UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB
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A Comparative Analysis of the Editorials of ‘The Nation and ‘The News”: The Case Study of Pak-India Relations Issues (2008-2010)
No full textThe study aims at investigating as how Pak-India relations issues is being represented and portrayed in two leading Pakistan’s National newspapers. Two elite newspapers The Nation and The News have been selected for research. This study analyzed the editorials of both newspapers published from February 2008 to February 2010 as the universe of the study. Theoretical inspiration is drawn from the postulates of Herman and Chomsky's Propaganda Model and framing theory. This research study has employed a combination of the quantitative and qualitative techniques of content analysis to analyze the contents
Saraiki Ethnic Identity: Genesis of Conflict with State
No full textThe Saraiki, one of the ethnic groups in Pakistan is based on lingual identity. In Pakistan, most of the ethnic groups have their primordial basis and language is an important identity marker. The Saraiki ethnic group also distinguishesitself on the basis of Saraiki language. According to the 1998 Punjab Population Census Report, overall Saraiki speakers constitute 17.4 percent of the Punjab. In rural areas 21.4 percent and in urban areas 8.4 percent people speak Saraiki language (Census Report, 1999, p. 32). Despite the fact that Saraikis have strong regional base, they are not recognized as a distinct ethnic identity. They have rich land resources, even -then the area has remained under developed and people are continuously deprived of various services. It is the most unfortunate fact that sometimes state shows reluctance to recognize specific ethno-lingual identities. This denial becomes a natural cause for ethno-national unrest. At present, apart from Baloch and Mohajirs, Saraikis are also raising voice for their recognition as distinct identity and their due share. The present study will highlight the development of Saraiki political consciousness, nature of the issue, and genesis of conflict with state
Water Scarcity in South Asia: A Potential Conflict of Future Decades
No full textThe issue of water has a central position in world politics. The flow of trans-boundary water makes it relevant for more than one state. Rapid increase in world population, industrialization, urbanization and scarcity of fresh water resources has put immense pressure on water resources, both surface and ground water. South Asia is the part of world inhabiting about one quarter of global population and presenting to the world most volatile conflicts. Interstate hydro politics is today one of the most important issues on states’ agenda. The partition plan of India and Pakistan sowed the seed of this conflict. The otherstates of South Asia i-e, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal are also in a constant rift with India over water. This paper tries to explore the causes of this conflict, the intensity which water scarcity has assumed and its implications for regional relations. The research has suggested water governance as a solution to this issue on part of all states for internal management of water resources
Pakistan’s Domestic constraints viz-a-viz India in Lahore Declaration 1999, Agra Summit 2001 and Peace Talks 2004.
No full textThe bitter history of India-Pakistan relations urged the leaders of the two countries to revive the Lahore process so that both these neighbours will move together building a prosperous and vibrant future for their people as the history had threatened the people of India and Pakistan. Peace between them will stop the dangers of outbreak of armed/nuclear conflict. The time has come for Pakistan and India to make a critical choice between war and peace, love and hate, destruction and development, poverty and prosperity. This would only be possible through the process of negotiations based on the year to year discussions on different issues. Lahore summit was a success for both countries as India and Pakistan had showed their peaceful intentions for each other. Agra summit had created good will after the Kargil war which had frozen their relations. Peace talks of 2004 had showed that there was no sign of consensus inIndia on holding unconditional negotiations with Pakistan. There were different domestic constraints which acted as a hurdle for Pakistan foreign policy towards India. As foreign policy is the reflection of a country’s internal strengths and weaknesses, the control of domestic constraints of Pakistan would also create animpact on its relations with India
Ethnicity and Conflict: A Theoretical Perspective
No full textEthnicity has been the most significant phenomenon of the modern world. Stratification and diversification with variegated dimensions and context is an inbound mechanism of a social fabric of a society and state. Different scholars, intellectuals and men of letters studied the phenomenon of ethnicity in differentways. Some intellectuals call it as a minority, insiders, outsiders, others and nationalities. Ethnicity can be defined as a group of individuals identified on the basis of race, colour, language and territory. These groups have been existing almost in every part of the world. In reality the states are plural societies with many national, sub-national, religious, professional, racial, linguistic and geographic identities. In some states these identities live side by side, while in others they conflict with each other and undermine political edifice of the society. Ethnic identities live peacefully without conflicting with each other until and unless they are triggered to do so. The apparent and pre-dominant cause of conflict among different ethnic identities is politicoeconomic imbalance and these identities, if in conflict have potential to destabilize or disintegrate the political system of any country. There is hard need to initiate various measures, thoughwhich will not eliminate the possibilities of ethnic conflicts, but definitely minimize them
US Foreign Policy Parameters towards Pakistan and India (2001-2008)
