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CONCEPT PAPER
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON
THE CHALLENGE OF REBUILDING AFGHANISTAN
MARCH 02-03, 2005
AT CROWN BALL ROOM, HOTEL REGENT PLAZA, KARACHI
ORGANIZED BY: PROGRAM ON PEACE STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI IN COLLABORATION WITH HANNS SEIDEL FOUNDATION, ISLAMABAD
BACKGROUND
Afghanistan is connected with three very important regions in the world: South, West and Central Asia. Therefore, it increases its importance in the region and outside the region. Though the Soviet disunion and the events of September 11, 2001 have changed the order of international politics, the struggle for power remains the same, both at international and regional fronts. The challenges emanating after the collapse of Taliban regime and the formulation of new security and political paradigm with the support of the UN and NATO tend to raise several questions about the issues of rebuilding and reconstruction, political stabilization and security in that war torn country.
Afghanistan is one of the afflicted areas where regional and extra-regional powers are trying to dominate the internal politics, which has intensified the problem, resulting in external implications. Geneva Accords of April 1988 tried to resolve the issue through peaceful means, but later on, it was heavily politicized. Because of the failure of the Geneva Accords, resistance groups were locked in the power struggle during the period between 1992 to 1996 which deepened the crisis. Taliban’s capture of power in Kabul in late September 1996 and the introduction of their version of Islam triggered new areas of conflict in Afghanistan resulting into acts of persecution against women and minorities. Conflict between the Taliban regime and the Tajik-Uzbek dominated Northern Alliance further deepened insecurity, instability and struggle for power in Afghanistan. The outside interference in the Afghan turmoil is not a new phenomenon. When the Soviets deployed their troops in Afghanistan, the resistance movement carried out guerrilla operations with the assistance of Pakistan, the United States, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and several other countries. They openly supported their favorites on the basis of sect and ethnic composition. Similarly, the Northern Alliance was tacitly supported by Iran, India, Russia and the Central Asian neighbors of Afghanistan. The direct involvement of these powers institutionalized chaos, power struggle and changing loyalties.
In this anarchic situation, a new phenomenon emerged on the Afghan scene, known as Taliban. The Taliban had institutionalized religious fundamentalism and religious extremism. Ideologically, the Taliban phenomenon spilled over to other parts of the Muslim World, which has far reaching implications. The events of 9/11 can be seen under this scenario. The war against international terrorism started from Afghanistan and later on spread to the Middle East. After more than three years of war against terrorism, Afghanistan is still in a grip of instability and violence. Re-emergence of Taliban, factional fighting and lawlessness, rise of opium production and culture of warlordism still exist on Afghan political scene. Hence the task of democratization and rebuilding of Afghanistan so as to ensure peace and stability in that country is not only the responsibility of government and people of that country but the international community including the United Nations, United States, European Union, Russia and regional countries belonging to Central, South and West Asia also need to play an effective role in this regard.
Mission statement
The purpose of holding an international workshop on “The challenge of rebuilding Afghanistan” is to take a close analytical view of the Afghan affairs and the transformation of Afghan state and society in the post-Taliban scenario. It will be a first systematic attempt to organize such a program in Pakistan in which almost all important issues concerned with the rebuilding of Afghanistan will be covered. The workshop will try to respond to the following questions:-
1. What are the important dynamics of Afghan power politics?
2. What are the important aspects of rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan?
3. What are the interests of regional and extra regional powers in Afghanistan?
4. What is the role of external states on helping the task of rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan and what are the impediments in this regard?
5. What is the impact of 9/11 on Afghanistan?
6. What is the linkage between the Afghan crisis and the issue of terrorism?
7. What are the challenges for the Afghan State and Society and how such challenges could be met?
8. How the issues of warlordism, disarmament, poppy growing, drug money, ethnicity, refugees and women impact on the task of rebuilding Afghanistan?
9. How the state of economy, mass poverty and underdevelopment are considered as important challenges to the process of rebuilding Afghanistan?
10. What are the prospects of Afghan rebuilding and reconstruction?
The workshop will try to examine the above stated questions by involving intellectuals, scholars, and academics who are the authority on this subject.
The Department of International Relations, University of Karachi under the Program on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (PPSCR) has organized various seminars and workshops in past few years which are very significant and important in the field of International Relations. Details of activities conducted under PPSCR could be seen at www.ppscr.org. Presently, our research team is busy in working on a project sponsored by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad on, “A Study of the Afghan Conflicts 1988-2004.” Details of the project could be seen at: www.afghan-project.org
The purpose to organize such a workshop is to shed light specifically on Afghanistan, which has become the trouble spot and a major destabilizing factor particularly in the Three Asias for the last twenty years. Moreover, it is also a very significant topic because the dynamics of the conflict are changing rapidly and such a situation is impacting on the task of rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan.
