Quarterly Newsletter No.
95
Quarter in Focus
IPS' activities in the last quarter of 2017
touched upon various areas of national
significance. The most important gathering was
its National Academic Council meeting in which
the members unananimously stressed upon
the need for taking critical policy measures
aimed at addressing what it termed 'national
moral crisis' and help ensure transparency and
good governance at all levels. The Council also
expressed concern on the ongoing friction
between state institutions.
The other policy dialogues held in the period
deliberated upon issues of education, energy,
and most importantly the challenges posed by
the impeding fourth industrial revolution
globally and our state of preparedness to face
them at the policy level.
The Institute also kept an eye on recent
regional developments with the extended stay
of the US in Afghanistan and the resurgence of
indigenous freedom struggle in Indian-occupied
Kashmir being brought into the limelight.
IPS also participated in two international
Chinese conferences titled ‘The 19th CPC
National Congress: Implications for China and
the World’ and ‘The Sixth China-South Asia
Cultural Forum’; alongside voicing its opinion
on the pace of FATA reforms in a roundtable
held in Islamabad.
The research work of IPS yielded another issue
of Policy Perspectives – the flagship journal of
the Institute; whereas a brief on ‘Pak-Iran
Relations’ was also brought forth in the quarter.
IPS Press published a new title: Islam's Political
Order: The Model, Deviations, and Muslim
Response, the much-awaited English version of
Khilafat wa Mulukiyat, the remarkable work of
Sayyid Abul A’la Mawdudi. Edited by Dr Anis
Ahmad and translated by Tarik Jan, the book
attempts to trace the logical and historical roots
of the tragedy the Muslim Ummah faced in the
form of transition from Khilafah to a hereditary
succession and its aftermath.
Overall a productive year for IPS however
concluded with the sad demise of Muhammad
Akram Zaki – a veteran diplomat, statesman
and a senior member of the IPS National
Academic Council. A condolence reference in
his memory was later organized honoring his
invaluable services to the country.
January - March 2018
Sitting L-R: Maulana Zahid-ur-Rashidi, M. Riyaz-ul-Haque, Hasan Sohaib Murad, Air Cdre (r) Khalid
Iqbal, Mirza Hamid Hasan, Amb (r) Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Prof Dr Anis Ahmad, Khalid Rahman,
Saeed Ahmad Qureshi, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman, Masud Daher
‘IPS-National Academic Council 2017-18 meeting’
Friction among state institutions, moral crisis deplored
Calling national institutions the pillars upon scholars and academicians belonging to
which the affairs of state rely and run, diverse range of disciplines and having
members of IPS’ National Academic Council nationwide representation, brought together
(NAC) have showed concern on the ongoing by IPS to steers its research program that is
friction among state institutions of Pakistan ultimately aimed at facilitating good
and termed it damaging for the nation. governance and meaningful policymaking in
It is pertinent to mention here that NAC is an the country and safeguarding national
assembly of eminent experts, intellectuals, interests.
Continued on Page 02
Economically stable Pakistan, critical for success of
Kashmir’s freedom struggle: President AJK
Terming the political, strategic, economic Khan said that
and social viability of Pakistan essential for contrary to the
the success of Kashmir’s freedom struggle, Indian
the President Azad Jammu and propaganda, the
Kashmir(AJK) Sardar Masood Khan has Pakistani side of
linked the region’s fate directly with Kashmir was
Pakistan’s strength. thriving
He was delivering an exclusive lecture politically and
titled ‘Kashmir: Today and Tomorrow’ at IPS economically.
on October 18, 2017. Today, the Sardar Masood Khan
literacy rate of Continued on Page 02
Capacity-building in policy-making and governance urged
for the fourth industrial revolution
Shedding light on put forward by the new age of artificial
various intelligence and whether we were preparing our
socio-political and future generations to cope with the forthcoming
augmented reality?
policy implications
of the fourth The questions were raised in the session titled
industrial ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Implications
revolution, an for Pakistan’ which was organized by IPS on
insightful session December 21, 2017. The session was chaired
debated if we by Mirza Hamid Hasan, former secretary,
were ready to face Ministry of Water and Power, member
Zaheeruddin Dar the provocations
IPS-National Academic Council and chairman,
Continued on Page 03
 02
‘Status of Petroleum E&P in Pakistan’
Experts warn of bleak future if federation, provinces fail to resolve post-18th amendment impasse
Muhammad Raziuddin and Mirza Hamid Hasan
Energy experts and policy analysts at a
roundtable organized at IPS have warned that
if immediate measures are not taken by the
federation and the provinces to sort out their
policy differences on the interpretation and
application of the 18th constitutional
amendment vis-à-vis oil and gas exploration,
the consequences could be disastrous.
