INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES ISLAMABAD (ISSI)Strategic Perspectives through Research & Dialogue

NEWSLETTEROctober-December 2019

Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) inaugurated its Arms Control and Disarmament Center (ACDC) on October 30, 2019. Mr. Sohail Mahmood, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the Chief Guest at the ceremony. Air Commodore (Retd) Khalid Banuri; Dr. Rizwana Karim Abbasi, National University of Modern Languages (NUML); Dr. Muhammad Khan, International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI); Dr. Tughral Yamin, Centre of International Peace & Stability (CIPS), NUST; Dr. Maria Sultan, South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI); Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU); Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) and Mr. Zafar Ali, MOFA (DG- SECDIV) were on the list of special invitees. The inauguration was attended by former Pakistani military officers and ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, academia, think tanks, students and the media.

Inauguration of Arms Control & DisarmamentCenter (ACDC)

Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a Public Talk by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) under its Distinguished Lecture Series on December 04, 2019. Dr. Lodhi shared her valuable insights on the challenges to multilateralism, Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts at the UN for highlighting the Kashmir cause. Dr. Lodhi emphasized that multilateralism despite drawbacks is needed more than ever, especially when a rules-based international system is under assault. The lecture was attended by a large n u m b e r o f d i p l o m a t s , o ffi c i a l s a n d academics.

Public Talk - “Pakistan and the UN:Challenges and Opportunities ofMultilateralism”

International Conference -“Belt and Road Initiative in the Changing Regional Dynamics

T h e C h i n a - P a k i s t a n Study Center (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic S t u d i e s , I s l a m a b a d (ISSI) organized a two-d a y I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conference on “Belt and Road Initiative in the C h a n g i n g R e g i o n a l D y n a m i c s ” f r o m November 20-21, 2019.

Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The conference was an august gathering comprising academia, think-tank community, media personnel from Pakistan and China.

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1st Pakistan-China Think-Tank Dialogue

Public Talk - “Climate Change: Energy Strategies for Mitigation”

China-Pakistan Study Center (CPSC) at ISSI arranged a Roundtable Discussion between Pakistani and Chinese think tanks on November 21, 2019. Participants included: Professor Du Youkang, Dr. Zahid Anwar, Dr. Samina Sabir, Professor Sun Hongqi, Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt, Professor Song Zhihui, Mr. Shakeel Ramay, Prof. Ye Hailin, Li Qingyan, Wang Shida, Liu Zongyi and Dr. Fazul-ur-Rehman. Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry opened the discussion with his five-point formula to carry the Sino-Pak think tank dialogue forward: jointly studying the global dynamics impacting the region and BRI; focusing on North-South connectivity; Infrastructure and energy; industrialization; and socio-economic development. Heads, directors and representatives of Pakistani and Chinese think tanks described the nature of their work and efforts to move the wheels of Sino-Pak relations forward.

Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) under its Distinguished Lecture Series organized a Public Talk on November 26, 2019 on “Climate Change: Energy Strategies for Mitigation”. Ambassador (Retd) Shafqat Kakakhel, former United Nations Assistant Secretary General UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was the guest speaker. Ambassador Kakakhel gave an overview of Pakistan’s energy needs and said that the demand for power is expected to grow by 9% annually, which will result in the gradual depletion of non-renewable sources such as gas wells. This necessitates formulating responses to meet demands. It was a well-attended event.

Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) under its Distinguished Lecture Series organized a Public Talk on November 07, 2019 on “Role of the European Union in the Global Scenario”. General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee was the guest speaker who gave a detailed overview of the challenges of contemporary times and the EU’s evolving role in the military and strategic context. He described the European Global Strategy and said that, in today’s age, the EU is planning to engage on the global peace and security issues with international community. The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests, scholars, diplomats and media personnel.