We hope that the experts of international stature will not only give the objective analysis on this topic, but will also recommend suggestions for strengthening the task of rebuilding Afghanistan. We will also organize a simulation program in which different dimensions of the Afghan conflict in the post-9/11 scenario will be examined by the graduate students of our Department. Apart from sending recommendations of the workshop to the policy-makers and those representing cross sections of society in South Asia, we also intend to bring out an impressive volume based on the proceedings of the workshop.
Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar
Program Director
February 20, 2005
Regional Workshop
The Challenge of Rebuilding Afghanistan
Organized by the
Program on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Department of International Relations, University of Karachi
in collaboration with the
Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad
Crown Ball Room, Hotel Regent Plaza, Karachi, March 2-3, 2005
Draft Program (updated February 21, 2005)
Wednesday, March 2
| 09.30-10.30 |
Inaugural Session |
| 09.30-09.35 |
Welcome Address by Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar, Department of
International Relations, University of Karachi and Director, Program On
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution |
| 09.35-09.40 |
Address by Prof. Dr. Khalida Ghaus, Chairperson, Department of
International Relations, University of Karachi |
| 09.40-09.50 |
Welcome Address by Dr. Andreas Rieck
(Resident Representative, Hanns Seidel Foundation) |
| 09.50-10.00 |
Address by Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim R. Siddiqui, Vice-Chancellor, University of Karachi |
| 10.00-10.20 |
Address by the Chief Guest H.E. Dr. Nanguyalai Tarzi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
| 10.20-10.40 |
Keynote Address by Mr. Ahmed Rashid, (Correspondent for
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, Far Eastern Economic Review) |
| 10.40-11.00 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
| 11.00-11.45 |
Session One:
Conceptual Framework(Chair: Prof. Marvin Weinbaum) |
| 11.00-11.20 |
Dynamics of Internal Power Politics in Afghanistan
(Lt. Gen. ® Kamal Matinuddin, Rawalpindi) |
| 11.20-11.40 |
The Impact of 9/11 on Afghanistan (Dr. Moonis Ahmar) |
| 11.40-12.15 |
Discussion |
| 12.15-13.30 |
Session Two:
Major Domestic Challenges in Post-Taliban Afghanistan and Attempts at their Solution (I)(Chair: Ahmed Rashid) |
| 12.15-12.35 |
Warlordism, the Disarmament Program and the Rebuilding of an Afghan National Army. Dr. Andreas Rieck |
| 12.35-12.55 |
The Resurgence of Poppy Growing and the Impact of Drug Money on Afghan Economy and Politics (Mr. Abdul Raziq Asmar, Afghan State High Commission for Drugs Control and Adviser, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Kabul ) |
| 12.55-13.30 |
Discussion |
| 13.30-14.30 |
Lunch Break |
| 14.30-17.30 |
Session Three:
Major Domestic Challenges in Post-Taliban Afghanistan and Attempts at their Solution (II)(Chair: Azizurrahman Rafiee |
| 14.30-14.50 |
Taliban Remnants and other Armed Resistance Groups: A Diminishing Security Challenge? (Brig. (Retd.) A. R. Siddiqui, Executive Director, Regional Institute of
Peace and Security Studies, Karachi |
| 14.50-15.10 |
Ethnic Fault Lines in Afghanistan and the Challenge of National Unity
(Prof. Gul Rahman Qazi, National Center for Policy Research, University of Kabul) |
| 15.10-15.30 |
The State of Afghanistan’s Economy: Mass Poverty, Underdevelopment and the Legacy of War (Prof. Saifuddin Saihoon, Dept. of Economics, University of Kabul) |
| 15.30-15.50 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
| 15.50-16.10 |
Rebuilding of Government and Law Enforcement Institutions (Hameedullah Atayee, Assistant Monitoring and Investigation Officer, Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, Kabul) |
| 16.10-16.30 |
The Role of Women in Rebuilding Afghanistan
(Sameera Ayyubi, Senior Project Assistant, United Nations Development Fund for Women, Kabul)
|
| 16.30-17.30 |
Discussion |
Thursday, March 3
| 09. 09.30-11.00 |
Session Four:
Rebuilding Afghanistan:
Some Post-2001 Achievements(Chair: Prof. Rasul Bakhsh Rais) |
| 09.30-09.50 |
The New Afghan Constitution, the 2004 Presidential Elections, and Challenges for the Forthcoming Parliamentary Elections
