea is once again demonstrating to the world a way to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

South Korea now stands as a valued member of the international community, generating cultural phenomena appreciated by young people around the world, playing a leadership role at the UN, and as a significant contributor of aid to developing countries. Olympic sports can support cultural, political and economic diplomacy in its efforts to achieving and sustaining peace.

The Olympic Truce Resolution adopted by the United Nations is an example of using a momentous occasion in international sports, to build a stronger foundation for a more peaceful and inclusive world. The resolution urges all countries to respect the truce by creating a peaceful environment during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and calls on all countries to work together, in good faith towards peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

Opening of the direct dialogue between two countries of the Korean peninsula after the 2018 Olympics show cases a commitment to peace and prosperity. I wish South Korea a promising future and success in its endeavors to foster lasting peace and prosperity.

Shamshad Akhtar is the Under-Secretary-General of the United

Nations and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)


Since its creation in 1947, Pakistan has been going through a turmoil of inefficient and ineffective governance system, which has grossly led to

an unrest in the society. Pakistan, though having rich natural and human resource, has not capitalized opportunities due to many factors, among which unsustainable governance, inefficient bureaucracy and arbitrary democratic system plagued with problems and corruption are the key factors. The democratic, governance and judicial system in Pakistan is widely seen to be arbitrary and corrupt and has to be transformed.

Yet Pakistan is seeing another major opportunity of transformation in the form of CPEC, however, our concern is that its true benefits may not reach to the poor masses who are living in a state of misery not only in rural areas but also in urban centres. It is beyond imagination that how a labourer earning 2-3 thousand rupees [equivalent to US $ 20-30] per month is surviving these days. The stories of mismanagement in government social safety net programs, such as BISP are the beauty lines of every newspaper every day, which is simply due to inefficient governance. The older people and pensioners once used to be happily surviving on the government saving schemes are at the mercy of open market interest rates. While rich evade taxes, the poor and middle class has been overtaxed by imposing indirect taxes. The GDP of any country does not speak out the well-being of that country, which is measured by the ratio of income of rich and poor, access to jobs, livelihoods, education and hospitals. All okay reports and onset or completion of mega projects do not represent ground realities.

As Pakistan is now a key player of one-road, one-belt program, the sustainable peace and governance here is a key to success of this program

Electoral Reforms the only way out for Sustainable Peace

and GovernanceKanwar Muhammad Dilshad

which is likely to bring changes and transformations in many countries in the region and beyond. In Pakistan, it is like a light in the tunnel for the poor peasants, who are at the mercy of mill owners and importers of agricultural products from India.

The sustainable peace and governance is related with an efficient and transparent electoral system which is not good in the present form. The transparency of elections of 2013 has been widely questioned by all the parties which has led to a turmoil in politics during the last 5 years and has challenged peace in the country and harnessing of economic benefits. It may not be incorrect to say that the present and previous democratic governments have wasted 10 years of the nation, and by introducing constitutional amendment 18, the federation has become weakened. Everyone had high expectations with this amendment but it has proved to be lethal for the federation and should be immediately withdrawn. At the top of it, the media

which is an important pillar of democracy and governance has also not behaved responsibly and helped in national agenda setting.

The National Democratic Foundation [NDF] strongly advocates for electoral reforms prior to 2018 elections, which is the foundation stone of free, fair and transparent elections and peace in the country in future, success of CPEC and regional peace. It is wish of majority that the PTI leadership should have demanded rigorous electoral reforms rather than wasting time


of the nation, media and its own time in making protests on less important issues. NDF philosophy is to nip the evil in the bud, rather than going for hunting the evils but not attacking on the breeding grounds of corruption and inefficient democratic system which in fact invites protests by masses and martial-law.

The NDF, since its inception is advocating for electoral reforms, and has been organizing roundtable discussions, and advocating reforms in print and electronic media to achieve this novel goal. NDF has already submitted 25 recommendations to the Chairman of Parliament Committee for Electoral Reforms, Mr. Ishaq Dar, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Speaker of National Assembly, Chairman Senate, Heads of all the political parties and important politicians. Some long-term recommendations proposed are as follows:

1. Appointment of caretaker Prime Minister is the most important point. The caretaker Prime Minister should be a vibrant personality who is physically and mentally fit to undertake stressful workload. A committee comprising of Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chairman Senate should jointly select 3 names for the Caretaker Prime Minister, and final vetting should be done by the Army Chief and Chief Justice of Pakistan. Since, the Army Chief has to manage the internal and external security of the country, he should be highly vigilant with the national political, financial, environmental and social issues, and his role in the selection of Caretaker Prime Minister should be recognised.

2. The tenure of the government should be reduced to 4 years, meaning thereby that all assemblies including local government should be dissolved after every 4 years for re-election. The speed of technology and international development directly impacts the velocity of time, therefore, the window of opportunity for a government to perform should be rationalized in line with the aspirations of people and international developments.

3. The quota for dedicated seats for women in the parliament should be abolished, rather it should be mandatory for every contesting party to allocate 10% of the seats to women contestants.

4. Political leaders should be allowed to function as political party’s office bearers for only two consecutive terms to ensure that dynasty politics does not grow in our political culture and that cross section of the political party members should get the opportunity to rise to the leadership cadres. This move will minimize the emergence of smaller parties or pressure groups.

