Pakistan and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime

The arrival of nuclear weapons was detrimental in changing the nature of warfare; duringWWII, we used nuclear weapons on two Japanese cities. The catastrophic effect of nuclear weapons made the pioneers apprehensive about the spread of nuclear technology across the globe. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime (NNPR) is a set of international rules, norms, initiatives, agreements, arrangements, bilateral and multilateral treaties to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and technology. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the backbone of NNPR. This paper discusses the significance of NNPR and will focus on how Pakistan fits into the bigger picture of the NNPR as a nuclear state. This research study will further analyze the prospects and challenges for Pakistan viz a viz the NNPR. It will specifically focus on Pakistan's official position on joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), and the two relevant Export Control Regimes (Nuclear Suppliers Group and Missile Technology Control Regime). Moreover, the challenges Pakistan faces viz-a-viz these treaties and arrangements will be highlighted. Recommendations will be provided based on the prospects of how Pakistan can overcome these challenges.

The Culture of Violent Extremism in Universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Causes and Remedies

Violent Extremism and Radicalization is on the rise in the Universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In the last decade, the crisis of students discipline has increased on campuses. Many incidents of violence and intolerance on campus are alarming for the higher education of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The education curriculum is insufficient to develop a mature and critical mind instead of making sectarian activists and extremists. To counter extremism, many laws and bills have been passed to control this social problem in our societies. The existence of such issues in the universities and education sector is very alarming because the youth is part of this sector. The education sector should be freed from such problems for the social, political and economic progress and development of the society. Thus this article highlights the issue and provides necessary recommendations to solve the problem.

Iran Pakistan Relations between Cooperation and Distrust from 2001 to 2015

This study is qualitative research and is descriptive in nature. It starts with the cataclysmic events of 9/11 and the influence of US War on Terror on Iran and Pakistan. The war was realized by Iran and Pakistan with awe and shock. Initially, Iran cooperated the US, but soon President George Bush's fiery speech estranged Iran. While Pakistan, under duress became a front lien State in the War on Terror. Therefore, the two countries took different directions, and their relations were somewhat strained. There were also many other reasons such as Jundallah factor, controversial Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, US sanctions, and Iranian nuclear deal, border trade issue, Saudi-Phenomenon, competing Gwadarcs Chabahar ports, Indo-Iranian collaboration, which impacted the relations between the two countries. All this indicates that there was no warmth in relations between the two countries, and there was an element of mistrust.

Balance of Power in South Asia: Concerning Russian Role

Russia's engagement in South Asia has been shaped by its strategic interests: its quest for warm water, the routes of its gas pipeline, and its policy for curtailing U.S. hegemony. It has always been a dominant actor of South Asian Politics. The international dynamics have changed Russian strategies at different intervals. Initially, it was inclined towards India; however, in the current scenario, it has recognized the significance of Pakistan for a peaceful political settlement in Afghanistan and linking the Euro Asian union with South Asia, the Indian Ocean, and beyond. The paper highlights the changes in Russian policies towards South Asia and its due role in the balance of power between Pakistan and India.Russian strategic interest in South Asia and its relationship with India and Pakistan are the sole factors responsible for Russian involvement in BOP between Pakistan and India.

Propaganda Warfare: Indian Disinformation Campaign against Pakistan

Access to sources of information has allowed states to use media as a tool of propaganda warfare. It can be observed that within the South Asian theatre, India and Pakistan are involved in propaganda warfare, spreading disinformation campaigns with the aim to disrepute the other's international image. To understand the techniques of propaganda warfare, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky's propaganda model provides a befitting conceptual cushion to study propaganda warfare techniques using news media to propagate disinformation. This paper tends to focus on how New Delhi exercises control over news media to portray Pakistan as a failed state, a safe haven for terrorist organizations, installing anti-army information, building war hysteria in South Asia, and targeting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir and Balochistan. The paper argues that Indian news media has become a tool in the hands of the Indian political elite in generating false propaganda against Pakistan.