(Mr. Thomas Ruttig, First Secretary, German Embassy, Kabul) |
| 09.50-10.10 |
Repatriation of Afghan Refugees: Achievements and Obstacles
(Ms. Nasreen Ghufran, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar) |
| 10.10-10.30 |
Reconstruction of the Education System, Infrastructure and Economic Base: A Balance Sheet 2002-2004 Mr. Amanullah Rostaki, Center of Strategic Studies, Kabul |
| 10.30-11.00 |
Discussion |
| 11.00-11.30 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
| 11.30-13.00 |
Session Five:
Rebuilding Afghanistan: The International Dimension(Chair: Thomas Ruttig) |
| 11.30-11.50 |
The U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan since 9/11: Strategic Objectives, Security and Reconstruction ( Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, Scholar-in-Residence, Middle East Institute, Washington DC and Professor Emirates, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign ) |
| 11.50-12.10 |
The European and Japanese Involvement in Afghanistan: Political Objectives of Aid and Reconstruction
(Mrs. Mariko Peters, First Secretary, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Kabul) |
| 12.10-12.30 |
The Role of the United Nations(Dr. Eckart Schiewek, United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan) |
| 12.30-13.00 |
Discussion |
| 13.00-14.00 |
Lunch Break |
| 14.00-15.10 |
Session Six:
Rebuilding Afghanistan: The Regional Dimension (Chair: Prof. Dr. Talat A. Wizarat, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi) |
| 14.00-14.20 |
Pakistan’s Relations with Afghanistan in the Post-Taliban Era
( Prof. Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais, Head, Political Science Department,
Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore ) |
| 14.20-14.40 |
The Resurgent Role of India and Iran in Afghanistan
(Dr. Saleem Kidwai, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) |
| 14.40-15.10 |
The Role of Russia and Central Asian States in Afghanistan
(Hazrat Wahriz, Centre of Strategic Studies, Kabul) |
| 15.10-15.40 |
Discussion |
| 15.40-16.10 |
Session Seven:
Future Prospects for Afghanistan(Chair: Mrs. Mariko Peters) |
| 15.40-16.00 |
Afghan Civil Society: Towards a New Political Culture?
(Mr. Azizurrahman Rafiee, Chairman, Afghan Civil Society Forum, Kabul) |
| 16.00-16.20 |
Security and Reconstruction in Afghanistan: Shortcomings and Mid-Term Prospects (Barbara Stapleton, Agency Coordination Body for Afghan Relief [ACBAR], Kabul) |
| 16.20-16.45 |
Discussion |
| 16.45-18.00 |
Afghanistan after 9/11
(Simulation Exercise by Students of the
Department of International Relations) |
| 18.00-18.15 |
Recommendations & Vote of Thanks |
| 18-15 |
Tea/Coffee |
LIST OF WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Moonis Ahmar
Professor
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi and Director
Program on Peace Studies and
Conflict Resolution
Telephone: 4972526 (W) 9243965 (H)
0333-2177150
E. Mail: amoonis@hotmail.com;
moonisahmar@hotmail.com;
ahmar_moonis@yahoo.com
Ms. Saadia Ashraf
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: me_leotheleader@hotmail.com
Mr. Owais Ahmad
M. A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: owaisjalees@hatmail.com
Mr. Abdul Raziq Asmar
Afghan State High Commission for Drugs Control
Adviser, Ministry of Women Affairs
Government of Afghanistan
Kabul
Telephone: 0093-70274368
Mr. Hameedullah Atayee
Assistant Monitoring and Investigation Officer
Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
Kabul
Telephone: 93-70-251247
E. Mail: atayee_03@yahoo.com
Ms. Sameera Ayyubi
Senior Program Officer,
United Nations Development Find for Women, Kabul
UNDP Compound
Opposite Turkish Embassy
Sharae Naw, Kabul
Telephone: 93-70251247
E. Mail: Sameera_Ayyubi@hotmail.com
Mr. M. Faisal Awan
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: taaib@hotmail.com
Mr. Rahimullah Baig
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: sheldenstone313@hotmail.com
Mr. Wali Khan Babar
B.A (Hons) IIIrd Year
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: WKbabar@hotmail.com
Ms. Syeda Beena Batool
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: cityreporter@hotmail.com
Ms. Khusboo Khan Farid
M. A (Final)
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: khushbooghori@yahoo.com
Prof. Dr. Khalida Ghaus
Chairperson
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