No full textIn the early hours of September 11, 2001, the direct attack on mainland, first time in the history, shocked the Americans from a common man to policy makers, smashing geographical invulnerability of The United States of America. The 9/11 Changed America and subsequent changes in US mindset globally resulted into the pronouncement of United States policy of “War on Terrorism” with a determined hot pursuit of terrorist elements, wherever they could be. These attacks had grave ramifications for US South Asia Policy as well. The United States blamed Al-Qaeda as the main perpetrator of September 11th attacks. Afghanistan was identified as the sanctuary of Al-Qaeda. Pakistan’s vicinity to Afghanistan had instrumented to bring it on the fore front of “War on Terrorism” in Afghanistan. President Mushraf’s dictatorship was reconciled. India was focused during these years in four difficult areas: civilian nuclear energy deal, civilian space programs, high technology trade, and sidelining nuclear non proliferation issue. Bush administration carved a policy which meant to address a new emphasis on terrorism adjusting with ongoing concerns such as global economy, nuclear nonproliferation and democracy. In this article foreign policyapparatus of President George W. Bush Jr would be discussed with a focus on US foreign policy parameters towards India and Pakistan during 2001-2008
Role of Judiciary in the Evolvement of Democracy in Pakistan
No full textIn the case of Pakistan, the judiciary failed to check an extra constitutional regime change. This practice has questioned the judicial independence as well as weakened the confidence of the institution. Technical steps, legislative corrections and reforms cannot revise the role of judiciary. It needs credible commitment by the government to respect the rule of law, a transparent system of judicial appointments and to ensure that judicial decisions at all levels may be practiced. The present research focuses on (i) the constitutional and political experiences of Pakistan’s struggle for democracy (ii) to link the stability of the political system with the judiciary will further create certain debatable issues? The research will conclude that a more comprehensive and coherent policy is needed to tackle this technical as well as political issue. For the survival of democracy and stability of the political system it is important that all the institutions must remain in their described limitations. This strategy will avoid any further bumpy ride of Pakistan’s political journey
Contemporary Global Ummatic Challenges and Future Vision: Human (Under-) Development and Clash of Civilisation
No full textThe underdeveloped, internally weak, frustrated and conflict-ridden contemporary Muslim World is in a state of crisis. The Muslim World, which has suffered at the hands of the West in the past and remains, even today, weakmaterially, economically, technologically and militarily, is now being projected as a threat to the West. The Ummatic efforts to rediscover its identity and set its own house in order are looked upon as a challenge to the West. For Muslims, it is habitual to accuse major global powers for all their ills. Possibly, this excuse may give them some relief; it does not provide the solution to their deep rooted internal problems. These internal ills not only cause corrosion to the Ummah but also open the doors for external powers to meddle in their internal affairs. How did the Muslim World get into this situation and what are the possible solutions to come out of these crises? And also, how can the Muslim World regain the dignity of its glorious past to lead in global affairs. Therefore, in the light of these questions, the proposed paper will focus on: i) the analysis of thechallenges faced by the Muslim Ummah, ii) possible solutions for these challenges, and, iii) the presentation of a three phased plan stretching over the next 50 years. In the light of the analysis, the plan will present major steps to be taken during respective phases as well as the ways and means to finance various proposed programme
Post 9/11 Balochistan in Peace - Conflict Spectrum and International Dimensions
No full textBalochistan‘s prospects for peace and stability rely on both internal and external factors, none of which seem to be under control. Balochistan with heavy mineral potential is the largest (43% of Pakistan) province of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan and Iran. Balochistan mingles the confluence of Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. It has 770km coastline; as the hub of all geo-economicactivities particularly in the region highlights its vitality in international system, any jeopardy in the province would not only affect Pakistan but also the international system. The significance of this study stems from corroborated features of conflict within and around Balochistan. The two propositions of conflict hoisted in Afghanistan one by Russian invasion in 1979 and the other after US led coalition attack on Afghanistan in 2001 has vividly envisaged conflict trends in and around Balochistan. The specific argument of the study is that; external factors permeate internal rebellions. System wide valuation of Balochistan and international dimensions of conflict leads to propose 3-D Strategy to manage Balochistan conflict. 3-D strategy includes: Building LocalComponent for Development, Building Center Province Harmony, Management of Regional-International Relations vis-à-vis Balochistan Conflict
Pak-Iran Relations in the Post-Imperial World
No full textThe continuing interaction between the peoples of Iran and Pakistan is centuries old. It has its roots in historical, cultural and lingual affinity. ‘From the time of first sustained Muslim influences’, states Howard Wriggins, ‘the models for political structure and processes as well as religious inspiration and cultural influences came from Iran and not the Arab Middle East.’1 The trajectory of Iran - Pakistan relations has been shared by not only the domestic and regional dynamics but also due to the impact of global correlation of forces. As the title indicates, this paper is an attempt to analyze the situation of Pakistan-Iran relations in the post-imperial world