De-radicalization: A Case Study of Swat Valley; Its Progress, Challenges

This research analyzes the de-radicalization process of swat, its progress, and challenges inthe years 2008 to 2018. Previously Swat was fallen in the hand of terrorists and it had facedextremism and terrorism. Religious intolerance and economic issues led it to the next level of conflict.Pakistan Army initiated operations against terrorists while on the other hand, they converted the terrorist’sheadquarters into centers for the de-radicalization program. This study primarily explored the de-radicalization progress of swat and find that the Army de-radicalized the terrorists through a systematicprogram that included rehabilitation, religious counseling, vocational training, reintegration into the society,and later on their monitoring were the main features of the program. The study also analyzed the possibleefforts that can be put together in making a conducive working environment in Swat. This study alsohighlights the need for more de-radicalization programs in Pakistan targeting different ethnic, racist,religious radicalization. This study also discusses the efforts of the National action plan and Paigham-e-Pakistan in the light of de-radicalization and its effectiveness in the long run. This research also suggeststhat the government and private sector with combined efforts can bring more diversity and effectivenesssin de-radicalization programs.

Migrants and Growing Global Health Security Challenges after COVID-19 Outbreak

Migrants and prevailing infectious diseases have become a more complex global challenge in the twenty-first century. Migration is a multi-faceted socio cultural phenomenon that impact has increased dramatically in the field of health and epidemic diseases. The global mobility of a person is a fundamental dynamic in the emergence of infectious diseases such as Coronavirus, TB, HIV /AIDS, Malaria, SARS and Ebola. Population mobility and growing circulatation of migrats poses global health security challenges. The comprehensive health policy is a base for combating infectious diseases at global level. The prime aim of this paper is to capture the gaps to manage health problems which are associated with migrants. So, this study shows, how surveillance, monitoring, early warning can combat the serious health threats of migrants. The preparedness, planning and coordination policies, can tackle the emergency in large occurrence of infectious diseases mainly COVID-19.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Promoting Regional Peace and Stability: Analyzing the Case of Indo-Pak Conflict

By looking at the institutional settings of SCO, it is believed that this organization has a huge potential to maximize cooperation and minimize conflicts among the member states. Founded under the leadership of Russia and China, SCO extended not only the opportunities and roadmaps for promoting bilateral trade and security collaborations of the mentioned countries but also helped promoted regional integration across Central and South Asian states. To further analyze the viability of this platform, this article seeks to evaluate the emergence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from a 'security institution to a multilateral organization' perspective. It will further examine SCO's role in promoting regional peace and stability and finally elucidate how far the inclusion of new members like Pakistan and India can utilize the magnitude of SCO to mitigate their tensions.

Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) in Cyber Security Domain: Analyzing Pakistan's Prospects

A clear lack of Civil-Military Cooperation is evident in the field of national cybersecurity policy. For a country such as Pakistan with fractious political, cultural, and diverse ethnic identities and ideological characteristics, an unguarded cyber domain can add to the existing rifts. In light of these challenges, Pakistan needs to create a national cybersecurity policy and strategy incorporating both civil and military concerns. The aim of this research paper is to find out a conceptual framework of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) in the realm of cybersecurity. This study has used open-ended semistructured interviews to find out the way forward and the hindrances in civil-military cooperation to create a robust national cybersecurity regime. For an effective national cybersecurity policy, synergy has to be created between the civil and military sectors. The military should not only have the necessary cybersecurity expertise, but it should also organize cyber-drills incorporating all stakeholders.

Dialogues and Peace Treaties in Afghanistan: An Analysis from 2010 to 2019

After the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the war-torn nation confronted numerous hardships and adversities in the following decade. US-led NATO forces overthrown the Taliban regime on 13 November 2001. The Taliban encountered severe blows from the US and allied forces, which constrained them to take shelter in the neighbouring countries, besides the hilly areas of Afghanistan (Afridi, Afridi, & Jalal, 2016). The region has witnessed a fierce fight between the Taliban and the NATO troops till 2010. Afterwards, a new phase in the Afghan conflict has begun; a progression of table talks and negotiations was initiated at various fronts. This particular research will focus on the dialogues, treaties, and negotiations among the conflicting parties to find a peaceful solution to the Afghan war.