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In the shadow of Syria: Contextualising Islamic State attacks against Shias in Afghanistan
No full textOn November 21, Kabul witnessed once again a major terrorist incident against a place of worship of a religious minority in the country. A suicide bomber attacked the Baqir-ul-uloom mosque from the inside by blowing himself up among the other worshippers belonging to the religious Shia community. The Shias constitute an estimated 15 per cent of Afghanistan’s population of about 30 million. The timing was strategically chosen since the Shias were celebrating the end of the important Arbaeen period, a 40- day mourning period to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson and a Shia martyr. This occasion is one of the most important events in the Shia religious calendar. Like in several other attacks against Shia’s in Afghanistan this year, the Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the recent incident in which more than 30 people got killed and over 80 people were injured
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Civil-Military Relations and Democracy in Pakistan
No full textThe China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multibillion-dollar infrastructure investment project, is heralded as a game changer for Pakistan’s economy. It is part of the major development initiative led by China, known as ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR), connecting Asia with Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and for those involved it evokes hopes, a myriad of interests, and it spurs a geopolitical shift (Ze 2015; 2014, October 2014). However, such a megaproject also raises numerous questions, especially with regards to the feasibility of its implementation in view of tremendous security challenges. In order to guarantee a secure environment for the CPEC development, the military is expanding its power. This phenomenon significantly affects the country’s civilmilitary relations and civilian control over the military, while challenging the process of democratic transition
SAI-Newsletter, no.8 (February 2016)
No full textThe SAI-Newsletter presents what the South Asia Institute offers: A fascinating unity in a variety of academic topics on South Asia, a unique group of highly qualified academics, numerous best practice examples for research and teaching and last but not least a sound degree of public attention. Apart from looking back at what has happened at the institute the newsletter will also point at upcoming activities and events. By doing so the SAI-Newsletter combines the important task of documentation while at the same time looking ahead to what the future will bring
Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism - The Pathankot attack
No full textAt their latest summit in June 2016, the European and Indian authorities identified terrorism as one of the major areas of common concern. European and Indian leaders condemned “the recent terror attacks in Brussels and Paris, Pathankot and Gurdaspur and -recalling the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai- called for the perpetrators of these attacks to be brought to justice. Leaders called for decisive and united actions to be taken against ISIL (Da'esh), Lashkar-e-Tayibba, JaisheiMohammad, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the Haqqani Network and other internationally active terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and its affiliates.” (India - EU Joint Declaration on the Fight Against Terrorism, 30 March 2016, par. 4). While the immediate objective of the Pathankot attack –to inflict considerable damage to the air logistics of the Indian armed forces– was not achieved, so far the Pakistani military establishment has been successful in its strategic objective to derail the Indo-Pakistani diplomatic dialogue, while avoiding any sanctions for their blatant disregard of international law and openly supporting terrorism. Although we understand how counterintuitive this may sound to some, we believe that Indian authorities should not abandon talks with Pakistan and should avoid a diplomatic gridlock. SADF strongly believes that the Europe Union should build on its firm condemnation of cross-border terrorism – and in particular the Pathankot attack – and on this basis to promote a dialogue between the parties that will foster peace, cooperation and democracy in South Asia
South China Sea in India’s Strategic Gambit: Interests and Policies
No full text[…] From the above statement, it is clear that India’s position on the arbitral tribunal is in accordance with its official position on the South China Sea issue which stands firm in support of “freedom of navigation in the high seas” and ensures that “all countries in the region adhere to the international conventions on the law of the sea in this issue”. Although India’s standing on the verdict does not reflect a position on China but its adherence to the international law surely runs in contrary to Beijing’s strategic interests in the South China Sea. Needless to say, given India’s strategic interests and also according to UNCLOS, which defines South China Sea as a common sea lane of communication, the growing tensions in the region does hold significant ramifications for India. As the South China Sea has become the focal point of US-China rivalry in the Western Pacific, the