IPRI :: Islamabad Policy Research Institute

Major Events and Projects (July 2007 - June 2008)

1. International/National Conferences /Discussions Organized by IPRI

a. Regional Cooperation in Asia: Options for Pakistan An International seminar on “Regional Cooperation in Asia: Options for Pakistan” was organized by IPRI in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation on 6 September 2007 at Hotel Marriott, Islamabad. The seminar was organised into five sessions, including the ‘inaugural’ and the ‘concluding’ session. Dr Ishrat Hussain, Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan, later, Chairman National Commission for Government Reforms, Government of Pakistan was the Chief Guest in the Inaugural Session; a total of 5 papers were presented on various aspects. Professor Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, President IPRI delivered the Welcome Address whereas brief Opening Remarks were made by Mr Richard Asbeck, Resident Representative Hanns Seidel Foundation. The other speakers included: Dr Mavara Inayat, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad; Professor Dr Sarfraz Khan, Area Study Centre for Russia, Central Asia, and China, University of Peshawar, Peshawar; Ms Oksana Antonenko, Senior Research Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, UK; Dr Lutfullah Mangi, Director, Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia, University of Sindh at Jamshoro; and Dr Mohamed Aslam, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A brief report on the proceedings of the seminar was prepared and kept in record. A book based on the proceedings of the seminar is under publication.

b. IPRI-ISDP National Seminar. A two-day National Seminar was organized by IPRI in collaboration with Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) on “The Political Roles of Religious Communities in South Asia” on 29-30 October 2007 at IPRI Office, Islamabad. Seminar was organised into five sessions during which ten presentations were made by a galaxy of scholars. Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, President IPRI delivered the Welcome Address whereas brief Opening Remarks were given by Amb. Ignolf Kiesow, Institute for Security an Development Policy (ISDP). The other speakers included: Prof Ishtiaq Ahmed, University of Stockholm; Dr Noor ul Haq; Prof Mujeeb Ahmad; Syed Hussain Naqvi; Prof Abdul Samad Pirzada; Mr Ramesh Lal, Member National Assembly; Col (R) S.K. Tressler SI (M); Mr Ahmer Bilal Soofi; Dr Tahir Amin; Haji Hanif Tayyab; Mr Vakil Ahmad Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Dr Riaz Ahmad. A brief report on the proceedings of the discussion was prepared and kept in record. A book based on the proceedings of the seminar is under publication.

2. Visits by Foreign/Pakistani Scholars. During the period under review following scholars/delegations visited IPRI and held in-house discussions in areas of their expertise:-

a. Dr Zahid Bokhari, an eminent scholar and Director of American Muslim Studies Programme (AMSP) and Fellow at the Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding (CMCU) at Georgetown University visited IPRI on 27 July 2007 and delivered a talk on “Islam in the West”.

b. A Qatar Armed Forces Delegation from Strategic Studies Centre, i.e., Brig (Air) Abdul Aziz A Al-Mahmoud, Commander Strategic Studies Centre, Brig (Air) Abdullah Nasir and Major Jamal Riyas visited IPRI on 29 August 2007 and had an in-house discussion with IPRI scholars.

c. Professor Dr Sarfraz Khan, Area Study Centre (Russia, China & Central Asia), University of Peshawar visited IPRI on 5 September 2007 and delivered a lecture on “Situation in FATA, especially on Waziristan and Kurram Agency, situation in Swat especially on activities of Tahrik-e-Nifazi Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TSNM) and Russian Policies toward Central Asia”.

d. A group of Australian scholars visited IPRI on 23 October 2007 and had an in-house discussion with IPRI scholars.

e. A five member team of Director Research and Research Officers National Assembly Secretariat visited IPRI on 6 November 2007 and had an in-house discussion with IPRI scholars.