Because of the impasse there has been a
complete halt on exploration activities since
2014 and the major multinational companies
in the sector have either left or are at the
verge of closing their business operations in
Continued from Page - 01
Economically stable
Pakistan critical
AJK is highest among other parts of
Pakistan and it has five universities and a
medical college while several development
projects particularly in the energy sector
have been completed or are near
completion.
AJK is producing 1500MW electricity of
which 400MW is for its own needs and the
rest 1100MW is supplied to the national grid,
he stated. In the near future, the cascade of
run-of-the-river hydropower projects from
Neelum-Jehlum to Kahuta will contribute
immensely to the country's electricity needs.
Underscoring AJK’s importance in China
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) he
reminded that it is also beneficial for the
people and economy of Indian Occupied
Kashmir (IoK) and even its Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti has given a statement that
her government wants to reap the benefits
of this regional and international connectivity
mega project.
For detailed report, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/kashmir-today-tomorrow/
the country, they lamented.
The policy dialogue titled “Status of Petroleum
E&P in Pakistan: A Deliberation on Future
Strategy”, which was held on November 9,
2017, was chaired by Mirza Hamid Hassan,
Member IPS National Academic Council
(NAC) & Chairman IPS Steering Committee
on Energy, Water and Climate Change;
whereas Mohammad Raziuddin, CEO, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Oil & Gas Company Limited
(KPOGCL) delivered a keynote presentation
on the progress of his organization and the
challenges it has been faced with. It was
Continued from Page - 01 Friction among state institutions damaging
Held on October 7, 2017, the meeting – which
was addressed via audio link by Professor
Khurshid Ahmad, former senator and
chairman IPS, and Fasih Uddin, former chief
economist, Planning Commission of Pakistan
– was attended by Saeed Ahmed Qureshi,
former deputy chairman, Planning
Commission, Amb (r) Shamshad Ahmad
Khan, former secretary foreign affairs, Masud
Daher, former federal secretary and
ex-chairman, National Tariff Commission,
Riyazul Haque, former additional secretary,
Mirza Hamid Hasan, former secretary, Water
and Power, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman,
president, Tanzeem-ul-Madaris Pakistan,
Maulana Zahid ul Rashdi, secretary general,
Pakistan Shariat Council, Dr Hasan Sohaib
Murad, rector, University of Management &
Technology, Lahore, Prof Dr Anis Ahmad, vice
chancellor, Riphah International University, Air
Cdr (r) Khalid Iqbal and DG-IPS Khalid
Rahman.
Professor Khurshid, while urging in his speech
to find ways to foster and bolster national
unity, said that Pakistan was founded as a
result of a democratic struggle and it was still
very much the way to take the country
02
followed by an interactive session among the
participants including Ashfaq Mehmood,
former federal secretary, Muhammad Arif,
President, Pakistan Energy Lawyers
Association, Salman Amin, executive director,
NEPRA (Tariff division), Abdul Qadus Khan,
Provincial Director (Balochistan), Directorate
General Petroleum Concession (DGPC),
Khalid Rahim, advisor, Centre for Global &
Strategic Studies, Javaid Akhtar, energy
lawyer, Ahmed Saeed, deputy director of
Arizona State University’s US-Pakistan
Center for Advanced Studies in Energy
(USPCAS’E) at National University of Science
& Technology (NUST) among others.
Raziuddin hoped that the initiative taken by
the government of KP in shape of KPOGCL
would play its role in overcoming the
challenges through positive engagements
with the federation and the policy stake-
holders at all levels. He said, KPOGCL is
making all out efforts to bring in investment to
start exploration and development work in
eight blocks in the province, which has great
potential to increase its GDP from USD25bn
to USD125bn by 2025 through oil & gas
production.
For detailed report, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/status-petroleum-ep-pakistan/
forward. He said that Pakistan was faced with
stern challenges today and finding a way out
of these crisis was only possible when the
individuals as well as institutions play their
part and make concerted efforts in this regard.