5. Additional category of ‘none for above’ candidates should be added in the ballot paper to give legitimate right to the voters who are not satisfied with any of the above elections contesting candidates. Thus opening way for re-elections for constituencies where majority of voters reject candidates, nominated by political parties or independent candidates. The present system hostages voters to vote for candidates listed in the ballot paper, and elimates overall opinion of the people.

6. The ECP should work like an independent institution and it should

not be under the influence of government. The Election Commission should be constituted by the joint parliament and vetted by the Judicial Committee instead of parliamentary committee. This system is being successfully practiced in Canada, Thailand and Indonesia.

7. The Election Commission of Pakistan should be given an observer role in the intra-party elections under Political Parties Order 2002 Article 11 and 12.

8. The development funds at the disposal of members of parliament are grossly misused, important works in the community are ignored simply on the pretext that the voters have not voted for x, y, z candidate. Further, the projects completed by the development fund quota are not integrated or linked with any other development project and grossly lead to mushrooming of slums. This practice of corruption, and discrimination among parliament members, should be discontinued and all the funds should go to the local government and spent on projects benefiting masses rather than on the basis of political affiliation.

9. The electronic voting machine system has become controversial in USA and France. In India High Courts of 3 states declared this system as unreliable. The Assembly of state of Delhi has also declared that the electronic voting machine system has been tempered. Therefore, the political


parties and ECP should drop the idea of electronic voting system as it will further complicate the system and will create more doubts and litigation.

10. All the winning independent candidates should be made mandatory not to join any political party, whereas they should form independent group in the parliament.

11. If any political party wins less than 10% of the national or each provincial assembly seats, then all the seats of that party should be transferred to the majority party. This will ensure eradication of black-mailing and pressure groups. This system is also being successfully practiced in Turkey.

12. There should be separate Returning officers for the national and provincial assembly seats which will reduce workload on them for legal and administrative matters.

13. In each Polling station, a Polling Assistant should be appointed only for the election-day who will observe the execution of election and closely observe the attitude and behaver of political parties, polling agents, elections and administrative staff. He / she should be a retired civil or military official or a community notable from the same constituency but not having affiliation with any party.

14. The Polling Agent at each Polling station should be given observer status and his/her attendance in the Polling station should be mandatory during the election hours and his attendance sheet should be submitted to ECP along with the election result of a given constituency after due verification by the concerned Presiding Officer.

15. The consolidation of the results should be done under section 39 of the Representation of People Act 1976 and not rely on Form 14. The Returning Officer must physically verify [recounting] the votes to validate contents of Form 14, in order to fill accurate and verified data on Form 16.

16. Along with Form 16 [Polling station wise result summary by the Returning officer] and Form 17 [candidate wise result summary by the Returning Officer], the Returning Officer must submit Form 14 [summary of counting by the Presiding Officer] and Form 15 [Ballot paper count by Presiding Officer]. By adopting this recommendation, the ECP shall have complete record in its possession rather than being dependent on lower government tiers. It will automatically reduce the number of complaints to Election Tribunal.

17. Form 14-16-17 should be uploaded on ECP website as soon as these are received.

18. The Returning Officers in person, should be held responsible for rigging. For the purpose, amended version of Section 68 of the Representation of People Act 1975 should be adopted.

19. The ECP should be required to submit all collected record about the sources of party funds to the out-going Speaker of the National / Provincial Assembly for debate. Discussion and conclusion on it

should be held within initial six months of the National / Provincial Assembly.

20. The Election Commission of Pakistan should be given an observer role in the intra-party elections under Political Parties Order 2002 Article 11 and 12.

21. The qualification of any parliamentarian on Section 62 and 63 is an important parameter and it has been grossly ignored. The parliamentary ticket board of all the political parties should be held accountable for issuance of party tickets to candidates. In case any candidate is disqualified by the court on the basis of section 62 and 63, then the ECP should also disqualify members of the party ticket board who had voted for him/her for at least 2 terms. This system is successfully practiced in Bangladesh and Turkey.

The research on electoral reforms is evolving as new situations and conflicts arise within and among the political parties and misuse or misinterpretation of election procedures and rules occurs. NDF commits itself to continue research to make the electoral system fool-proof to match the interests of majority and to eliminate pressure groups from the system. All the tiers of government, like administration, judiciary, parliament and media should function in harmony for the welfare of masses and strengthening of governance in the country.


Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Khmeimim base in Syria, where he was greeted by Syrian leader Bashar Assad and

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Being on the base, the head of our state issued an order to start withdrawal of Russian servicemen from Syria: “You are returning with victory to your native hearths, to your relatives, parents, wives, children, friends. Motherland is waiting for you, friends”.

The reason for this was that in the provinces of Deir ez Zor and Rakka ISIL (banned in Russia) ceased to exist as an organized force. The success of Russia in Syria has provided work in two main areas. On the one hand, the MSF caused significant damage to radical Islamists and helped the Syrian army and pro-Iranian armed formations to liberate most of the country.

