Assessing the reporting, approach and impact of militants’ print media in Pakistan

An analysis of militants’ media in Pakistan evading discussion on the role of the mainstream media will not be a true description of the ‘narrative’ being pursued and promoted by the former. It is really hard to skip over the opinion that has been repeated throughout this seminar that a part of Pakistan’s mainstream media … Read more

A session on water crisis in Pakistan

The availability and development of water resources in Pakistan is gradually turning into a crisis and has reached at the level of inter-provincial conflict which needs to be resolved immediately. Besides water conveyance system losses the opposition to mega water storage projects is another critical factor adding to depletion of water resources. There is immense need of … Read more

Understanding the ‘jihad print media’ in Pakistan and its impact

Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) conducted a national seminar on Understanding the ‘Jihad Print Media’ in Pakistan and its impact on 20 October in Islamabad. The seminar brought together a large number of media representatives, scholars and academics to discuss and comment on PIPS’ recently produced report on the subject. Dr. Tariq Rehman, Director National Institute … Read more

Political instability as a factor of extremism in Pakistan & suggestions to counter it

Pakistan needs an internal discourse without which it can neither compete extremism nor terrorism at state and societal level.  Alternative discourse is the need of hour, argued Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa Agha,  an independent security analyst and strategic affairs expert and the author of several books including Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy,  while addressing a seminar “Political Instability … Read more

Tribes and militants in the Arab world

In the Middle East, militant jihadi groups have proven quite good at providing a focal point for existing grievances, but have been quite bad at taking this to the next level and offering people something in return for their support, argued Sarah Phillips who is an Associate Lecturer at the Centre for Security Studies at … Read more

Af-Pak policy: Prospects for regional stability

“The Af-Pak policy of Obama administration envisions many new things for the region, particularly Afghanistan, and there are a lot of ideas floating around Washington. But the problem with these new ideas is three-fold. First these ideas are mostly mutually incompatible and can’t be combined or are difficult to combine. Secondly, no body has a … Read more

Cooperation between law enforcement agencies can make counter-terrorism strategies effective

“Efforts and strategies to counter insurgency and terrorism can be successful only when the local police and other law enforcement agencies will cooperate,” said Hassan Abbas, author of Pakistan’s Drift into Extremism, addressing a seminar on “Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Need for Police Reforms” on July 23, 2009 organized by the Pak Institute for peace Studies (PIPS), Islamabad at … Read more

America has limited role to play in FATA: Joshua T. White

“The US leads the global war against terrorism, however, it has very limited role to play in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The US should not or cannot deploy its forces in FATA, and such deployment is itself a bad idea. It is principal task of Pakistan to counter the militants in that region. … Read more

Importance of Kashmir issue in Af-Pak policy: Fundamental or marginal

Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) organized a Focus Group Discussion, Importance of Kashmir Issue in Af-Pak Policy: Fundamental or Marginal, at a local hotel in Islamabad on 7 July 2009. General (Retd.) Talat Masood, convener PUGWASH, chaired the session. Speakers included General Asad Durrani, a strategic and defence analyst, Mr. Muhammad Amir Rana, director PIPS, Ms. … Read more