f. On the invitation of IPRI, a six-member Turkish media delegation comprising Mr Murat Cicek, Channel 24 (TV); Mr Guray Ervin, Channel 24 (TV); Mr Ogun Duru, ASAM (Think Tank); Mr Bahadir Salim, Cumhuriyet Daily; Mr Ibrahim Turkmen, Daily Today Zaman and Mr Harun Celik, Cihan News Agency visited IPRI on 5 December 2007 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

g. A four member Iranian delegation from Institute of Political and International Studies (IPIS) visited IPRI on 8 February 2008 and had an in-house discussion with IPRI scholars.

h. On the invitation of IPRI, a four-member Egyptian media delegation comprising Dr Hassan Ahmed Hassan Abou Taleb, Deputy Director, Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies; Mr Elsayed Ibrahim Aly Elsayed El Naggar, Deputy Editor in Chief, Daily Al-Akhbar Newspaper; Mr Tarek Ramadan Mohamed Hussein Mohamed, Head of Diplomatic Section, Al-Ahram Almassai Daily Newspaper and Ms Asmaa Waguih Ahmed El-Tobi, Photographer with Reuters News Agency, Cairo, Egypt visited IPRI on 4 March 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

i. An eight member Chinese delegation visited IPRI on 14 March 2008 and had an in-house discussion with IPRI scholars.

j. On the invitation of IPRI, a seven-member Turkish media delegation comprising Mr Sulyman Sensoy, Chairman of TASAM; Mr Tulay Karadeniz, NTV Reporter; Mr Ismail Koseli, Cameraman NTV; Mr Sedat Laciner, Director ISRO; Mr Erhan Basyurt, Editor Daily Bugun; Ms Hazai Ates, Journalist Sabah Daily and Ms Muray Taskan, Interpreter visited IPRI on 24 March 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

k. On the invitation of IPRI, a five-member Saudi Arabian media delegation comprising Mr Tariq Mishkas Fahim, Acting Editor in Chief ‘Urdu News’; Mr Tariq Al Maeena, Senior Columnist ‘Arab News’; Mr Faleh Al Dhubyani, Bureau Chief Makkah, Okaz; Mr Nasir Mufrih Nasir Habtar, Head of News Monitoring, ‘Al-Watan’ and Mr Hani Wafa, Political Editor ‘Al Riyadh’ visited IPRI on 22 April 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

l. On the invitation of IPRI, a six-member Azerbaijan media delegation comprising Mr Nail Rahimzad, Chief Editor of ‘Yeni Azerbaycan Ganelari’, The newspaper of New Azerbaijan Party’s Youth Organization; Mr Bahruz Maharramov, Editor ‘Azad, Azerbaijan’ TV and Broadcasting; Mr Miragha Alakbarov, Editor, Journal of ‘Marketing’; Miss Parvana Sukhandani, Researcher ‘Sigma’ Research Centre; Mr Ismayilov Khagani Neyman, Journalist, Writer, Historical Explorere, Editor of Newspaper, ‘Tehsil Problemleri’ and Mr Mikayll Hasanli Chief Organizer of ‘Iraly Ganjlar’, and ‘Yoni Umid’ Organizations visited IPRI on 23 April 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

m. On the invitation of IPRI, a six-member Iran media delegation comprising Mr Mohammad Reza Erfani, Director Foreign Desk, Fars News Agency; Mr Ali Pahlavan, Executive Editor, Daily Iran News; Mr Hamid Badari, Executive Correspondent, English Daily Kayhan International; Ms Masoomeh Kamalidehghan, Journalist, Mehr News Agency, International Desk and Mr Jalil Hassani, Incharge International Desk, Daily Jamhoori Islami visited IPRI on 28 April 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

n. On the invitation of IPRI, a six-member Philippines media delegation comprising Mr Dante Francis M Ang, Executive Editor, Manila Times; Miss Ellen T Tordesillas, Senior Editor/Columnist, Malaya Newspaper; Miss Angelina Resurrecction, Senior Editor, Business Mirror; Miss Ma Fatima Lourdes G Parel, Assistant Editor/Contributor Writer, People Asia Magazine/Philippine Star; Miss Gemma Teresa Guerrero Cruz Aranela, Columnist/Broadcaster, Manila Bulletin and Miss Maria Mercedes Natalia F Diaz, Columnist, Philippine Daily Inquirer visited IPRI on 07 May 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

