On 04 August 2010, Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), in collaboration with United States Institute of Peace (USIP) organized a seminar on “Counter-Radicalization Strategies” at a local hotel in Islamabad. Leading experts on counter-extremism, prominent journalists and intellectuals including Shabana Fayaz, associate Professor at Quaid-e-Azam University, Imtiaz Gul, a political analyst, Dr. Tariq Rehman, … Read more
It is important to challenge the extremist and literalist interpretations of Islam to prevent further radicalization in Pakistan and defeat the militant groups operating in the country. This was the crux of a seminar organized by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies on July 16, 2010, in Islamabad. The seminar was arranged to launch the … Read more
The US media was “set up to fail” by the Bush administration as it prepared to invade Iraq in March 2003. This was stated by Katherine Brown, a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University’s Department of Communications, during a presentation at Pak Institute for Peace Studies on July 2, 2010. She admitted that the American media … Read more
Despite the phenomenal rise of radical ideologies in Pakistan, the country lacks an empirical knowledge base to form counter-strategies. These observations were shared with a visiting high profile European delegation of academics, practitioners and community lobbyists on 24 May 2010 here at PIPS. The delegation was comprised of Dr. Harald Weilnböck, a psychotherapist by profession … Read more
“In Pak-US relations, 9/11 serves as water shed event which changed the perceptions of many Americans towards Pakistani Diaspora in US. It not only enhanced the feelings of hatered and mistrust between the two communities but also became a strong reason for imposing restriction on Muslims’ religious freedom in US”. These were the thoughts of … Read more
After September 11, 2001 the militant networks have become stronger and well entrenched in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan (FATA); while the militant economy has surpassed the volume of $ 6bn per annum. The dynamics of insurgency in FATA is very complex and intertwined with the recent developments in Afghanistan and thus have … Read more
Pakistani litterateurs and intellectuals have an important role to counter extremism in the society. They are not only well aware of the phenomenal increase of extremist trends and its various manifestations; they also hold better solutions and comprehensive recommendations for the culmination of extremism. These views were expressed by the participants in a dialogue on … Read more
Alienation, deprivation and marginalization coupled with three parallel and isolated education systems are the driving factors of youth radicalization in Pakistan, said Moeed Yusuf a Pakistani political analyst and researcher. “The youth lies at the heart of the debate of radicalization in Pakistan. Being the only nuclear power of the Muslim world and the second … Read more
“European Union is a proper answer to endemic conflicts, which had been tearing the European subcontinent since times immemorial. South Asian states can learn from EU oriental approach to pave the way of resolving long-standing inter-state conflicts.” These views were expressed by Prof. Krzysztof Byrski, a renowned Polish expert on South Asian Affairs at a … Read more
The Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) organized a policy dialogue on “Militant Media and its Trends in Pakistan” on 17 December 2009 in Islamabad. In his introductory remarks, PIPS director Mr. Amir Rana said the dialogue was the third and final event of a series of seminars to seek expert opinion on a PIPS … Read more