He said that while making national decisions
and devising policies, all stakeholders should
keep the national interests upfront as policies
should be made with comprehension of
ground realties and understanding of one’s
objective and not in duress.
The veteran scholar pointed protection of
Pakistan’s ideological identity, safeguarding of
its independence, self-reliance and public
welfare as some of the areas around which
the national policy framework should be
formed.
Shamshad, Hasan, Rashdi and Iqbal voiced
similar opinions upon the fragility of national
institutions urging for strengthening of
political, domestic and institutional systems
through capacity building and infusion of
inter-government harmony to ensure stability.
For detailed report, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/annual-meeting-ips-national
-academic-council-2017-18/
 03
‘Educational Dialogue Forum: Pakistan at 70 – National Agenda for Education’
Pakistan’s education system must fuel nation-building
Prof Dr Qibla Ayaz, chairman, Islamic Ideology Council chairing one of the sessions at EDF
Terming Pakistan’s present educational system
inadequate for nation-building and fueling the
country’s socio-economic needs, the first
annual educational dialogue forum held at IPS
vowed to work rigorously to help shape the
country’s new educational policy which is
currently under-preparation and is expected to
be finalized in early 2018.
Themed as ‘Pakistan at 70: National Agenda for
Education’, the forum was jointly organized by
the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and
Tanzeem-e-Asatiza Pakistan – a countrywide
organization of teachers – on December 27-28,
2017.
It aimed at generating an academic discourse
to be shared with the policymakers by
analyzing the country’s present-day education
system in line with its national ideology and
values as well as its present and future
socio-economic needs.
‘16 Years of US presence in Afghanistan’
Analysts suspect ‘managed chaos’ to prolong stay
Rahimullah Yusufzai and Amb (r) M Sadiq
Terming the present situation of Afghanistan a
possibly managed chaos, the speakers at a
seminar held at IPS questioned when the war
was bringing so much money, why the
beneficiaries would want it to stop?
The session ‘16 Years of US Presence in
Afghanistan: Objectives, Strategies and
Emerging Scenario’, which was held on
October 5, 2017, was addressed by
Rahimullah Yusufzai, veteran journalist and
analyst on Afghan affairs, Amb (r) Mohammad
Sadiq, former secretary, National Security
Division and DG-IPS Khalid Rahman. The
The educational dialogue was attended and
addressed by academicians and subject
experts from across Pakistan.
Dr. Mian Muhammad Akram, president,
Tanzeem-e-Asatiza Pakistan, in his inaugural
speech, said that the country’s present
education system was not reciprocal of its
ideology.
He said that a variety of education systems and
syllabi are prevalent in the country which is only
deepening further the already existent divide in
the society.
There is a lot of foreign influence and yet no
monitoring mechanism to safeguard our own
interests against it, he added.
For detailed report, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/educational-dialogue-forum/
session was attended by various analysts,
researchers, diplomats, as well as officials of
concerned government departments and state
institutions.
Talking about the likelihood of America’s future
presence in Afghanistan, Amb (r) Sadiq said
that the stay will always remain temporary but
the duration of that ‘temporary period’ may
never be defined. He was certain that the US
will continue to stay in Afghanistan either
through contractors or through the troops, as
in case of withdrawal of US led forces, the
Afghan armed forces on their own will not be
able to take up the war.
Commenting upon the American policies in
Afghanistan since its invasion 16 years ago,
the speaker said that the only thing consistent
about them was the inconsistency. Their
objectives were always unknown, resources
not managed, and sometimes it seems that
the situation was more like a managed chaos
in order to extend the stay longer.
For detailed report, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/16-years-us-presence-afghanistan/
03
‘Condolence Reference’
M Akram Zaki (late) was
Pakistaniyat personified
In the memory of Muhammad Akram Zaki
(late) – a veteran diplomat, statesman and an
intellectual – IPS held a condolence reference
on December 30, 2017, commemorating his
invaluable services for Pakistan and precious
contributions to the academic world.
The session was attended and addressed,
among others, by Begum Tahira Jahan Zaki,
wife of the late ambassador, DG-IPS Khalid
Rahman, Ambassador (r) Ashraf Jehangir
Qazi, Ambassador (r) Ayaz Wazir,
Ambassador (r) Qurban, Brig (r) Said Nazir,
Saeed Ahmed Qureshi, former deputy
chairman Planning Commission and member
IPS-National Academic Council, Qasim
Bughio, chairman, Pakistan Academy of
Letters, Shoaib Suddle, former IG police, and
Professor Dr Sajid Khakwani.
