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The Centre for Peace Security and Developmental Studies (CPSD) has holded an International Conference on the topic "Global Peace Amidst War and Conflict"

Day 1

World Powers Should Focus on Unresolved Kashmir Issue: Gen Zubair ISLAMABAD, September 17 - 18, 2018: Expressing concern over the global decline in peace index and the impact of deterioration of peace on global economy Monday, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee emphasized: “World powers should focus on unresolved Kashmir issue.”

The International Conference took place on the 17th - 18th of Sep, 2018 at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad.“We need to cut binding issues,” Gen. Zubair told the well-attended audience here inaugurating a two-day “International Conference on Global Peace Amidst War and Conflict” as chief guest. “Our quest for peace must be based on equality for mankind and we should find peace with pluralistic and peaceful means,” the Chairman JCSC said while emphasizing the need to find peace with pluralistic and peaceful means amid the consistently rising alarming and disturbing $1,739 billion world military expenditure, particularly in Pakistan’s neighborhood.

Stressing the need to give “cooperation over competition” as a priority, Gen. Zubair recommended: “We need to revitalize common values,” in the backdrop of world’s failure to limit conflicts arise from disillusionment in particular, and noncontiguous powers in promoting regional hegemons.

In a strategic environment of unshielded rising violent extremism where terrorism dominates the scene, the Chairman JCSC recommended reexamining of the narratives, old camp model, and that advocacy be grounded in reality.

Thanking host of the two-day international conference, Center for Peace, Security and Development (CPSD) for bringing a galaxy of eminent scholars and intellectuals on its platform, Gen. Zubair said: “military solution to conflict is never enduring but political solution is.”

Talking about Pakistan’s commitment for achieving sustainable peace, Senator Sherry Rehman in her keynote address said Pakistan is looking for protecting its interest but is also “interested to be a problem solver.” She said amid new security challenges where Pakistan is seen through the prism of Afghanistan “we need to rethink and reconsider” policies.

Chairing the session on Evolving Global Order, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan said there is need to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, “If full we want full relations with India.”

The AJK President said Pakistan has survived many crisis because of strong institutions and “I would say don’t dismantle the institutions,” he stressed adding that Pakistan should not isolate in the world and present itself on all forums: “We must continue to invest in peace and education.”

Earlier, in his welcome address Lt. Gen. Agha M. Umer Farooq (Retd) President CPSD, highlighted the objective of the conference as analyze the emerging world order and subsequent changing statecraft amid the rising China and brewing rivalry in Southeast Asia and India Ocean. Gen. Umer said the evolving geo-economic environment has paved way for new alliances and opportunities but has also created new challenges. Eminent scholars from China, Iran, India, Turkey, USA, Russia and host Pakistan are participating in the conference.

Dr. Natalia Piskunova, senior faculty and researcher at Moscow State University spoke on “Russian foreign policy in a post-1990 world: New world order and its discontents.” The other speaker on the panel Mr. Andrew Small, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, German Marshall Fund, USA highlighted “The Indo-pacific and Belt and Road 2.0 in his presentation. The third panelist Dr. Wei Zongyou, Professor at Fudan University China gave an analysis of Trump administration’s policy towards China.

The final session of the first day of the conference, Geo-politics and transforming statecraft, was led by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Chairman of Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)’. It was participated by Eminent Professor Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, Director for Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute, Washington DC; Mr. Pravin Sawnhey, Editor at Force magazine, India and Ambassador Sarwar Naqvi, Executive Director CISS.

On an optimistic note Mr. Sawnhey commented that peace talks between India and Pakistan are possible in contemporary time owing to the government and military in Pakistan are on the same page on foreign policy. While Dr. Weinbaum said decisive military victory is unachievable in Afghanistan and parties to the conflict must envision a shared set of values. The choice between constitutional democracy and Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is incompatible while commercial and energy interdependence can bring the region together.

On Tuesday, the session on Transforming Socio-Economic Order will be chaired by Dr. Salman Shah, former Finance Minister and will be addressed by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, former caretaker Finance Minister; Ambassador Jehangir Ashraf Qazi and Dr. Mandana Tishebyar , Allama Tabatabi University, Iran.

Ambassador Zamir Akram will chair session on International Security. It will be participated by Dr. Suba Chandran , National Institute of Advanced Studies, India; Dr. S. Gulden Ayman, Istanbul University, Turkey and Dr. Tughral Yamin , National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad. The session on Hybrid Implications Impinging upon National Security will be chaired by Lt. Gen. Tariq Waseem Ghazi (Retd) former Defense Secretary. This session will be deliberated upon by Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad; Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi (Retd) former caretaker Defense Minister and Mr. Ammar Jafferi, former Additional Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). While Dr. Arshi Saleem Hashmi, National Defence University (NDU-Islamabad) will summarize deliberations to conclude the conference.

