NEWSLETTERJanuary-March 2019

A national conference on “Pakistan-China Economic Cooperation: Next Level” was organized by China-Pakistan Study Centre of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on March 06, 2019. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister H.E. Shah Mahmood Qureshi was the keynote speaker at the Conference. Subject area experts on political economy and academics from all over Pakistan were invited as speakers and participants. The aim of the conference was to take stock of the existing economic relationship between China and Pakistan, and bring out recommendations for the government and relevant stakeholders in order to take this relationship to next level.

Seminar on “Understanding Strategic Coercion in the Realm of Gray Hybrid Conflict:Implications for Pakistan”

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a Seminar titled “Understanding Strategic Coercion in the Realm of Gray Hybrid Conflict: Implications for Pakistan” on February 11, 2019. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat was the keynote speaker at the occasion. Other speakers included: Mr. Leonid Savin, geopolitical analyst, Russia; Mr. Ikram Sehgal, defense and security analyst and Lt. Gen. (Retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi HI (M), former Defense Secretary. The event was attended by politicians, ambassadors, academicians, journalists and students.

National Conference on “Pakistan-China EconomicCooperation: Next Level”

INSTITUTE�OF�STRATEGIC�STUDIES�ISLAMABAD�(ISSI)Strategic Perspectives Through Research & Dialogue

Message�by�theDirector�General,�ISSI

Formulating strategic perspectives through research and dialogue, and creating awareness is one of our main functions at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). We seek to contribute to raising public consciousness of strategic issues of vital importance for Pakistan, and also feed into policy making by the leadership. Our quarterly newsletters aim to keep our readers informed of our activities. We encourage you to visit our website for further details of these activities.

-Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry

Roundtable Discussion with China Study Centres and Institutes in Pakistan

China-Pakistan Study Centre of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a roundtable with China Study Centres working in Pakistan, on March 07, 2019. The objective of the event was to assess the intellectual work being done on Pakistan – China relations and how to create synergy between these think tanks.

Several university based and private think tank representatives introduced their respective institutes and working and also gave recommendations for coordinating research efforts on the subject. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Ms Tehmina Janjua and H.E. Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of People’s Republic of China were the keynote speakers at the roundtable.

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) organized a Public Talk on January 15, 2019 by A m b a s s a d o r C a m e r o n Munter, President of the East West Institute (EWI), New Y o r k a n d B r u s s e l s . Dignitaries present on the o c c a s i o n c o m p r i s e d ambassadors, policy makers, journalists and businessmen.

Conversation (Public Talk) in collaboration with KCFR by Ambassador Cameron Munter

Third Think-Tank Coordination Meeting

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted the third coordination meeting of think-tanks on March 14, 2019 at

its premises. The main intention of the coordination between think-tanks is to identify crucial topics affecting Pakistan and to

avoid overlapping. The two main agenda items of the third coordination meeting involved: one, to carry forward the previous

agenda; two, to focus on the regional and global trends affecting Pakistan. Participating think-tanks emphasized that Pakistan

faces profound challenges in every domain and all think-tanks carry the same agenda of working for Pakistan.

2January-March 2019

3January-March 2019

The first Tuesday Dialogue on Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations was held by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on January 29, 2019. The agenda for the session was to discuss the possible future of Afghanistan and the steps that need to be taken by Pakistan to contribute to bringing peace in Afghanistan and the region.

The third Tuesday Dialogue on Managing Relations with India-From Post-Pulwama to Lok Sabha Elections was held by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on March 26, 2019 under its Tuesday Dialogue series. The discussion focused on the effects of Post-Pulwama events on political and military situation between India and Pakistan and how it may evolve after the Indian elections.

Tuesday Dialogue on “Pakistan’s Relations with Gulf Countries”

The second Tuesday Dialogue on Pakistan’s relations with the Gulf countries was held by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on February 26, 2019 under its Tuesday Dialogue series. The agenda for the session was to discuss the nature of Pakistan’s relations with Gulf countries in the context of recent developments like the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman’s historic visit to Pakistan.

Tuesday Dialogue Series

Tuesday Dialogue is a new series of roundtable discussions, based on Chatham House Rules, on Pakistan's relations with important capitals.