Begum Tahira Jahan Zaki
The speakers shed light on different
personality traits of the deceased statesman.
His prolonged association with IPS as
member, National Academic Council and his
intellectual contributions to the Institute were
also highlighted in the session.
Continued from Page - 01
Capacity building in policy-making
IPS Steering Committee on Energy, Water and
Climate Change; and addressed by
Zaheeruddin Dar, CBI expert and executive
consultant/trainer, Centre for International
Entrepreneurship and Trade and DG-IPS
Khalid Rahman.
The fourth industrial revolution is characterized
by a range of new technologies that are fusing
the physical, digital and biological worlds,
impacting all disciplines, economies and
industries, and even challenging ideas about
what it means to be human.
Presenting a few glimpses of the future with
‘Industry 4.0’, Dar revealed that by the year
2030 according to an estimate, majority of
present-day jobs would be taken over by
intelligent machines.
For detailed report, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/fourth-industrial-revolution-implications
-pakistan/
 04
Sharing Insights
‘The 19th CPC National Congress: Implications for China and the World’
Global leadership is changing from ‘phenomenon of domination’ to the
‘phenomenon of cooperation’
IPS was represented by its director general
Khalid Rahman in the International Think-Tank
Symposium held in Beijing, China on November
16, 2017. Organized under the theme ‘The 19th
CPC National Congress: Implications for China
and the World’, the event was jointly sponsored
by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
(CASS), and the China Center for International
Economic Exchanges (CCIEE).
DG-IPS made a presentation on the occasion
titled ’19th CPC National Congress:
Achievements and Implications for the World’ in
‘The Sixth China-South Asia Cultural Forum’
DG-IPS advises to keep an eye on CPEC adversaries
DG-IPS Khalid Rahman was invited by the
Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan
University, Chengdu, at their Wangjiang
Campus from December 17-19, 2017, to
participate in the International Conference
‘China-South Asia Communication under BRI:
The Sixth China-South Asia Cultural Forum’.
Co-organized by the Institute of South Asian
Studies, Sichuan University and Chinese
People’s Association for Friendship with
Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the forum aimed
at discussing cultural and people-to-people
exchanges, think-tank and educational
engagement, and cooperation between media,
which he shared his opinion on the implication
of the symposium on global economic
development, governance, and reforms.
Rahman in his presentation viewed that the
leadership in a globalized world was changing
from ‘the paradigm of domination’ to the
‘paradigm of cooperation’, which he expected to
have positive impact. “We know that the
paradigm is not new, yet putting it into actual
practice, that too in the absence of any
commitment from the powerful global players,
has remained major challenge. The emergence
businesses and other stakeholders.
DG-IPS spoke on the topic of
‘China-South Asia Communication
under BRI’ stating that ‘Belt and
Road Initiative’ was rooted in the
spirit of ‘community with shared
destiny’ and its much emphasized
win-win strategy and approach
represented a journey towards the
reformation of global system.
Presenting CPEC as a test case, Rahman also
advised keeping an eye on the geopolitical
landscape while staying wary of adversaries
which could attempt to exploit any operational
hiccups that may occur during this long-term,
multidimensional and demanding exercise.
“While such moves cannot be stopped in view
of the prevailing global paradigm of
international relations, the employment of
effective communication strategies, a
continuous emphasis on the philosophy of
shared interest and ensuring maximum
transparency both in letter and spirit will help a
long way in managing the perceptions
regarding BRI.”, he stated.
04
of China in leading position in global affairs
indeed promises prospects of the
implementation of this paradigm which is likely
to be proven beneficial for all.”, he said.
The speaker expressed his optimism over the
proceedings of the 19th National Congress of
the CPC stating that the symposium had so
much to emphasize on the paradigm of
cooperation, shared destiny and most
importantly the welfare of the people which
remains to be the driving factor behind any
policymaking activity.
FATA reforms need to conform
with constitutional requirements
IPS was represented by its research
coordinator Mairaj ul Hamid Nasri as a
discussant in a roundtable ‘Implementation of
FATA Reforms: Challenges Ahead’ organized
by the Institute of Strategic Studies,
Islamabad (ISSI) on October 31, 2017.