On the other hand, with the help of foreign policy players, the process of national dialogue in Syria was launched. This allowed the creation of three zones of de-escalation: South in the province of Deraa, East Guta in the province of Damascus and one more in the north of the province of Homs. In the short term, the fourth zone of de-escalation is planned to be formed in the province of Idlib. There, the regime of reconciliation will be supported by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Even more important now, after defeating ISIL, it is to launch a general dialogue. For now, both the destructive activities of the United States and Saudi Arabia, as well as the lack of agreements between Moscow and Ankara on the separation of the forces of monitoring missions in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, the future of the Kurdish canton of Afrin, and the composition of the delegates at the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue are hindering this. Nevertheless, a compromise will be found, which will allow launching the process of the national dialogue at the general level.

Returning to the statement of President Vladimir Putin on the completion of the military operation in Syria, it should be noted that, firstly, it is not a question of the complete withdrawal from Syria of the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian Federation will retain its military presence in this country both at the Khmeimim airbase and in Tartus. Their functions will be adjusted taking into account the evolving situation. Apparently, now much attention will be paid to the training of Syrian military personnel, than to direct participation in hostilities, including by applying missile and bomb strikes against radical Islamists.

Secondly, President Vladimir Putin remarked: “Naturally, there may still be isolated hotbeds of resistance, but on the whole, combat work at this stage is over in this territory.” Consequently, the Russian group in Syria will continue to fight the radicals, but gradually these functions will increasingly be shifted to the army and special services of Syria. At the same time, the Russian side will continue to conduct aerial and technical reconnaissance, provide air defense of the most important facilities,

We leave as winnersVladimir Evseev

conduct electronic warfare and a number of other functions that the Syrian national army is not yet able to fully perform. Thus, Russia has demonstrated the ability to fight terrorists beyond its borders.

Thirdly, the position of the radical organization Jebhat an Nusra (banned in the Russian Federation) as a whole is substantially weakened. But it is not completely broken yet, which still requires the preservation of the Russian military presence in Syria.

Thus, the victory over ISIL allowed the Russian leadership to declare the termination of the military operation in Syria. However, the presence of the Russian Federation Armed Forces in this country remains, which serves as a guarantee of the irreversibility of both a final victory over the radicals in some perspective and the launch of a process of general dialogue, primarily on the basis of agreements between Russia, Iran and Turkey. At the same time, Moscow does not refuse the help of other foreign policy players in the person of, for example, Washington, Paris and Riyadh. Another question is whether they themselves are ready for such cooperation.

The writer is expert on security and the Middle East, deputy

director of the Institute of CIS countries, political scientist. The

author’s opinion may not coincide with the editorial position. Webzine

“Izvistiya”, Moscow, December 12, 2017. https://iz.ru/681766/

vladimir-evseev/ukhodim-pobediteliami (in Russian).


Baluchistan, being the most vulnerable region of Pakistan, had been badly hit with the highest number of terrorist attacks since the Operation Zarb-

e-Azab. According to newly-launched Security Report of Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (Islamabad), Baluchistan suffered 165 terrorist attacks in 2017 which makes 44% of total attacks and caused 288 deaths with double of them injured. While comparing it with the number of the last year, the report concludes 9 percent increase in attacks in the province. The analysis of post-Zarb-Azab wave of terrorism, in PIPS report, strengthens the notion that the menace of terrorism in Baluchistan has been transforming since last few years due to changing geo-political and regional circumstances. Although number of attacks perpetrated by religiously-inspired militants declined but caused greater harm with increasing number of causalities as compared to the previous year. A transformation in lethality and nature of attacks by insurgents in Baluchistan indicates a steady transformation and shift of terrorism from FATA to Southwestern parts of Baluchistan, particularly areas surrounding Gwadar. The question of grave importance to respond is “what caused upsurge and transformation in post-Zarb-e-Azab wave of the terrorism in Baluchistan, no matter centered by the slogan of religiosity or ethnicity”.

For understanding the shrink of terrorism toward Baluchistan, it is vital to understand the contemporary geo-political and geo-economic developments occurring in the region of South Asia and the importance of Baluchistan for world powers and regional powers. It today’s world, it is imperative to confess that all states whether world powers or regional powers are rational and capable of engaging in a cast-benefit analysis by choosing optimum strategies for achieving goals. It should be also true that

Complexities in Baluchistan Bilal Khan

states perform unilateral actions in conflicting or contradictory situations for gaining and maintaining stability, power and other interests. The states with most economic clout and giant military might are normally decisive and influential, hence, materialize multiple tactics such as increasing external or internal threats through generating pressure groups, terrorist groups or non-state actors to target the concerned states for sustaining or balancing their power, influence and hegemony. Resultantly, powerful states strife hard to control the behavior of weak states otherwise destabilize them battered state to achieve their notorious objectives.

Keeping the mentioned scenario in mind, now we observe that a steady shift of world power is happening from West to East with emergence of Asia.


