Regional Security
Communication facilities at Wagah, Border between Pakistan and India
INTRODUCTION
The region from Iran through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India has come closer together and at the same time has become more complicated and intertwined on various levels That is why only policies of moderation, peaceful coexistence and cooperation will be able to deal with multiple crises in the region. Especially Afghanistan, Pakistan and India are challenged in their traditional views and are obliged to adopt a more consistent cooperative approach. We therefore would like to assist civil society-based concepts for more stability and for truly constructive new beginnings in the regional relationship. The respective material below might be contributive.

US Policy towards Pakistan

Bulldozer Diplomacy

 - Ever since his appointment as the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan in January, Richard Holbrooke has harped on a tune that is sweet music to scores of ears inside and outside Pakistan. By Imtiaz Gul (in Dawn) more»

Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations

TLO-Policy Brief

Tribal Jurisdiction and Agreements: The Key to Sub-National Governance in Southeastern Afghanistan

In many parts of Afghanistan, non-state institutions remain relevant to security and stability, despite repeated and concerted state-led attempts from the late 19th century onward to expand its administrative influence, including control over the provision of security and the administration of justice. This policy brief examines the historical background of tribal contracts, to what extent they still play a role in local governance today, and what implications can be drawn for the current promotion of community governance arrangements. more»

DOSSIER

Afghanistan Presidential and Provincial Elections took place on August 20, 2009. Official results are expected over the next couple of weeks, final result will be announce on September 17 only. Please find related updated information on Afghanistan, mostly from a Pakistan perspective. more»

International Aspects

Report

Trilateral Students exchange program

Interactions of the students with think tanks, professionals and parliamentarians was really good to open their eyes towards the peace process and conflict resolutions among India-Pakistan and Afghanistan. Now it’s up to them which practices they would adopt for their future betterment. By Kulsoom and Ishfaq Ahmad more»

Pakistan-China Exchange

 - The idea for this interaction was to learn about Chinese foreign policy vis-à-vis Pakistan, to build and explore linkages, area of cooperation between Chinese think tanks and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung supported Pakistani think tanks. Report by Saima Jasam, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Pakistan and Farrukh Saleem, Center for Research and Security Studies. more»

International Aspects

 - July 7, 2009 - An alternative, tough, intrusive US and European policy towards supporting the pro-democracy movement in Iran could derail the Middle East and South Asia and put critical parts of the Muslim world on another collision course with the West. By Ahmed Rashid more»

India-Pakistan Relations

CONFERENCE

India - Pakistan Conference: A Road Map towards Peace

Distrust, suspicion and hostility has kept relations between India and Pakistan simmering even in the best of times. In the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, the so far made progress in bilateral peace process on the governmental level came to a complete standstill. The initiative to bring the dialogue back on the track was taken only by civil society, conducting this three days conference in New Delhi, co-organized by Heinrich Böll Stiftung. more»

The Back Channel India and Pakistan's secret Kashmir talks

 - Two years the then Pakistan President Musharraf and Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, had encouraged negotiations to seek for a “paradigm shift” in relations between the two nations. This is a journalistic account of the affairs by Steve Coll more»

The India-Pakistan Relations from an Indian Perspective

 - The Indo-Pakistan border continues to remain one of the most actively hostile and fiercely contested border regions in the world. In so far, the prevention of South Asia from turning into a proverbial “Achilles Heel” for New Delhi’s global ambitions is vital towards serving India’s best interests. By Klaus Julian Voll more»

A "Roadmap" for Kashmir?

 - The commencement of bus services between the Indian and Pakistani parts of Kashmir on April 7, 2005, and the visit to India by the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf from April 16 - 18 have given a definite boost to the process of rapprochement between the two countries. By Christian Wagner more»