While voicing his opinion on the occassion,
the IPS’ representative said that despite the
broad general consensus over the region’s
reforms, there still exist numerous challenges
pertaining to trust deficit, pace of reforms,
sequencing and prioritization that need be
addressed.
He urged that the process needs to be in
conformity with the constitutional
requirements, the statistics for resource
allocation should be authentic, the
institutional mechanism should be clear, the
interests of people should be adhered-to, and
last but not least the procrastination over the
matter should be avoided as it can result in
derailing of, and even hijacking of the whole
process by factions looking for dominance in
the region to serve their vested interests.
 05
IPS Family Recreational Trip
IPS family on a recreation trip at Jabri forest rest house, Satura range, distt Haripur (Nov 11, 2017).
Exposure Visits
Madrassah Teachers from
Quetta
A delegation of madrassah teachers from
Quetta visited IPS on October 03, 2017, as
part of an exposure trip organized by
Balochistan Rural Support Program (BRSP).
The guests had an interactive session with
DG-IPS Khalid Rahman. They were earlier
briefed by GM Operations Naufil Shahrukh
about the role of institutions like IPS in the
country’s policy arena.
Students from Jamia
Al-Kauthar
A group comprising 40 male and 35 female
students from the English Department of
Jamia Al-Kauthar visited IPS on November
29, 2017 as part of an exposure trip and
discussed various matters of mutual
interest.
‘Modern research methods
and approaches’
A series of skill development sessions on
modern research methods and approaches was
organized with Abdullah Faizi, a member of IPS’
research faculty currently pursuing his doctorate
from Malaysia, on November 2, 8 and 14, 2017
as part of the Institute’s team development
program.
In the first session, the speaker presented the
overview of his ongoing analytical study ‘Legal
Analysis of Fair Trial under the International
Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh’, whereas the
second session titled ‘Paper Writing: From
Conception to Submission’ enlightened the
participants over different stages of dissertation
preparation as per the standards followed
internationally.
In the third session, the researcher shed light
on ‘Modern Research Methods’ highlighting
modern referencing/citation styles and search
engine optimized (SEO) keyword generation.
Positive company must to succeed: Sardar Khalid
“You are the average of five people you spend gratitude, to avoid jealousy, to focus on
the most of your time with. Spending time with building strong and lasting relationships, to
good people instills positivity. It is unanimously stop imposing others’ weaknesses on
accepted that success breeds success, and themselves and to keep crediting positive
this means that the more you keep the things to their emotional account while
company of successful people, the greater the debiting all the negatives from it
chances for you to unlock the doors of simultaneously.
success for yourself.” The speaker also
These thoughts were shared by renowned advised the participants
training and development expert Sardar Khalid to develop the habit of
Mahmood. He was speaking at a session titled listening and
‘Be Your Best’ which was organized at IPS as reading, terming
part of the Institute‘s ‘Team Development both activities the
Program‘ on October 09, 2017. basic
He told the participants that in order to be their ingredients of
best, they must learn to master the art of success in
managing their weaknesses and excelling in the modern
their strengths. He urged them to be times.
appreciative, to develop an attitude of
05
 06
Islam’s Political Order: The Model, Deviations and Muslim Response
The new take place, what was the Ummah’s reaction to
publication is this change? To explain this, all the pertinent
based on Khilafat Ayat (verses) of the Qur’an that have relevance
wa Mulukiyat, a to the primary political issues have been
remarkable work of compiled in the work to enable the readers to
Sayyid Abul A’la have a glimpse of the Islamic state that the
Mawdudi, which Qur’an wants to have.
when published for Today when an ongoing debate is taking place
the first time in on the nature of Islamic state, “political Islam”
1965 in Urdu, and relation between state and “religion”, this
initiated a massive research work provides a resume of how the
intellectual Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh),
discourse in the visualize a modern Islamic state.
region. The
purpose of the
effort was to trace the logical and historical roots Author: Sayyid Abu’l A‘la Mawdūdī
of the ultimate tragedy the Ummah faced in the Translation: Tarik Jan
form of transition from Khilafah to a hereditary Editor: Dr Anis Ahmad
succession and its aftermath. Language: English
The central theme of this book relates to the Year: 2018
nature of the Islamic caliphate and its makeup.