China has arisen as the second most powerful country with respect to economic growth and military might which poses a serious challenge for US hegemony, influence and interests Middle East and South Asia. China has initiated its primary project of CPEC in Baluchistan to revive old Silk Route in the modern world with an alternative name of One Belt One Road (OBOR) for worldwide trade. The project of CPEC would serves trade route for international trade to Africa, Europe and Middle East and considered a big breakthrough on the part of China. OBOR has potential to pose new challenges and threats to US economic hegemony and to fuel the concerns of US and other regional powers including India, Afghanistan and Iran due to counter-effect on them. It also challenges status-quo of Chahbar Port which is a joint venture of Iran and India. CPEC, due to being the deepest port of the world, has potential to challenge the status-quo of military might of US in Asia if China will take its advantage to materialize as military base for strategic purpose. While stationing in Afghanistan, US is the only country which has capability and reach to influence in internal affairs in Pakistan via indirect means. As history witnessed, US had been using non-state actors (ethnic, sectarian or terrorist groups) to control regimes, governments or states as observed in recent history of Syria and Iraq. This is due to counter-effect of CPEC that Baluchistan has been witnessing in the rise of recent wave of terrorism as the insurgents appeared to be well-armed and expert in operational tactics which is impossible to acquire without support of external forces.

The emergence of newly-established terrorist outfit of Islamic State of Khorasan and shift of ISIS from Iraq and Syria to Afghanistan amid to export a new model of terrorism and extremis in Pakistan. Supply of weapons, explosives and other sort of covert support by NDS and RAW to the insurgents from cross-border of Afghanistan for an independent Baluchistan appeared to be the part of this notorious game being played under the nose of the sole Super Power. Perhaps, the reason is that interests of regional foes of Pakistan and US converges in one focal point; destabilizing Baluchistan. For India, as has been dreaming since decades to implement Kao Plan of former RAW officer to have a bleed Baluchistan to dismember Pakistan. Afghanistan role is perhaps based on two accounts; one historical and second revenge of anti-Afghan forces in the past on

the part of Pakistan. As well as the US concerns, it desires to kill two birds with one stone; controlling Russia through exporting terrorism in Central Asia and overcoming China creating disturbance in autonomous region of Xinjiang Uygur and challenging CPEP on the cost of sacrifice of Pakistan with hosting new brand of terrorism in Baluchistan. This time US would have one more advantage in Afghanistan that it can balance Afghan Taliban with tactical brand of IS who can snatch control from them or at least challenge them.

Thus, Baluchistan along with Afghanistan is becoming critical juncture due to its strategic significance and presence of extremist and terrorist groups hence posing a new challenge for the security institutions. This time, the terrorists are well-motivated due to having better skilled, handsome returns in the form of money and anti-state sentiments based on propagandas of external forces. Bulk of money and effective ideological narrative based on hatred material attracted both educational and unemployed youth of rugged regions. The state should also enforce emergency and urgency to counter their narrative be it religious or ethnic with an alternative narrative to involve poor and educated both sort of community to lower the possible impact and engage youth in positive activities to be too busy to by prey our enemies. As a Muslim and Pakistani, every one of us should play a positive role to keep the land save form our foes.

The writer is currently completing his Mphil from National Defence

University.


For long, the United States has been facing friction from China on more than one avenue. Whether it is the issue of cybersecurity or currency manipulation or China’s rise as an economic power, Washington has been closely monitoring Beijing’s political and diplomatic moves. President Donald Trump has also been attacking China verbally, which has placed both countries at a delicate place. Nevertheless, both countries aim at standing tall in front of each other. However, a sign of the revival of ties between the United States and China came forth in November 2017 when Chinese President Xi Jinping met the US President. However, the surety can never be part of the spectrum of diplomatic relations for any political decision let alone a comment can begin a new era of hostility. The same can be said for US-China ties. China’s political and economic ambitions have compelled the US to keep a close eye on how Beijing is paving its way forward. China’s economic and political objectives have been growing with each passing year. Nevertheless, both countries, despite their difference in opinions and in global alleys, have enjoyed an interdependent economic and political relationship. During the recent years, both US and China have been aiming to exert their influence as an economic power. The US wants to become an economic power it once was and had to forego much of its might after it engaged itself in wars in the Middle East, especially its mission in Afghanistan and Iraq following the September 2001 attacks. China, on the other hand, is steadily rising on the ladder envisioning to eventually spreading its wings over the global economy. During the recently concluded CPC Congress, China’s President Xi Jinping shared with the world his country’s plans. He said that China will become a become a moderately prosperous country and a fully modern economy and society by 2035. He also said that China will be a global leader of composite national strength and international influence by 2050. China and Pakistan are already envisioning the completion of the various phases of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). With six corridors strategically structured across two continents with seven countries playing their role, CPEC’s One Belt, One Road Initiative will change the South Asian region for sure. CPEC will also, to some extent, reduce Washington’s influence on trade routes and economies of South Asia especially Pakistan and China. While China has been a constant part of the United States’ foreign policy, both countries have not been enjoying friendly terms. However, recently, President Trump has shown some level of softness to China. Perhaps the US wants to gain China’s confidence to counter the growing threat North Korea poses with its nuclear ambitions. India’s presence as a player in the One Belt One Road Initiative as part of the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh-India Corridor may create tension between Pakistan-India once this route becomes operational. The US would want India to have a bigger role to play in the One Belt One Road Initiative since Washington and New Delhi enjoy friendly ties and the US needs India to counter China in South Asia. However, the US-China bilateral relations may again become sore now that the US government has ordered for an investigation into Chinese aluminum. This may as well put US-China relations on thin ice. It is for the first time in over a decade that the US government undertook