o. On the invitation of IPRI, a five member delegation from China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) comprising Mr Li Shaoxian, Vice President, CICIR; Mr He Xiquan, Director of the Centre for Ethnic and Religious Studies, CICIR; Mr Hu Shisheng, Director of the Division for South Asia Studies, CICIR; Mr Du Bing, Researcher of the Division of South Asian Studies, CICIR and Mr Lou Chunhao, Researcher of the Division of South Asian Studies, CICIR visited IPRI on 13 May 2008 and had an in-house meeting with IPRI scholars.

p. Mr Gregory R Copley, President, International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA), USA visited IPRI on 22 May 2008 and had an in-house discussion with IPRI scholars.

3. Visits Abroad and Participation by IPRI Representatives/ Delegation in Seminars/Conferences

A four member IPRI delegation comprising Professor Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Head of delegation, Brig Muneer Mahmud (Retd), Acting Vice President/Director Administration, Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri and Mr Muhammad Mustansar Billah Hussain visited China on 19-27 August 2007 and held meetings/discussion with various Chinese think-tanks and institutions with a view to developing cooperation with these institutions in the field of research for mutual benefits. Local hospitality was extended by China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR).
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in the International Institute for Strategic Studies Annual Global Security Symposium on “Managing Global Security and Risk” organized by The Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, Washington, D.C. USA held at Geneva, Switzerland on 7-9 September 2007.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in a Visiting Programme to Europe for SAARC think tanks and NGO’s organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany held at Germany on 4-14 November 2007.
Mr Muhammad Munir, Administrative Officer participated in the Annual Convention of NTS-Asia organized by Regional Center for Strategic Studies, Sri Lanka held at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 4-6 November 2007.
A three member IPRI delegation comprising Professor Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Head of Delegation, Dr Noor ul Haq, Research Fellow and Mr Muhammad Munir, Administrative Officer participated in the second plenary meeting of the Regional Network of Strategic Studies Centers in the Near East and South Asia Region organized by The Cooperative Monitoring Center in Amman and UCLA’s Center for Middle East Development Jordan held at Amman, Jordan on 9-12 November 2007.
Dr Ahmad Rashid Malik, Research Fellow participated in the International Conference on “Central Asia as Transcontinental Transport Bridge: Potential and Prospects of Development” organized by The Center of Political Studies of Uzbekistan held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 19 November 2007.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in a Regional Conference on “The Landscape of Asian Integration” organized by the Association of Asia Scholars, New Delhi, India held at New Delhi, India on 11-12 January 2008. In addition, he also participated in another conference on SAARC-Towards Greater Connectivity organized by Indian International Centre (IIC) in collaboration with The Institute of Peace and Conflicts Studies (IPCS) and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) held at New Delhi, India on 15-16 January 2008.
Brig Muneer Mahmud (Retd), Director Administration visited Qatar as member of Pakistani Think Tank delegation. He visited Strategic Studies Centre (SSC), GHQ, Qatar on 3-7 February 2008 for a round table discussion on “Regional Challenges being Faced in the Next Decade”.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in a Visiting Programme to Europe for SAARC think tanks in Europe organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany held at Brussels, Belgium on 2-9 March 2008.
Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, Senior Research Fellow participated in an International Seminar on “Recent IAEA Director General Report on Iran Peaceful Nuclear Activities” organized by The Institute of Political and International Studies (IPIS), Tehran, Iran held at Tehran, Iran on 9 March 2008.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema joined a panel of speakers and to deliver an address at a RUSI seminar organized by Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), London held at London, UK on 19 March 2008.
Brig Muneer Mahmud, Director Administration attended the meetings and activities of “Think Tank Organizations Dialogue of Turkey” organized by The Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM), Turkey held at Istanbul, Turkey on 7-12 April 2008.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in the Counter Terrorism working group meeting organized by The Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, US National Defense University, Washington, DC and The Institute of Strategic Studies, Research and Analyses, National Defense College, Pakistan held at Athens, Greece on 10-11 April 2008.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in an International Conference on “China and SAARC: Towards a Partnership of Common Prosperity” organized by the China Institute of International Studies held at Beijing, China on 19-20 April 2008.
A three member IPRI delegation comprising Professor Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Head of Delegation, Dr Noor ul Haq, Research Fellow and Mr Muhammad Munir, Administrative Officer participated in the Third Meeting of the Regional Network of Strategic Studies Centers organized by The Centre for Strategic Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara, Turkey and Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Washington D.C. held at Istanbul, Turkey on 19-22 May 2008.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema attended Shanghai Forum 2008 organized by Shanghai Forum, Fudan University, China held at Fudan University, China on 25-27 May 2008.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Khan, Senior Research Fellow participated in a seminar on “Deepening Cooperation between Observers and Members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)” organized by China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), Beijing, China held at Beijing, China on 20 May 2008.
Professor Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema participated in a Conference on “The US-Pakistan Strategic Partnership: A Track-Two Dialogue on Counterterrorism” organized by the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA held at Ohio on 24-25 June 2008. He also participated in a conference on “Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in a Time of Change” held on 26-27 June 2008 at Columbus, Ohio in collaboration with the Centre for Contemporary Conflict (CCC).