Day 2

Chinese Economic Diplomacy to Stabilize and Not to Destabilize Region: Speakers

ISLAMABAD, September 18, 2018: Eminent scholars, intellectuals and professionals underlined Tuesday that China’s diplomacy as a rising power and transforming of the socio-economic texture across the region, is not to destabilize as generally perceived but to create socio-economic, connectivity and political stability in the region.

Speaking on the concluding day of the two-day “International Conference on Global Peace amidst War and Conflict” which is being participated by scholars and intellectuals from seven countries including China, India, Iran, Russia, USA, Turkey and the host Pakistan, they recognize the galvanizing potential of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and a strong desire for peace and stability. The conference was organized by Center for peace, security and development studies (CPSD).

“China’s initiative is to bring a context in which regional cooperation would succeed,” emphasized Ambassador Jehangir Ashraf Qazi in his take. China has signaled its emergence as a major power, but, “will not rock the boat of the world order.” China looks at there has to be peace in the region, “particularly, with India.”

While Chair of the first session of the day “Transforming Socio-Economic Order” Dr. Salman Shah, former Finance Minister believes: “I don’t see this region as regional of conflict”, because it’s not just with the China we have a long relationship with the United States and other international actors as well.

“Because,” Dr. Shah underlined: “it’s the economy which drives politics and the politics has to adjust itself to the economy. The BRI as the major project means connecting people, the region, and the Eurasia. The context in it, Dr. Shah emphasized is not just physical connectivity but all kind of connectivity: peoples, knowledge, water, power, technology and resources. Chinese connectivity is driven by a state-run meritocratic system. However, in case of Pakistan, it’s a kind of a mix unlike the Chinese system “to which we need to adjust.”

The need is to develop the software of CPEC, for instance, the former finance minister said the key is to review FTA, bilateral treaty and financial feasibility. In the further growing Chinese market we need to focus on our increasing our imports. On a similar note former finance minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar said CPEC is not a bilateral China-Pakistan project but a multilateral one. “We have to be ready for a bigger and wider alliance. And, “need to promote Pakistan as an export oriented country, because “we cannot have sustainable development without with being an import oriented national.”

Ambassador Qazi emphasized: “We have to move from dysfunctional to the functional state.” So far CPEC and BRI and golden opportunities that can bring about the needed transformation with Pakistan. And the key is, the seasoned diplomat underlined: “If we can improve our governance and the governance system, we would be able to negotiate better.”

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the conference Mr. Sheharyar Khan Afridi, Minister of State for Interior said since the earth is a global village, the conflict management has become a collective responsibility. The Minister emphasized on dire need to develop a common narrative for peace and harmony. Mr. Afridi determined: “I believe we do have the capability and the will to sort our problems,” and added “We are responsible humans and have taken up the responsibility.” He informed that now the Sustainable Development Center is functional at the Parliament.

Chairman CPSD Mr. Abdullah Dadabhoy thanked the participants and distinguished guests of the conference. A concluding report of the conference was presented by Dr. Arshi Saleem Hashmi, Head PCS Department at National Defence University (NDU).

Talking about the world’s new socio-cultural order and its implications for neo-regionalism, Dr. Mandana Tishehyar, professor at Allameh Tabatab’i University, Iran said: “Today, neo-regionalism has provided a platform to cooperation.” Region is what we perceive and not necessarily what is defined on the map, Dr. Mandana stressed. “Each country defines region in accordance to its priorities and national interest.” Scholars, mystics played a significant role in bringing people closer and introducing a better governance system. “Sufism is going to determine the future of this region,” she predicted while talking about conflict situations arising due to ethnic, socio-cultural and sectarianism.

Emphasizing the need to have a mechanism for political participation of different ethno-cultural shades in a society, Dr. S. Gulden Ayman, Professor at Istanbul University, Turkey said: “it can reduce the conflict.”

Focusing his presentation on the issues of mega urban centers in the South Asian region, Dr. Suba Chandran, Professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, India said: “We have abdicated water dialogue to water war mongers.” He said the talk is more about not sharing the water but ownership of water and “suddenly it turned water into a security issue.”

The South Asian identity which “we don’t have because we both are looking at two different trajectories.” While opening the choice for India and Pakistan to either maintain the present trajectories and yet use it to the regional advantage as well.

Dr. Tughral Yamin, Associate Dean Peace and Conflict Studies Department at NUST expressed concern that cyber threat and cyber security has not been taken up as seriously as required. Dr. Yamin said India has cyber security agreement with other countries “but not with its neighbors.”

In the final session of the conference Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi (Retd) former caretaker Defense Minister, and Mr. Ammar Jafferi, former Additional DG, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) spoke on Hybrid applications impinging upon National Security. “Disease is yours so solutions have to be yours as well,” concluded chair of the session Lt. Gen. Tariq Waseem Ghazi (Retd) former Defense Secretary.

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