Public Talk - “Role of the European Union in the Global Scenario”

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Tuesday Dialogue Series

Tensions in the Gulf: Options for Pakistan

The Institute held a Roundtable Discussion on “Tensions in the Gulf” on October 29, 2019 under the 7th round of its Tuesday Dialogue series. The Dialogue focused on the turbulent state of affairs in the Gulf region and on Pakistan’s role vis-à-vis Iran-Saudi relations in the aftermath of the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities. The Dialogue was attended by Dr. Nazir Hussain, Director, School of Politics & International Relations (SPIR), Ambassador Rizwan ul Haq, Dr. Rizwana Abbasi, Associate Professor, NUML, Senator Sehar Kamran, Ambassador Asif Durrani, Ambassador Naela Chohan, Dr. Azhar Ahmad, Associate Professor, Bahria University and Brig.(R) Mehboob Qadir, former Director Research (IPRI).

Indo-Israeli Nexus: Implications for Indian Occupied Kashmir

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) held a Roundtable Discussion on “Indo-Israeli Nexus: Implications for Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)” on October 1, 2019 under the 6th round of its Tuesday Dialogue series. The Dialogue was attended by Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Advisor, Centre for Strategic & Contemporary Research (CSCR), Ambassador Arif Kamal, Ambassador Rizwan ul Haq, Ambassador Javed Hafiz, Mr. Jamal Aziz, ED, RISIL and Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman, Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR).

ISSI held a Roundtable Discussion on “Is India Assuming a Security Role in the Gulf?” on November 26, 2019 under the 8th round of its Tuesday Dialogue series. The discussion focused on India’s shift from an economic to a broader military engagement in the Gulf. Dialogue was attended by: Ambassador Asif Durrani; Ambassador Vice Admiral Hasham Bin Siddique; Ambassador Rizwan-ul-Haq, Admiral Asif Sandila; Lt. Gen Asif Yasin Malik; Air Marshal (Retd) Waseem-ud-Din, Air Vice Marshal Faaiz Amir, Ambassador Tariq Osman Hyder and Dr. Maria Sultan.

Is India Assuming a Security Role in the Gulf?

(Tuesday Dialogue is a non-attributable informal discussion on key issues of importance to Pakistan, and brings together experts, academics, former diplomats and others for free floating discussion based on Chatham House rules. The objective of the dialogue is to generate ideas for providing policy inputs to the policy makers.)

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Roundtable - “Kashmir Crisis: Way Forward

Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir Self D e t e r m i n a t i o n Movement International (Islamabad Chapter) organized a Roundtable Discussion on “Kashmir Crisis: Way Forward” on October 09, 2019.

President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan was the Chief Guest. Sardar Masood emphasized that, “It is primarily the responsibility of United Nations Security Council to intervene in Kashmir and save the people from the scourge of genocide and to save the region from the scourge of war.” Lt. Gen (Retd) Agha Mohammad Umer Farooq, Former President of National Defense University and Lt. Gen (Retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Former Minister of Defense also spoke at the occasion.

Seminar - “Hindu Nationalism and the Kashmir dispute”

Institute of Strategic S t u d i e s , I s l a m a b a d ( I S S I ) o r g a n i z e d a S e m i n a r o n “ H i n d u Nationalism and the Kashmir Dispute” on O c t o b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 9 . Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Coordinator Kashmir Cell, Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the

Chief Guest at the Seminar. Other speakers included: Dr. Mujeeb Afzal, Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-e-Azam University; Lt. Gen. Asif Yasin Malik (Retd.), Former Secretary Defense and Ambassador Muhammad Saeed Khalid. Ambassador Tirmizi elaborated how India is an expansionist power which has designs for Pakistan, as well as the entire region of South Asia. A vibrant Working Session followed his speech, chaired by Director General ISSI, Ambassdor Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry where the different speakers expressed their views on Hindu Nationalism and the Kashmir dispute. In backdrop of rising Hindutva and the myth of secular India; the speakers discussed how liberty, equality and neutrality is essential for any state to function.