4. Participation of IPRI Scholars in Seminar/Conferences held in Pakistan

Dr Noor ul Haq, Research Fellow participated in the National Consultation Dialogue on the Status of FATA organized by Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme, Peshawar on 18 July 2007 at Islamabad.
Dr Noor ul Haq, Research Fellow participated in a roundtable moot on “Pak-Afghan Relations: Emerging Scenario” on 11 October 2007 organized by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.
Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, Senior Research Fellow participated in a three day workshop on “Specialized Legislative Research” from 30 November 2007 to 2 December 2007 organized by USAID, Islamabad.
Dr Ahmad Rashid Malik, Research Fellow participated in the seminar on “Quantifications of Benefits from Regional Cooperation in South Asia” jointly organized by the Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan and Asian Development Bank on 20 March 2008 at Islamabad.
Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, Senior Research Fellow participated in First I.R Conference on “State of International Relations in Pakistan” organized by Department of International Relations, University of Karachi on 26-27 March 2008 at Karachi.
Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, Senior Research Fellow participated in the first such interaction at ISSRA, NDU on 1 April 2008 and had a discussion on “Issues of Conflict between State and Society” organized by ISSRA, National Defense University, Islamabad.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Khan, Senior Research Fellow participated in Stake Holders Conference on “Freedom of Information” organized by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Islamabad on 15 May 2008 at Islamabad.
Dr Noor ul Haq, Research Fellow participated in seminar on “Nuclear Pakistan: Ten Years on” organized by ISSRA, National Defense University, Islamabad on 30 May 2008 at Islamabad.

5. Research and Analysis Activities of IPRI. Research and Analysis activities of IPRI scholars are appended below:-

a. Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, President, IPRI – Research Articles

(1) ‘Globalization and its Impact on National Institutions of South Asian Countries’ in Globalization: Economic, Social and Political Dimensions: Focus on South Asia, edited by Naveed Ahmad Tahir, Area Study Center for Europe, Karachi University in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation, 2007.

(2) ‘Nuclear World Order and Non-proliferation’ in the Conference Proceedings on “US-Pakistan Strategic Partnership; A Track Two Process for Long-term Security and Stability”, ISSRA, NDU Publication 2007.

(3) ‘Connectivity through Complementary Infrastructure in the SAARC Region’ in SAARC: Towards Greater Connectivity, edited by Dipankar Banerjee and N. Monaharan, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and IPCS, New Dehli (India), July 2008.

b. Dr Rashid Ahmad Khan

(1) Research Paper

(a) “Sir Creek: The Origin and Development of the Dispute between Pakistan and India” IPRI Journal, Summer 2007

(b) “Implementing Kashmir Study Group (KSG) Proposal,” IPRI Journal, Winter 2008.

c. Dr Maqsudul Hasan Nuri

(1) Research Papers

(a) “Pak-GCC Security Relations in Light of Iran’s Nuclearisation”, Gulf Research Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

(2) Book Review

(a) Samir Amin, Beyond US Hegemony? Assessing the Prospects for a Multipolar World, IPRI Journal, Summer 2007.