US-China ties on thin ice! Muhammad Omar Iftikhar

this trade action by initiating anti-subsidy and anti-dumping probe on imports of Chinese aluminum alloy sheets. This action may as well undo the positive relations China and the US had created recently. This is the first such major act in the trade that President Trump has undertaken which goes to show President Trump’s political acumen. Since the US has become an arbiter and a plaintiff in this unilateral approach without settling the trade dispute with the assistance of the World Trade Organization (WTO), China will surely see this as a one-way aggressive assault and will consider all investigations to be impartial. Washington needs to reduce this crisis at the earliest and involve the WTO before China-US ties move back to square one. Moreover, comparing the economies the US and China, the US dollar is still the world’s key currency and Washington has a command over financial markets of the world. However, China has been investing billions of dollars in the One Belt One Road Initiative and has been fostering new ties with Russia. US-Russia relations, however, have never seen the light of the day following the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. However, a new wave of the cold war has begun. With Russia and China at one front, Pakistan and China on the other, it will become increasingly difficult for the US to control the South Asian and the Central Asian region under its influence. This may create a new bloc where India and the US will function as one unit with Pakistan, China, and Russia safeguarding their combined regional interests.

The writer is a columnist and an author.


Commonly, Every year all the heads of states across the globe deliver the annual oration to extend greetings to their people and the peoples around the world. China without exception. This year, Chinese President Xi Jin-ping regularly delivered a New Year oration to both Chinese people and the ones of the world as well. To the people who want to be understand of China better and deeper, it is necessary to grasp the main concepts of Chinese policy in the following year(s).

On December 31, 2017, Xi Jinping restate his “ people first” governance principle in an annual oration. Recalling the ancient Chinese wisdom, he emphasized that “The well-being of our people is the ruling Party (CCP) and the government’s urgent priority.” To that end, China has set an ambitious target of lifting all people out of poverty by 2020. For sure, this is not an easy task in such a short term of three years to left, yet important to both the Chinese nation and humanity. It is mandatory to carry on it dedicatedly and make it happen in union.

President Xi vowed in the speech that China will resolutely carry out reform in 2018, since reform and opening up are the path China must take to make progress in global era and realize the Chinese dream. He also noted

China’s Discourse Diplomacy in President Xi’s New Year

Oration Jamal Aitlaadam & Zhou Dong-chen

the well-being of the Chinese people cannot be separated from that of the entire mankind. Due to this, Xi put forward three key concepts of China’s diplomacy in the next years.

First, as a huge country with ancient civilization, China will continue to follow the path of peaceful rise. It is not a lip-service, but a real practice of its rapid development over the past decades. As he believes that China receives so much benefit from its uninterrupted foreign involvements including UN-endorsed peace-keeping and anti-piracy missions, it will continue to be involved itself into world affairs prudently and responsibly. Therefore, China necessarily acts as a builder of world peace.

Second, as a largest developing country in the world, China will continue to commit itself to


domestic development and globalization process. As China needs much longer time to realize its national rejuvenation, global development and fairer governance will be necessary and comprehensive. Consider its rapid development, the leadership in Beijing has demonstrated the will and capacity to tackle the urgent issues globally such as conventional and non-conventional. In this sense, China will act as a contributor to global development. For instance, Xi emphatically said that China will resolutely uphold the authority and status of the United Nations, actively fulfill China’s international obligations and duties, remain firmly committed to its pledges to tackle climate change and actively push for the Belt and Road Initiative.

Third, the most important aspect of President Xi’s speech is the firm pledge to make China a key actor in the world. At a time of major flux in world order, it will be increasingly substantial for China to play a stabilizing, responsible role when it comes to questions of trade, security and international order. As China takes a greater role in the world, it will also have to undertake many of the responsibilities of a great power, pushing freer markets and a more transparent international environment. It will also have to address issues such as taxation policy and provide leadership there.

Currently, the nature, goals and missions of China’s diplomacy are a primary guide to the conduct of China’s external relations as Xi Jinping retarded :

n Setting strategic goals and key missions for China’s external work in a new era. Committed to peaceful development, uphold sovereignty, security and interests.

n Boosting confidence in China as a major socialist country with distinctive Chinese features

n Laying out a vision of building a community of shared future for mankind

n Through building a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation.

n demonstrating that China is ready to shoulder its responsibility as a major country call at important multilateral forums like the United Nations and the World Economic Forum.

n Building a global network of partnerships:

n “great powers are the priorities, neighbors are paramount and developing countries are the foundation; and multilateralism is an important stage.”

n Pursuing a new round of opening-up featuring the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road). aims to further advance China’s opening-up and share China’s development opportunities with other countries, and inject strong impetus into global development.

n Upholding its sovereignty and security interests: China does not covet the rights and interests of other countries. Meanwhile, it will never give up its legitimate rights and interests. (China has particularly staked out its positions on Taiwan, the South China Sea and other issues concerning China’s major core interests).

n Exploring new approach to and practice of global governance:

n by upholding the core role of the United Nations as the main channel in addressing issues relating to international peace and security, and ensure that emerging markets and developing countries will have a greater say in the international governance system.

n Exercising overall leadership by the Central Party Committee over China’s external work.