Tuesday Dialogue on “Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations”

Tuesday Dialogue on “Managing Relations with India-From Post-Pulwama to Lok Sabha Elections”

4January-March 2019

On the invitation of China Insti tute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), China, a three-member delegation from the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) headed by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI along with Mr. Najam Rafique, Director Research ISSI and Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director CPSC, ISSI, visited Beijing from January 13 to January 18, 2019 with a one-day visit to Xian on January 17.

Along with a Bilateral Dialogue with CICIR, meeting was also held with China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS) hosted by Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Gong Xianfu, Vice Chairman of CIISS. During the interactions, issues of global and regional concern were discussed with specific focus on China-Pakistan bilateral relations, relation with US and India and the peace process in Afghanistan.

Visit of ISSI Delegation to China:ISSI-CICIR Bilateral Dialogue

In-House Meeting with a 4-member Chinese Delegationfrom China Council for BRICS Think Tank Cooperation

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) held an In-House Meeting with a 4-member Chinese d e l e g a t i o n f r o m t h e Chinese Council of BRICS Think-Tank Cooperation (CCBTC) on January 03, 2019. The members of the delegation included: Mr. Luan Jianzhang, Secretary General (CCBTC); Mr. C h e n X i , A s s o c i a t e Researcher (CCBTC); Suo Bugu, Staff (CCBTC); Mr. Lijian Zhou, Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Islamabad.

In-House Meeting with a 2-Member Delegation from Qatar

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) h o s t e d a n I n - H o u s e Meeting with a 2-member delegation from Qatar on February 01, 2019. The delegation included: Dr. Marwan J. Kabalan, Head of Policy Analysis, Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) and Professor Dr. Ibrahim F r a i h a t , A s s o c i a t e Professor and Program C h a i r o f C o n fl i c t M a n a g e m e n t a n d Humanitarian Action at Doha Institute of Graduate Studies.

5January-March 2019

Public Talk by H.E. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces,President, UN General Assembly

In-House Meeting with Prof. Dr. Michael Jansen onPakistan’s Heritage & Cultural Diplomacy

The Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) organized a Public Talk, titled “Role and Relevance of United Nations in the Contemporary Global Order“, under its Distinguished Lecture Series on January 22, 2019. The guest speaker at the occasion was H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, academics, students and researchers.

The Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) held an In-House Meeting with Prof. Dr. Michael Jansen from the German University of Technology, Muscat on March 22, 2019. Dr. Jansen was awarded ‘Hilal-e-Imtiaz’ on March 23, 2019 by the President of Pakistan for his remarkable work with UNESCO on exploration of and creating awareness about the cultural significance of Mohenjo-Daro and Indus Valley Civilization. He stressed the importance of promoting cultural tourism and the idea of ‘World Heritage’ in Pakistan and across the world.

Delegation from Harvard Kennedy School ofGovernment

A 40-member delegation of graduate students and alumni from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government visited the China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at ISSI on March 20, 2019. The delegation represented 24 countries including; USA, China, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Brazil, Colombia and Singapore. Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General ISSI, briefed the delegation on the prevailing international and regional environment.

6January-March 2019

Roundtable Discussion with 3-member Austrian Delegation

Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a Roundtable discussion with a 3 - m e m b e r A u s t r i a n delegation on March 26, 2019. The delegation was h e a d e d b y D r. We r n e r Fassalabend, former Austrian d e f e n s e m i n i s t e r a n d President of Austrian Institute for European & Security Policy (AIES).

The delegation also included Brig. Gen. Dr. Walter Feichtinger, Director Institute for Peace Support & Conflict Management (IPSCM) and Mr. Peter Haider, President Universal Peace Foundation (UPF), Austrian Chapter, Vienna. The agenda for the discussion was based on how the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute is an international obligation.

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted an In-House Meeting with a 4-member Nepal Press Council delegation on March 27, 2019. Members of the delegation included members of Press Council of Nepal; Mr. Kishor Shrestha, Mr. Gyanratna Shakya, Mr. Khil Bahadur Bhandari and Ms. Saraswati Shrestha.