sea has become linked to wider strategic issues relating to China’s naval strategy and America’s forward presence in the area.4 Of which, China’s assertive behaviour have called for serious strategic calculations by other claimants. In this view, it is the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea that has become a cause of concern for India. That is, although not a direct party to the dispute but as an extra-regional power, the South China Sea issue has become a vital factor in India’s strategic calculations and security agenda. In this context, the paper examines India’s strategic interests in the South China Sea. It also explores India’s policies with regard to the South China Sea and how it impacts India’s Act East Policy. In doing so, the paper will explore the India-Vietnam ties in the backdrop of the South China Sea issue. […
Rising Islamism in Bangladesh is a European concern too
No full textRecognizing the steadily declining political, human rights and security conditions in Bangladesh, on June 7, 2016, the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg held a debate on the current situation in the South Asian country. During the lively discourse, several different views were put forth by members of the European Parliament (MEPs) regarding the causes and consequences of the deterioration of the societal and political space, foremost through rising Islamism, intolerance, political radicalization in the country. Considering these different views and opinions it should not come by surprise that there were also different suggestions made as to what should be the next steps by the parliament, and what kind of political action is expected in Europe from Bangladesh political elites in general and the government in particular. Despite varying opinions on what to do, MEPs agree the current political trajectory one may observe in Bangladesh is deeply worrying
From Feint to Strategy: Revealing the Taliban’s Rationale in Joining the Peace Talks
No full textOn October 18, senior members of the Afghan Taliban claimed that some rounds of informal secret peace talks between their militant organisation and the Afghan government took place in September and earlier this month in Doha, Qatar. Since 2013 the Jihadists are running a political-diplomatic office in the Gulf state, ‘officially legitimised’ by the movement leadership and by the blessings of Washington. Describing itself as a liaison office (for the reestablishment) of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the ‘political’ Taliban representation is rather an additional reason for conflict then a contribution for a peaceful settlement. Nevertheless, the Doha office of the Jihadists hosted already similar peace negotiations in the past
Betwixt and Between: The FATA Reform Process and the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor
No full textPakistan offers very unique political culture featured by deeply entrenched security-dominated worldview and concrete processes of behaviours in all spheres of the country’s politics. One of the most remarkable characteristics of Islamabad’s official rhetoric is the persistently formulated claim of the existence of a ‘foreign hand’ in all kinds of the internal issues. However, there are clear indications that most of these flashpoints are of colonial origin and/or are ‘homemade’. The unfortunate trajectories present in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan’s most fragile, underdeveloped, and war-torn areas, can be seen as an example par excellence of how conflicts inherited by former colonial ruler turned worse due to a bad governance, geo-political considerations, and partisan economic interests of the national elite after gaining independence
From China to Turkey: The Uighurs in a Position of a New Asia’s Rising Force in the Global Jihad
No full textOn New Year’s Eve, Istanbul had to witness another major terrorist incident. The gunman who attacked a popular night club in the Turkish Metropole and murdered 39 people and severely injured many more, most likely belonged to the Uighurs, a Muslim community residing in China (1). This became evident for the Turkish authorities, especially after they arrested numerous suspicious Uighurs in the aftermath of the bloody assault. Being a NATO member and a significant partner in the US-led coalition fighting ISIS (particularly in Syria), Turkey is getting increasingly identified by international terrorists who represent the main target in their Global Jihad (2). As such, the experience with terrorist attacks at the Bosporus is nothing new (3). Moreover, this can also be seen in more than 30 violent acts against Turkish state and society during the last year
Gender Trouble in Indonesien Diskurse der nationalen Identität
No full textNach den islamistisch motivierten Terroranschlägen im Herzen Jakartas am 14. Januar 2016 hatten sich viele eine kritische Diskussion über die Ursachen reaktionärer religiöser Ideologien gewünscht. Diese führen in Indonesien nicht nur zu wachsender Intoleranz gegenüber von den offiziellen Interpretationen abweichenden religiösen Überzeugungen,sondernkönnen letztlich auch in Gewalt und Terror münden. Allerdings wurde diese Debatte, als sie noch im Entstehen begriffen war, sofort von einer anderen überlagert, in der konservative religiöse Ansichten wieder ihre hegemoniale Stellung innerhalb öffentlicher Diskurse herstellen konnten