Telephone: 9243131 Ext. 2274
Ms. Nasreen Ghufran
Assistant Professor
Department of International Relations
University of Peshawar, Peshawar
Telephone: 9291-854312, 9216752
E. Mail: nghufran@brain.net.pk
Mr. M. Haroon
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: haroon_saee@hotmail.com
Ms. Nida Sehar Hussain
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: blossom-neda@yahoo.com
Ms. Sumera Hussain
B.A (Hons) IIIrd Year
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: els-leo@hotmail.com
Mr. M. Shakil Hyder
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: mshsahar@yahoo.com
Mr. Jordan James
B.A. (Hons) IIIrd Year
Department of International Relations
E. Mail: jordanbhandara@yahoo.com
Ms. Nousheen Jawaid
B.A (Hons) IIIrd Year
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: noshikayani@hotmail.com
Ms. Amna Kaleem
M.A Final
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: kaleem_amna@yahoo.com
Ambassador (Retd) Hamidullah Khan
Coordinator, Seminars
Hanns Seidel Foundation
House No. 2
Margalla Road
F-6/3, Islamabad
Telephone: 9251-2275569
E. Mail: hss@isb.paknet.com.pk
Dr. Saleem Kidwai
Reader
School of International Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University
110067, New Delhi
E. Mail: mskidwai@hotmail.com
Ms. Saima Khurshid
M.A (Final)
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: virgo_yosis@yahoo.com
Lt. Gen (Retd) Kamal Matinuddin
House No. 53
Valley Road
Westridge 1, Rawalpindi
Telephone: 9251-5461135
E. Mail: kmatin@isb.comsats.net.pk
Mr. Mariko Peters
First Secretary
Royal Netherlands Embassy
Kabul
mariko.peters@minbuza.nl
Telephone: 0093-70-286641, 294056
Prof. Gul Rahman Qazi
National Center for Policy Research
University of Kabul, Kabul
E. Mail: qazi.ncpr@ceretechs.com
Telephone: 0093-70292670
Mr. Ahmed Rashid
Correspondent for Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Central Asia
Far Eastern Economic Review
Review Publishing Company Ltd.
108/10 Tufail Road
Lahore Cantonment
E. Mail: review@brain.net.pk
Prof. Dr. Rasul B. Rais
Head Department of Political Science
Lahore University of Management Sciences
Sector U, D.H.A, Lahore Cantt 54792
Lahore
Telephone: 9242-5722670-79
E. Mail: rasul@lums.edu.pk
Mr. Azizur Rahman Rafiee
Chairman
Afghan Civil Society Forum
Kabul
E. Mail: azizrr@swisspeace.ch
Dr. Andreas Rieck
Resident Representative
Hanns Seidel Foundation
House No. 2
Margalla Road
F-6/3, Islamabad
Telephone: 9251-2275569
E. Mail: hss@isb.paknet.com.pk
Mr. Amanullah Rostaki
Center of Strategic Studies,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kabul
Telephone: 0093-70-220623
Mr. Thomas Ruttig
First Secretary
Germany Embassy
Kabul
E. Mail: pol-3@kabu.auswaertiges-amt.de
Telephone. 0093-79-330418
Mr. Yasir Saleem
B.A (Hons) IIIrd Year
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
E. Mail: skssyah_yasir@yahoo.com
Dr. Eckart Schiewek
Political Affairs Officer
United Nations Assistance
Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), Kabul
E. Mail: schiewek@un.org
Telephone: 0093-70-299001
Ms. Ulrike Schultz
Project Assistant
Hanns Seidel Foundation
House No. 2
Margalla Road
F-6/3, Islamabad
Telephone: 9251-2275569
E. Mail: hss@isb.paknet.com.pk
Brig (Retd) A. R. Siddiqi
Executive Director
Regional Institute of Peace and Security Studies
16-B, 7th Central Street, Phase-2, DHA
Karachi
Telephone: 9221-5894074
E. Mail: brigsiddiqi@yahoo.co.uk
Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim R. Siddiqui
Vice-Chancellor
University of Karachi
Telephone: 9243195, 9243197
Prof. Saifuddin Saihoon
Department of Economics
University of Kabul, Kabul
E. Mail: saihoon.ncpr@ceretechs.com
Telephone. 0093-70-215927
Ms. Barbara Stapleton
Agency Coordination Body for Afghan Relief
Kabul
E. Mail: barbara@acbar.org
H. E. Dr. Nanguyalai Tarzi
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Islamabad
Dr. Hazrat Wahriz
Center for Strategic Studies
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kabul
Telephone: 079312918, 0093-70220623
Prof. Dr. Marvin Weinbaum
Scholar-in-Residence
Middle East Institute
Washington DC and Professor Emirates,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
E. Mail: weinbaum@speakeasy.net
Prof. Dr. Talat A. Wizarat
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi
Telephone: 9243131 Ext. 2274, 9243964 |
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