In-House Meeting with a 4-member Nepal Press Council Delegation

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a Roundtable discussion with the Honorable Dr. Hadi

Soleimanpour, Secretary General, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on March 14, 2019. The agenda for the session

was based on how successfully the ECO has achieved its objectives of regional connectivity and trade promotion. Dr. Hadi

Soleimanpour stressed the need to exploit the potential of this organization by taking into account the values of individual ECO

member states based on their shared history and culture.

Roundtable with Dr. Hadi Soleimanpour, Secretary General, ECO

7January-March 2019

Meeting with Dr. Safdar Sohail, Director General,National Institute of Management - January 10, 2019

Meeting with H.E. Ms. Ebtesam Alketbi, President ofEmirates Policy Center - February 27, 2019

Meeting with Prof. Kristof Duwaerts & Mr. AndreasDuerr, Acting Director Hanns Seidel Foundation,

Pakistan - March 05, 2019

Meeting with Ms. Shazia Z. Rafi, President, Air Quality Asia - February 21, 2019

Meetings, Visitors & Guests

Internal Activities & Staff Meetings

Ÿ Monthly Area Brief meetings with research faculty.Ÿ Internal Brainstorming Sessions on research assignments and projects with research faculty.Ÿ Regular Organizational Review meetings taking stock of research, events and administrative matters.

Meeting of ISSI Board of Governors (BoG)

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted the first Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on January 31, 2019 after its

reconstitution by approval of the Prime Minister. Chaired by Amb. Khalid Mahmood, other members of the BoG are: Amb. Aizaz Ahmad

Chaudhry, DG, ISSI; Foreign Secretary, MOFA, (Ex-officio); Amb. Seema Ilahi Baloch; Amb. Mohammad Sadiq; Dr. Tariq Banuri, Chairman,

HEC; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, VC, QAU and Finance Secretary, Ministry of Finance (Ex-officio).

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Launch of the Book on “Rising Hindutva and Its Impact on the Region”

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a Book Launch on February 20, 2019 titled “Rising Hindutva and its Impact on the Region” written by Group Captain (Retd) Hali. The Chief Guest and the keynote speaker at the occasion was former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJSC) General (Retd) Ehsan ul Haq. Other speakers included Senator (Retd) Nisar Memon and Ambassador (Retd) Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.

Launch of PIVOT Magazine

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted the inauguration and launch of Institute’s China-Pakistan Study Center’s (CPSC) magazine ‘Pivot’ on January 23, 2019. Ms. Tehmina Janjua, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan was the Chief Guest at the occasion. The event was also graced by H.E. Yao Jing, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. The launch was attended by academics, students, ambassadors and media personnel.

Latest Publications

ISSUE BRIEFSJanuary-March, 2019

Yellow Vest Movement ExplainedBy Shamsa Nawaz

The Future of BrexitBy Shahroo Malik

National Action Plan: Achievements & LimitationsBy Asad Ullah Khan

US Drawdown in Afghanistan and India’s ReactionBy Mahrukh Khan

The Brewing US-Russia Nuclear Arms Race: An AssessmentBy Ghazala Yasmin Jalil

War in Syria: The Final Push Against the Islamic StateBy Arhama Siddiqa

The Afghan Peace Process and the Role of MoscowBy Amna Khan

Kartarpur Corridor: A Hope for PeaceBy Shahroo Malik

Pulwama and its Aftermath: India on Dangerous War PathBy Mahwish Hafeez

Role of Women in UN PeacekeepingBy Sarah Akram

JCPOA: Updates and DevelopmentsBy Mahrukh Khan and Fatima Raza

Crisis in Yemen: An AssessmentBy Sarah Akram and Areeba Arif

Can be accessed at www.issi.org.pkCan be accessed at www.issi.org.pkCan be accessed at www.issi.org.pk

EditorNajam RafiqueDeputy EditorsFatima Raza & Areeba Arif

ContactInstitute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)Sector F-5/2, IslamabadTel: 0092-51-9204423, 0092-51-9204424Fax: 0092-51-9204658Email: strategy@issi.org.pkWebsite: www.issi.org.pk

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