Roundtable - The Kashmir Dispute: The Role of the Civil Society

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a roundtable d i s c u s s i o n o n “ T h e Kashmir Dispute: The Role of the Civil Society” w i t h 4 - m e m b e r delegation from Canada on December 13, 2019. M e m b e r s o f t h e Canadian delegation

included: Mr. Zafar Bangash, Director, Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought & Convener, Friends of Kashmir Canada; Dr. Jonathan Kuttab, eminent human rights lawyer; Ms. Karen Rodman, founder & Executive Director "Just Peace Advocates”; and Ms. Michaela Lavis, a student working on Kashmir. The discussion was chaired by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI. Participants at the discussion table included: Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Convener All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC); Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Safi, APHC; Mr. Mehmood Saghar, APHC; Mr. Altaf Hussain Wani, Chairman Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR); Ambassador Leena Moazzam; Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmzi, Coordinator, Kashmir Cell, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); and Mr. Shahras Asim, Director Kashmir Affairs, MOFA.

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In-House Meeting - 8-Member Delegation from Sichuan UniversityThe China-Pakistan Study Center (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted an In-House Meeting on December 13, 2019, with an 8-member delegation from Sichuan University. During visit of the 8-member delegation from Sichuan University, an MoU of cooperation was also signed between ISSI & China Center for South Asian Studies (CCSAS). The MoU was signed by Professor Sun Shihai, DG, CCSAS and DG, ISSI Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

In-House Meeting - 3-Member Media Delegationfrom Maldives

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a 3-member Media Delegation from Maldives for an In-House Meeting on December 16, 2019. Members of the delegation included: Mr. Farooq Mohamed Hassan, writer and journalist; Mr. Abdul Shakoor Adul Raheem, blogger; and Mr. Abdullah Mohamed, News producer, Channel-13. Mr. Najam Rafique, Director Research at ISSI, welcomed and briefed the delegation, Ms. Shahroo Malik, Research Associate gave a brief introduction of ISSI.

In-House Meeting - 3-Member Delegation from IDCPC

In-House Meeting - Mr. Dominic Ziegler,Asia Correspondent, Economist Magazine

The China-Pakistan Study Center (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted an In-House Meeting on December 12, 2019, with a 2-member team from the Economist Magazine including Mr. Dominic Ziegler, Asia Correspondent and Mr. B e n F a r m e r , A f g h a n i s t a n - P a k i s t a n Correspondent on “Pakistan-China Relations and CPEC”.

The China-Pakistan Study Center (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted an In-House Meeting on November 06, 2019, with a 3-member delegation from the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC). The delegation was headed by Mr. Hu Xiaodong, Deputy Director of Bureau I, IDCPC and included Mr. Chen Yongpei, Attache at the Chinese Embassy; and Mr. Jin Enze Fourth-level Principal Staff Member of Bureau, IDCPC.

Public Talk - “Intellectual Property Rights: Creating Public Awareness”The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a Public Talk in collaboration with Oxford University Press, on “Intellectual Property Rights: Creating Public Awareness” on December 10, 2019.The event was a part of ISSI’s endeavor to create public awareness on a subject of wide-ranging significance. The distinguished speaker at the event was Malik Muhammad Bilal Haider, a foreign qualified renowned lawyer with eighteen years of experience in civil and corporate litigations, banking and intellectual property rights work.

Tribute to Quaid-i-AzamInstitute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) held an In-House commemoration on December 27, 2019 to celebrate Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s life and achievements on the occasion of his birthday. Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in his opening remarks stated that “Quaid is our benefactor and it is because of him that we are enjoying freedom and liberty i n P a k i s t a n . ” O p t i m u m w a y t o commemorate Quaid, Ambassador Chaudhry said, is to adopt principles and values of Quaid in our national life. Members of research faculty shared their views on different aspects of Quaid’s life including his thinking towards Hindus and the need for a separate homeland for Muslims; and treatment of minorities in Pakistan. Quaid ’s guidel ines for Pakistan’s foreign policy were also discussed. It was highlighted that Pakistan can progress only by following Quaid’s ideals in letter and spirit.