China has reached many miracles in the history of human beings including the grand transition of economic and social system, the biggest and largest industrialization, the extensive period of high economic growth and a totally peaceful rise without overseas invasion and colonialism or even occupation. Xi point out China’s goals of development was made by the Chinese people and for the Chinese people and that most pressing concerns were education, employment, social security, income, healthcare and housing.


It is encouraging to see that President Xi’s speech points to regulation of the “environmental regulation system”. This indicates that the Party recognizes China’s already significant pollution of water and soil resources, land degradation, and ecosystem and habitat loss.

In recent years, China has been devoting and investing scientific, financial and human resources to push environmental issues and presenting strong global leadership on climate change.

The decision to build up regulatory agencies to manage State-owned natural resource assets and monitor natural ecosystems will guarantee that China’s ongoing rapid urbanization and industrial development do not accelerate rates of ecological degradation.

This will guarantee improved costs of living for all people; infrastructure, assets and economic zones are also less vulnerable to suffering harm from climate effects.

Ultimately, as always, realist scholars and practitioners have stated that history teaches us the ruling powers and the rising power are easily destined to confront each other. Frankly, how can China avoid challenging the established rules and norms dictated by the United States and its allies? From the geopolitical point of view, the United States is and remains a superpower globally in the coming decades, therefore, it is unrealistic to image that the United States would retreat itself to the new “isolationism” in terms of the “America’s First”. As a ruling power, the United States would not give up its established core interest and the commitments to its core allies around the world. Due to this, President Xi truly discussed with his U.S. counterpart America’s new Indo-Pacific strategy in Beijing last November. Trump did try his best efforts to persuade Xi to accept that although the Indo-Pacific strategy was oriented toward the maritime domain, a sensitive issue for China, it was not at all a containment strategy against China. Xi replied that the global vision was to chart out a more

prosperous and peaceful future for humanity with the joint efforts of the Chinese people and people from other countries. Therefore, China determines to act as a keeper of international status quo.

To sum, looking back at 2017, China has effectively involved into the world affairs, and fully achieved important early ends in docking cooperation between the “Belt and Road” construction and the Eurasian Economic Union. President Xi Jinping is marching China to a new economic and foreign policy. He knows what he is talking about and his steps allow for unexpected errors to be managed. The world is transforming and acceptance of various systems with shared good goals can enable the West to find growth again. Now looking into 2018, China will ensure to play a more vigorous role in making expressive contributions to safeguarding world peace and stability in terms of its core interests and the general welfare of the world as well.

Zhou Dong-chen, PhD, Assistant Professor of British History, Qufu

Normal University, China

Jamal Ait Laadam, Doctoral Candidate of International Relations, at the School of

International and Public Affairs, Jilin University, China


The European Commission set a target date of 2025 for some of the Balkan countries to join. However, Brussels sees only Serbia and Montenegro as actual candidates. The door formally remains open to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia, but these countries have been put into a grey zone with no time frames and road maps. They have been put on hold with no tangible prospects for membership, left without any explanation of what makes them less valid candidates than Serbia and Montenegro, with these two being as poor, illiberal and undemocratic as the remaining four. With a dose of instant cynicism, one might conclude that Serbia and Montenegro have been rewarded for their military aggressions on Bosnia and Kosovo, and Serbia’s permanent pressures on Macedonia, whereas the latter ones have been punished for being the former’s victims. However, a more careful look at the population structure of the four non-rewarded countries reveals that these, unlike Serbia and Montenegro, have a relative excess of Muslim population. So far, there have been dilemmas whether the European Union is to be regarded as an exclusive Christian club, bearing in mind the prolonged discriminatory treatment of Turkey as an unwanted candidate. After the European Commission’s new strategy for the Balkans, there can be no such dilemmas: the countries perceived by Brussels bureaucrats as Muslim ones – regardless of the actual percentage of their Muslim population – are not to be treated as European. The resurrection of this logic, now embodied in the actual strategy, takes Europe back to its pre-Westphalian roots, to the faraway times of the Crusades or the times of the Siege of Vienna. It also signals the ultimate triumph of the most reactionary populist ideologies in the contemporary Europe, based on exclusion of all who are perceived as „others“. It signals the ultimate triumph of the European ineradicable xenophobia. Or – to put it in terms more familiar to the likely author of the strategy, the European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn – the triumph of Ausländerfeindlichkeit. Now, what options are left to the practically excluded Balkan countries, after so many efforts to present themselves as valid candidates for EU membership? There is a point in claims that some of their oligarchies, particularly the tripartite one in Bosnia-Herzegovina, have never actually wanted to join the EU, because their arbitrary rule would be significantly undermined by the EU’s rule of law. It is logical, then, that the tripartite oligarchy welcomes the strategy that keeps the country away from the EU membership, while at the same time deceiving the population that the strategy is a certain path to the EU. Yet, what about these people, separated into three ethnic quarantines, who believe that joining the EU would simply solve all their political and economic problems, and who refuse to accept the idea that the EU might be an exclusive club, not open to them? What are the remaining options for them? They cannot launch a comprehensive revolution and completely replace

