{"title":"Clash of Identities","authors":"Farhat Taj","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.2.ra1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.2.ra1","url":null,"abstract":"The notion of security denotes freedom from threats. Ontological security implies emancipation from threats to core values that identify a person or a state. This article demonstrates the Pak-Afghan relationship as a case in point. It offers a relatively new perspective for understanding the continued contentious relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It argues that the Pashtun state identity of Afghanistan mismatches with the Islamic identity of Pakistan. This causes cognitive anxiety over self-identity in both states, which confronts their respective ontological (in)security challenges. Consequently, both countries engage in dangerous routines of self-identity affirmation to manage their ontological (in)securities. The routines often have harmful consequences for the civilian population, especially in the Pashtun areas of Pakistan.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42030962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Renewable Energy-Based Distributed Generation in Pakistan","authors":"Muhammad Hamza Naeem, Lubna Riaz","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.ra3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.ra3","url":null,"abstract":"Renewable energy improves energy security, provides reliable power supply, and ensures fuel diversification. It also offers a solution to the problem of circular debt which has lately become a major concern for the power sector of Pakistan. At present, the share of renewable energy resources in the energy mix is significantly low and the Government of Pakistan (GoP) is urging the drivers and enablers to boost clean and green energy generation and distribution. The power sector, especially the distribution companies, are facing numerous issues in transmission and distribution of power, and recovery of losses. Distributed generation (DG) can play a vital role in overcoming these issues. The effectiveness of solar PV systems, the active role of the capital market, and environmental concerns are among the major factors that prompt the adoption of net-metered solar systems. Apart from traditional alternate energy sources through sunlight and wind, Pakistan has enormous potential for biomass fuel if it could develop proper facilities for biomass-based electrification. For issues related to grid coverage and technical losses in far-flung rural areas, mini-, and micro-hydro power-based distributed generation can serve the purpose. Distributed generation can play a vital role in steering the national power sector toward power sources that offer clean, green, and cheap energy. Huge opportunities for prosperity in rural areas can be also created through carbon-free atmosphere and a sustainable energy sector.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":"123 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41276748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dialogue at IPS","authors":"","doi":"10.13169/polipers.17.2.0153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0153","url":null,"abstract":"International Relations, Pakistan Affairs, and Faith & Society have remained traditional areas of concern at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad. Science & Technology, and Leadership & Governance have recently been earmarked as distinct areas of particular focus. During recent months, the deliberations at IPS mainly focused on domestic issues, including constitutional issues, economic situation, security, and development. The Russia-Ukraine war, the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Iran too remained under discussion in the realm of international relations and strategic affairs. Continuing IPS’ interest in clean energy and environment, the COP-27 and its prospects were discussed at length after the return of an IPS team member who was part of the Pakistani delegation to the global moot. Moreover, the IPS has remained engaged with religiouseducational institutions for decades. A two-day orientation workshop for the editors of religious journals was also arranged for their orientation with humanitarian journalism. The following paragraphs offer important themes that emerged in the seminars, conferences, and roundtables held at IPS during recent months.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43009715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Russia-Ukraine War: Harbinger of a Global Shift","authors":"Iliya Kusa","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.ca2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.ca2","url":null,"abstract":"The situation in Ukraine is still dynamic and tense. Russian military invasion is paradoxically both an unexpected adventure and a projected decision. On the one hand, is the security crisis between Russia and the West, which emerged in the autumn of 2021.Bilateral security and peace are clearly threatened with a major escalation in Ukraine. Unfortunately, Ukraine has become the core contention area between Russia and the West. On the other hand, is the anticipation being shared by some analysts that Russia would launch a full-scale invasion that would certainly entail substantial military losses and economic implications for the global economy.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42417191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Strategic Posturing of China in IOR","authors":"M. Khan","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.ra1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.ra1","url":null,"abstract":"China has been working on a modernization plan for its military. Particularly, the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) has been the focus of modernization due to China’s seaward economic growth and development for protecting its maritime economic interests. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an example of strategic envisioning which has multiple facades besides dividends. Since China has a massive trade volume transiting Indian Ocean Region, PLAN has increased engagement in this region. Its modernization including its naval capabilities, surface and underwater vessels, unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs), acoustic systems for information, and other technological advancements has made China’s strategic posture in IOR dynamic and is threatening India’s intrinsic naval supremacy in the region with certain implications over regional peace and stability. This is exploratory research conducted to determine the nature of naval competition and the resulting balance of power to identify implications for regional peace and stability.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44734512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"IMF Support Arrangement for Pakistan: (July 2019-September 2022)","authors":"Fasih Uddin","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.cm1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.cm1","url":null,"abstract":"Pakistan is a prolonged user of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resources under medium-term support arrangements that began in 1982 to address recurring external economic problems and ensure economic stability through medium-term reforms. Initially, the ruling regimes in each of these times had reservations about certain IMF conditions, but they were ultimately compelled into having an arrangement by the harsh domestic realities as push factors and quick disbursement and concessional terms as pull factors. Borrowing from the IMF was considered more favorable than borrowing from the World Bank or other sources.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44323315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pooling Regional Energy between China, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Russia","authors":"Moaz Altaf","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.ra2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.ra2","url":null,"abstract":"This paper assesses the energy requirements and potential of China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkey in the context of the geostrategic locations of these countries. It notes that the demand, potential, andactual supply of energy in these countries make a viable prospect for a framework, whereby these countries pool their energy together for the benefit of each country. While there are certain initiatives already in place, there is potential for more bilateral or regional energy-sharing initiatives. The current and proposed frameworks of energy-sharing have laid an infrastructure of pipelines or communication corridors. Based on these factors, the paper proposes an energy corridor between these countries, titled ‘Golden Ring Energy Corridor’ (GREC). This corridor will connect the ‘golden ring countries’ to enable energy trade through pipeline, land, and sea routes among these states. A strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the proposed corridor takes account of the various internal and external factors that have the potential to contribute positively or negatively towards the completion and viability of this corridor. Some countermeasures have also been suggested so that the implementation of this corridor can be realized.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44272819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hindu Nationalism","authors":"R. V. Zwanenberg","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.cm2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.cm2","url":null,"abstract":"This article discusses fascism with a particular focus on Hindutva—the present day variety of fascism. It also touches upon various political fascist systems over the last 100 years and analyzes the conditions under which mass murder occurs. There is a huge outpouring of books on this subject, the vast majority of which is about the holocaust under Adolf Hitler, the German Der Führer. Jewish writings on this subject dominate this literature. Comparatively, there is a tiny number of books on the holocaust of the American Indians, despite the fact that somewhere between 50 to 90 million people died in roughly 100 years.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41848900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sana Haroon, The Mosques of Colonial South Asia A Social and Legal History of Muslim Worship\u0000 (London: I.B. Tauris, 2021), 238.","authors":"Muhammad Reza Kazimi","doi":"10.13169/polipers.19.1.br1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.19.1.br1","url":null,"abstract":"Mosque architecture is the most representative symbol of Muslim material culture. Mosque architecture very early in its history acquired domes and minarets and spread across the globe. While local styles have an endless variety, a mosque even without a signboard can be identified anywhere on earth whether in Spain or Indonesia. Sana Haroon in her book \u0000 The Mosques of Colonial South Asia: A Social and Legal History of Muslim Worship has thrown light on the social history of mosques while it was passing through the colonial tunnel of time.","PeriodicalId":30465,"journal":{"name":"Policy Perspectives","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47768289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}