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International Symposium - Non-Proliferation & Export ControlInstitute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) was represented at the "International Symposium on N o n - P r o l i f e r a t i o n & E x p o r t Control" by Malik Qasim Mustafa, DirectorACDC. The symposium was organized by China Arms Control & Disarmament Association (CACDA) and Beijing Society of Astronautics (BSA) in Beijing.

In-House Meeting - “Human Rights Day”Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) celebrated the International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2019. Director General ISSI Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Chairman ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mehmood and the research team welcomed the marking of this day in Pakistan and noted that concerted efforts are being made in Pakistan to promote and protect human rights. The participants reaffirmed the need for all to strive towards promoting a culture of mutual respect, tolerance, gender equality and awareness of rights in an inclusive society in Pakistan.

Roundtable - Diplomat TraineesThe Institute hosted a Roundtable with trainee diplomats from the Foreign Service Academy (FSA), at its premises on October 31, 2019. The trainees comprised Afghan, Chinese and Pakistani young diplomats attending a trilateral workshop. Discussion focused on different facets of Pakistan’s foreign policy, particularly its relations with Afghanistan and China.

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Meeting with Dr. Steffen Kudella, Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation Islamabad - October 9, 2019

Meeting with Mr. Umberto Angelucci, Regional Chair (Middle East), Universal Peace Federation (UPF)

and Dr. Afsar Rathore, Former Programme Coordinator,UN - December 12, 2019

Meeting with Mr. Hussein J. Husseinov, Head ofDepartment, Analysis and Strategic Studies at the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic ofAzerbaijan - December 18, 2019

Meeting with H.E. Androulla KAMINARA,Ambassador Designate of the EU-Delegation to

Pakistan - October 18, 2019

Meeting with Mr. Dominic Ziegler, Asia correspondentand Mr. Ben Farmer, Afghanistan-Pakistan

Correspondent on “Pakistan-China Relations andCPEC” - December 12, 2019

Meeting with Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for National Security

Division - December 31, 2019

Meetings, Visitors & Guests

ISSUE BRIEFSJuly-September 2019

OIC: United for Peace & Development

By Fatima Raza

Lethal Autonomous Weapons: Where does the

International Arms Control & Disarmament Regime

stand?

By Aamina Rafiq

Riyadh Agreement: A Glimmer of Hope for The Crisis in

Yemen

By Areeba Arif

US Lawmakers Wake Up to Human Rights Violations in

IOK

By Mahwish Hafeez

CPEC and China-US War of Words

By Muhammad Faisal

Elections in Afghanistan: An Uncertain Outcome

By Amina Khan

Pakistan & FATF: Meeting the Challenge

By Asad Ullah Khan

Indian Atrocities in IOK: Is India following Israeli Script?

By Arhama Siddiqa

Hope: Analyzing Iran’s New Peace Initiative

By Fatima Raza

Indian Cyber Posture: Implications for Pakistan

By Aamna Rafiq

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Designed by: Saad Iftikhar Bhatti

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad hosted a Public Talk titled, “Pakistan’s Macro Economy: Current Situation & the Way Forward”, under its distinguished Lecture Series on December 26, 2019. The talk was delivered by Dr. Ishrat Husain, Adviser to Prime Minister on the Institutional Reforms and Austerity. Dr. Ishrat gave an overview of Pakistan’s grand economic situation in the historical context. He attributed Pakistan’s early economics success to institutions of governance which brought about spectacular results. He highlighted the different measures being taken by the government of Pakistan to improve the current economic situation such as macro economic stability and its socioeconomic uplift programs like Ehsaas. It was a well-attended event.

Public Talk - “Pakistan’s Macro Economy:Current Situation & the Way Forward”

ISSI’s Latest Publications

EditorNajam RafiqueDeputy EditorsFatima Raza & Areeba Arif

ContactInstitute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)Sector F-5/2, IslamabadTel: 0092-51-9204423, 0092-51-9204424Fax: 0092-51-9204658Email: strategy@issi.org.pkWebsite: www.issi.org.pk

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