The European Commission’sStrategy for the Western

BalkansDr. Zlatko Hadžidedić

the tripartite oligarchy by their democratic representatives. Still, they can press it to adopt and conduct a multi-optional foreign policy, oriented towards several geopolitical centers: one of them may remain Brussels, but Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Ankara, Tehran, and others, should also be taken into account. For, a no-alternative policy, as the one which only repeats its devotion to the EU integrations without any other geopolitical options, is no policy at all. In this sense, the presented EU strategy has clearly demonstrated the futility of such a no-alternative approach: regardless of how many times you repeat your devotion to the EU values, principles and integrations, the EU bureaucrats can simply tell you that you will never play in the same team with them. However, such an arbitrary but definite rejection logically pushes the country to look for geopolitical alternatives. And it is high time for Bosnia-Herzegovina’s people and intellectual and political elites to understand that Brussels is not the only option on the table, and that there are other geopolitical centers whose interests might be identified as convergent with the interests of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Still, all of them should first demonstrate the ability to identify the interests of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which means that they should first recognize it as a sovereign state with its own interests, rather than someone else’s proxy.

The writer is Member of International Institute IFIMES

presents his article entitled “The EU Strategy for the Western

Balkans: Bureaucrats’ Crusade”. He writes about published EU

new Enlargement strategy for the Western Balkans. The article is published in its entirety. http://

www.ifimes.org/en/9506


Bangkok, Thailand: Pakistani woman born in Kashmir, Ms Farhat Asif received N-Peace Award managed by UNDP, in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Institute for Inclusive Security, Washington DC in Bangkok Thailand. Farhat Asif received this award in the category “ Campaign for Action” for her tireless services as prominent academic who brings together government officials, NGOs, think-tanks and educational institutions to raise the importance of women’s involvement in peace negotiations. Through her initiate Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and Centre for Women Peace and Security, Farhat ensures women’s participation in different Pakistani social, political and

economic aspects. “ At the core of everything I do I the desire to establish collaborative thinking to arrive at solutions that are inclusive, and that positively affect women in conflict zones,” The N-Peace awards recognize peace builders’ efforts for women at the grassroots level. The winners support services for women affected by post-conflict violence, access to education and training services, campaigning for more women in local and national leadership positions, and advocating for women’s rights in conflict-ridden areas in the Asia-Pacific region.

This year, eleven winners under three categories were recognized from seven participating countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines).

Pakistani Woman Activist honored N-Peace Award in Thailand


Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies organized a seminar on the topic of ‘“ United Nations Security Council: Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship “ at Preston University, Islamabad. The purpose of the seminar was to discuss Kazakhstan’s vision during its Chairmanship of the UN Security Council and its constructive role in Afghanistan peace process including nuclear nonproliferation. Ms. Farhat Asif, President of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, in her opening remarks said Kazakhstan’s presidency of UN Security Council will be promising for peace and cooperation between states at global level and also for regional integration in different regions.

Speaking on behalf of Embassy of Republic Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Mr. Darkan, Counselor said that Kazakhstan has credibility in world and is highly regarded as peacekeeper in international conflicts and an uncompromising support to fight against terrorism and extremism. Kazakhstan believes that today world needs to pay more attention towards building trust relations between different countries and political leaders, he added. Discussing Afghanistan issue Mr. Darkan said that the country pay special attention to humanitarian aspect of the crisis and will play its necessary role to for our future generations to live in peace and harmony.

It is important to note here that quite recently, UN Security Council delegation has recently visited Kabul to support Afghanistan’s peace and security policies under the leadership of Kazakhstan.

Dr. Adam Saud, Assistant Professor, Bahria University told the participants about Kazakhstan’s successful nuclear program rollback. He said that the UN General Assembly designated 29th August as International

United Nations Security Council: Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship

Day against nuclear when Semipalatinsk nuclear weapon test site in Kazakhstan, one of the largest nuclear weapon test sites in the world, was closed. Dr. Sarwat Rauf, Assistant from NUML University informed the participants of about Kazakhstan’s role in peace process in Afghanistan. She said that as the country is member of various international and regional bodies, Kazakhstan has advocated promoting an inclusive and regional solution to the Afghanistan. She also explained about the Kazakhstan’s recent initiatives at the UNSC related to Afghanistan. Mr. Taimour Zulfiqar Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomats and representative from various missions, civil society and academicians were also present during the Seminar.


serious concerns that there could be more intensive fighting in forthcoming fighting season-spring. He has added further that America is insisting on the use of force but almost all regional stakeholders are pushing for political solution but US remains reluctant. While talking on the occasion, Mr. Abdul Basit, who is a scholar based in Singapore, provided a deep understanding about the changing dynamics of the American policy towards Afghanistan. He focused on the Trump policy and its implication towards South Asian region and presented that the situation of Afghanistan today is more complicated than any time since 9/11. There are new players and more complicating challenges making it difficult even for US-Pak ideal and bilateral cooperation to find a peaceful solution of war in Afghanistan. In addition, Mr. Basit also elaborated that re-exploring Afghanistan pre-Cold War era, character of neutrality in the region and international disputes is very intrusive to look for an Afghan led solution. Trump-Afghan policy is further militarizing the war in Afghanistan which is the recipe for war not peace. He categorically stated that Pakistan’s control over Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network is grossly misled in US and western countries. The real problem is Pakistan’s over commitment and America’s over expectation from Pakistan.

The seminar was attended by the diplomats, ambassadors, students and faculty members.

