Conflict or cooperation? The role of India and Pakistan in post-2014 Afghanistan
AbstractAs the coalition forces prepare to exit Afghanistan, concerns regarding peace and stability in the country and future power balance after their departure are becoming paramount. While there will be a considerable American presence, focus has now shifted to local infrastructure and services - civil, military and political and their ability to further peace and progress in the country. Owing to the geostrategic landscape of Afghanistan, in addition to its long conflict ridden history with a significant presence of the Taliban, concerns regarding revival of conflict and violence are coming to the fore - particularly from traditional South Asian rivals i.e. India and Pakistan. Through an in-depth study of the political, economic, cultural and regional dimensions of this tri-lateral relationship, the following paper examines how there is a significant clash of interests and how there can cooperation between India and Pakistan in Afghanistan.Key Words: Afghanistan, Taliban, India-Pakistan relations, US withdrawal, new Great Game, Strategic DepthIntroductionDealing with the situation unfolding in Afghanistan and its ramifications present a formidable challenge, both for Afghanistan as well as regional and international players who have a stake in its future and have contributed significantly to efforts towards reconstruction of the war-torn nation. On May 27, 2014, US President Barack Obama announced that the last American troops would withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2016. However, this announcement needs to be further clarified. A Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) would permit a residual American military presence, some 9,800 US troops will remain in the country after 2014, with half of them slated to depart by the end of 2015. From 2015 onward, the remaining troops will train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) for two more years, eventually leaving only a token force to protect the American embassy in Kabul (Grare, 2010). Nonetheless, the international community is willing to continue engagements in both civilians and military matters for ensuring economic development, security and political stability in Afghanistan (Yuasa, 2014, p.285).The decision of the US and its allies to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is a reflection of domestic political concerns and the large number of casualties. From 2001 until February 2012, the US-led coalition troops lost 2,884 soldiers, including 1,895 from the US alone (Chesser 2012, p.1-4). Based on this data, 2010 and 2011 were the deadliest years in Afghanistan. The Afghan Army and Police have also suffered the loss of roughly 4,000 members (Caldwell 2011 online). In addition to military casualties, the conflict has also claimed the lives of 2,080 civilians just in the year 2010. Even though American forces are preparing for withdrawal, the conflict in Afghanistan is far from over. There is overwhelming evidence of the resurgence of the Taliban and attacks on civilians and state infrastructure are on a rise. In addition, the political and military structure of Afghanistan continues to be weakened by factionalism and tribal rivalries, further clouding prospects for a peaceful transition after the withdrawal of foreign troops. According to Saghafi-Ameri (Saghafi-Ameri, 2012, p.1), "the main causes of the present situation in Afghanistan include lack of proper planning, shifting policies, inattention to geopolitical realities and over-reliance on military power without the necessary attention to development and civilian assistance plans".In such an environment, the involvement of local actors becomes preeminent in shaping the course of future events in Afghanistan. A key ally in the US led military action in Afghanistan is neighbouring Pakistan. A former ally of the Taliban and a country, which faces direct repercussions of conflict in Afghanistan owing to a large number of refugees, Pakistan has been at the forefront of reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. …
A THEORETICAL STUDY OF ISLAMIC AND WESTERN POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE CAUSES OF TERRORISM AFTER 911 IN FATA AND KP PAKISTAN
The research intends to study the Islamic and Western political perspectives or philosophies to analyze the causes of terrorism in the said areas after 9/11 in Pakistan. Islamic and Western theoretical understanding reveals that terrorism in Pakistan tribal areas was caused by many factors, including weak governance, insecurity, injustice, ill government policies, and a clash between society and state. Most of them lead to the unrest situation in the region. The people still stood to establish the Islamic State and the implementation of Islamic Law (Shariah). Ideological, religious motivation mostly uses some short-term objectives and improper means by state and non-state actors. That is also a leading cause that provided a possible environment for anti-state armed actors in FATA and KP Pakistan. Qualitative research methodology has been adopted for the research to understand Islamic and western political perspective regarding terrorism. The results showed a significant correlation between government policies and the incidents of terrorism. Policies of the government have everlasting impacts on the phenomenon of terrorism in one way or the other. The most crucial cause that always played its role in motivating people of FATA and KP is an ideological narrative along with the participation of other causes like injustice, economic deprivation and other factors as mentioned above.
Beyond zero tolerance : discrimination in military culture
Chapter 1 Introduction: Rethinking Military Culture Part 2 Constructing Military Culture Chapter 3 Discrimination and Military Cohesion: An Organizational Perspective Chapter 4 Military Folk Culture Chapter 5 Dressed to Kill? The Paradox of Women in Military Uniforms Chapter 6 A Tangled Webb the Navy Can't Afford Chapter 7 Women at the U.S. Army War College Part 8 The Military, Society, and Policy Chapter 9 Reflections of Society: The Intersection of Race and Gender in the U.S. Army in World War II Chapter 10 Intersectionality: A Necessary Consideration for Women of Color in the Military? Chapter 11 In War and Peace: Incidence and Implications of Rape by Military Personnel Chapter 12 Persistence of Sexual Harassment: The Impact of Military Culture on Policy Implementation Chapter 13 A Culture of Silence: Consequences of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue Chapter 14 Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity in Modern Military Forces: Cross-National Patterns Chapter 15 Military Culture and Military Families