(b) Sigrid Faath (ed), Anti-Americanism in the Islamic World, IPRI Journal, Winter 2008.

d. Dr Noor ul Haq

(1) Research Paper

(a) “Maritime Interests of Pakistan-Historical Perspective”, IPRI Journal, Summer 2007.

(b) “Education in Pakistan: Historical Perspective”, Pakistan and Changing Scenario: Regional and Global, eds. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema and others (Islamabad Policy Research Institute, 2008).

(2) Book Review

(a) Jimmy Carter, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid (New York: Simon & Schuter, 2006), IPRI Journal, Summer 2007

(b) Pamela Mountbatten, India Remembered (London: Pavilion Books, 2007), IPRI Journal, Winter 2008.

(c) Yasmin Khan, The Great Partition: The Making of India and Pakistan (London: Yale University Press, 2007; and New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2007) being published in IPRI Journal, Summer 2008.

(3) Editor – IPRI Factfile. As editor has so far edited 64 monthly issues.

e. Dr Ahmad Rashid Malik

(1) Research Papers

(a) “East Asia Summit and Pakistan’s Quest for new Regionalism”, IPRI Journal, Summer 2007.

(b) “Emerging Regional Economic Integration in East Asia: Challenges and Choices for Pakistan”, IPRI Journal, Winter 2007.

(c) “Pakistan’s Trade and Diplomacy Toward Central Asia: A Case Study of Uzbekistan during 1991-2007”, IPRI Journal, Winter 2008.

(d) “Pakistan’s Trading Relations with Central Asia: 1991-2008”, IPRI Journal, Summer 2008.

(2) Book Reviews

(a) Sudhir Devare, India and Southeast Asia: Towards Security Convergence (Singapore: Institute of South East Asian Studies, 2006), IPRI Journal, Summer 2007.

(b) Nicolas va de Walle, Overcoming Stagnation in Aid-Dependent Counries (Washington D.C: Center for Global Development, 2005), IPRI Journal, Winter 2008.

(c) Robery Ayson & Desmond Ball (eds), Strategy and Security in the Asia-Pacific (New South Wales: Allen & Unwin, 2007), IPRI Journal, Winter 2008.

(d) Shahid Javed Burki, Changing Perceptions, Altered Reality: Pakistan’s Economy Under Musharraf, 1999-2006 (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2007), IPRI Journal, Summer 2008 (forthcoming).

f. Mr Asghar Ali Shad

(1) Newspaper Articles: 138 newspaper articles in various Urdu Newspapers.

g. Mr Tauqeer H Taki

(1) Research Papers

(a) “Tackling Extremism in Pakistan”, Defence Journal Karachi, Vol 10 No 8 March 2007.

(b) “Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament: Pakistan’s Attitude & Perspective”, Defence Journal Karachi, Vol 10 No 9 April 2007.

h. Mr Muhammad Mustansar Billah Hussain

(1) Research Paper

“Israel: The End of Invincibility” The article was accepted for publication (on June 11, 2007) in the Summer 2007 issue of National Development and Security; a quarterly journal published by Foundation for Research on International Environment, National Development and Security (FRIENDS).

i. Ms Farhat Akram Mughal

(1) Book Reviews

(a) Abdul Sattar, Pakistan’s Foreign Policy 1947-2005 (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2007), IPRI Journal, Summer 2007.

(b) William Maley, Rescuing Afghanistan (London: Hurst and Company, IPRI Journal,Winter 2007).

Adeeb Khalid, Islam after Communism: Religion and Politics in Central Asia (London: University of California Press, 2007), IPRI Journal, Summer 2008.