How did it actualize itself in the first century of Pages: 284
Islam? What were the causes that led to its shift Price: PKR750, USD20 (Hardback)
to monarchy? And finally when the change did PKR450, USD12 (Paperback)
Policy Perspectives (Vol. 14, No. 2)
The latest edition of peer-reviewed IPS’ flagship The second article ‘Market, Regulation and
journal Policy Perspectives – disseminating the Sustainability’, which is contributed by Prof Dr
research carried out by IPS and its associates Naheed Zia Khan, former dean, Faculty of
on diverse range of current and evolving topics Social Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women
– is out now and is widely available for the University (FJWU), Rawalpindi, contends that
readers in Pakistan and abroad. market hegemony has over time overwhelmed
The issue combines deliberations upon collective wisdom and undermined individual
important global and collective ability to take action in the face of
theoretical multi-pronged threat to sustainable
debates as well development, which is a great peril to civilization
as discourse on and society.
current regional The next piece ‘Indian Secularism and Religious
and international Minorities: The Case of Muslims’ written by
matters of DG-IPS IPS Khalid Rahman, argues that the
significance. Indian constitution on one hand assures
The opening personal freedoms and declares the state as
piece secular but on the other carries contradictory
‘Pakistan-China indications of anti-religious objectives and
Relations: CPEC prominence of Hinduism. This confusion is not
and Beyond’, only threatening for minorities in India but also
which is based can have far-reaching effects on the region and
on the the world at large.
proceedings of a ‘The Breakdown of Socialization and Political
session with a Re-assertiveness of European Far-Right’ written
similar title organized by IPS and addressed by by Dr Bakare Najimdeen from Centre for
H.E. Sun Weidong, Chinese ambassador to International Peace and Stability (CIPS),
Pakistan, Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, leader of the National University of Science and Technology
house, Senate of Pakistan, and DG-IPS Khalid (NUST) Islamabad, discusses populist politics
Rahman, highlights that while CPEC has and re-assertiveness of far-right in Europe,
emerged as the most happening and talked concluding that as much as far-right populism
about aspect of the ties between China and can upend public policy debate, it can equally
Pakistan; the relationship is much more pose serious challenges to the matters of
broad-based, wide-ranging and foreign policy.
all-encompassing.
Institute of Policy Studies: Nasr Chambers, Plot No. 1, Commercial Centre, MPCHS, E-11/3, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ph: +92 51 843 8391-3, Fax: +92 51 8438390, Email: ipsnews@ips.net.pk, Web: www.ips.org.pk, www.ipsurdu.com
Editor: Naufil Shahrukh, Asst. Editor: Farhan Syed, Layout: Asif Taimuri
06
IPS’ brief
Pak-Iran Relations
The brief draws mainly from the deliberations
of IPS’ roundtable ‘Pak-Iran Relations’ held on
September 19, 2017, which was chaired by
Pakistan’s former envoy to Iran, Ambassador
(r) Khalid Mehmood and addressed
exclusively by Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan
H.E. Mehdi Honardoost.
The work holistically studies the dynamics of
relations between the two countries, factors
causing friction amidst them despite having
intertwined interests, potential areas to
collaborate and the measures that can be
taken to improve bilateral ties.
‘Multilateral Export Control Regimes
State-of-Affairs and Prospects’ contributed by
Prof Dr Zulfiqar Khan, head of Strategic Studies
Department, NUST, Islamabad and Dr Rubina
Waseem, NUST, analyses existing effectiveness
of multilateral export control regimes (MECRs),
deliberating that while states like India,
Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea are not party
to these regimes, they managed to attain their
nuclear weapons capabilities by exploiting the
weak links of MECRs.
The sixth article ‘Maintaining International
Peace and Security by Regulating Military Use
of Outer Space’ by Dr. Saadia Zahoor, senior
lecturer, Department of Law, Bahria University
(BU), Islamabad, maintains that while
international law calls for only ‘peaceful use’ of
space, there is a conflict of interpretation
regarding the phrase which is often limited to
‘non-military’ or ‘non-aggressive’ use, thus in
consequence of such lacunas, the space has
been used regularly for military purposes by
employing technology to locate and target
enemies.
The last article ‘Rising China and its South
Asian Neighbors: Evolving Dynamics and the
Outlook’ from Talat Shabbir, who is pursuing
Ph.D at the School of International Relations &
Politics, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU),
Islamabad, surveys China’s relations with its
South Asian neighbors in the recent decade or
so, and finds an intensification of economic and
commercial cooperation between them.