Seminar Dynamics of Trump’s Afghan Policy

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and Department of International Relations Muslim Youth University (MYU) organized a seminar on “Dynamics of Trump’s Afghan Policy”. While speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tahir Khan, renowned journalist spoke on the Mr. Tahir talked about American President Donald Trump’s revised regional policy, which is based on use of force and he was of the view that the policy will not bode well keeping in view the regional and international challenges. This will remain in vain even after the strong US presence in Afghanistan for the last 18 years. He said that the Taliban now has more control as they have space to accommodate more fighters and in this regard and expressed


Seminar Shanghai Cooperation Organization After

Sochi Meeting


Pakistan- Shanghai Cooperation Organization Friendship Forum- Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and National University of Modern Languages organized a Seminar on “ Shanghai Cooperation Organization After Sochi Meeting”. The seminar was organized in the backdrop of the recently held meeting of the Heads of the Governments in Sochi. It is also important to note that the year also marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the SCO Charter as well as the 10th anniversary of the Treaty on Long-term good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation of the SCO Member states. While addressing the gathering of students, faculty members, diplomats, H.E Mr. Alexy Dedov, Ambassador of Russian Federation to Pakistan spoke about the meeting of the Head of Governments that took place in the Sochi which was a unique forum held after the presence of Pakistan and India joined the grouping as permanent member. He said that due to the presence of India and Pakistan, the SCO became strengthened and there is a great opportunity to find solutions to the challenges to the region. H.E Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China to Pakistan shared about the significance of SCO while sharing the vision of China as its president for the next year term. He said that China’s vision is to have a strengthened bond of cooperation, sense of community of shared destiny, consolidate the solidarity and coordination to tackle all the traditional and nontraditional threats. While discussing the one belt and one road initiative, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China explained about China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC). He has also explained about the fact that China is putting loads of emphasis on enhancing people to people contacts, developing cultural bonds, openness and inclusiveness. Ambassador also share about the intentions of opening of SCO Bank. Dr. Manzoor Afridi, Head of Department of International

Relations, International Islamic University Islamabad , in his talk explained at length about the vision of SCO and its growing powerful role in changing regional dynamics especially after the presence of Pakistan and India in the grouping. Maj.Gen Zia Uddin Najam HI(M)(Retd), Rector, National University of Modern Languages appreciates the efforts of the organizer and said that the SCO is providing Pakistan an abundance of opportunities especially to develop the long term education, research collaborations. He encourage scholars to research and explore about the SCO and possibilities of bringing the benefits to the country. The seminar was attended by large number of faculty members, students, Ambassadors and Diplomats.


“We as Pakistani nation need to develop an outlook of innovation and use of technology, and forward looking approach to gather the benefits out of the emerging new opportunities in the region including Belt and Road Initiatives and the Economic Corridors be that CPEC or any other connectivity linkages. “This was the resolve expressed by the speakers of the Seminar organized by Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and Preston University wherein the Honorable Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Minister of Finance, Govt of Pakistan was the Chief Guest. While speaking on

the occasion, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan said that Pakistan is friend to all the regional and international community and our policy has remained based on the mutual trust and equality without having any animosity with any state. He was of the view that the work is going on to develop an “ Economic Charter” among the political parties which might help to develop the understanding and dialogue on various important national and international projects. Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan also highlighted the fact that though Pakistan is facing the challenges but there is strong hope in the youth of this country. While speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shahzia Ghani, Team Lead,

SeminarBelt and Road Initiative and Regional

Development


Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Regional Development wherein she said that as a result of the BRI, there will countries from Asia to Europe and Africa that will be entirely connected one way or the other through various kinds of medium and large projects. Large number of Ambassadors, Diplomats, Media representatives, Academicians, and students were there to attend the seminar. Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit( PMDU) said that the OBOR

or BRI are inclusive in their vision and there is more chances of economic integration as a result of such important initiative taken by China. The lesson learned including the way forward related to these innovation approaches of China is that there is a strong need to focus more on the knowledge building and advancement in the science and technology. Dr. Adam Saud, Senior Assistant Professor of International Department of Humanities, Bahria University, explained further by informing the audience about the available connectivity routes wherein Central Asia, South Asia will be connected through the land and sea routes hence the interdependence will increase which ultimately leads to less chances of conflicts and wars. Sadia Saif Niyazi, Lecturer NUML University explained about the essence of the


Adviser to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage, Irfan Siddiqui, inaugurated the corner. During the speech he has announced that a series of books on the works of renowned historian and philosopher, Ibn-i-Khaldun will be published. He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Ibn-i-Khaldun Corner at National Book Foundation (NBF). The corner has been established by NBF with the collaboration of Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia and Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS). Siddiqui said Ibn-i-Khaldun is a great historical asset for the Islamic world. Ibn-i-Khaldun, in his books, termed justice as the foundation of any society and touched all the subjects related to mankind either it is politics, education or religion.

The universality of Ibn-i-Khaldun’s philosophy has kept alive his thoughts even after passage of seven decades. While going through his books, Irfan Siddiqui said, it looks like that the social and political scenario portrayed by Ibn-i-Khaldun during his time is just analysis of today’s social and political situation in various countries and civilizations.

Inaguration of Ibn I Khudun Corner

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