Event: Militancy in Pakistan Exploring a Regional Approach to the Problem

Thursday Aug 6 2009, 1-2pm

Denis Driscoll Theatre

Room 309, Level 3

Doug McDonell Building (building no. 168, K19 on campus map)

Militancy in Pakistan: Exploring a Regional Approach to the Problem

Militancy has emerged as the greatest threat to Pakistan since its creation in 1947. The ability and willingness of the state to deal with this phenomenon would have larger regional and international implications. It has been a paramount concern for the international community as stakes in Pakistan’s stability are higher. Security of the nuclear weapon finds frequent mention while enough attention is not given to strengthening democracy which in turn would address the larger issues of governance. Pakistan’s effort to emerge successfully from its war against the militant will determine regional security architecture and shape its relations with India and Afghanistan. Issues of regional stability cannot be divorced from domestic political developments in Pakistan. The problem of dealing with the militant elements in Pakistan who have close links with al-Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan, the porous border pose greater foreign policy challenges and protecting Pakistan’s own national security interest has resulted in a more complex response.

There are several difficulties in forging cooperation with regional and extra-regional powers that would help Pakistan to meet the challenge of militancy. Building domestic political consensus to fight militancy would be one major issue. The government of Pakistan has made several statements clarifying why this war is Pakistan’s own war and how it impinges on Pakistan’s survival as a nation state. The anti-Americanism that prevails in Pakistan for various reasons has made many people to perceive that militancy is a result of the country’s decision to join the US led war on terror therefore it can be curbed only by withdrawing its commitment to the US. This approach helps the cause of the militants than that of the country. Successive government’s policy has in fact entrenched the militants both ideologically and politically and there is an urgent need to revisit some of these policies. Unless threat of Pakistan is recognized any policy measures would be halfhearted and bound to fail without achieving any objectives. It would be pertinent for the state first to map the threats it is facing and identify the causes of it.

Success of any policy to deal with militancy would also depend on domestic policies and its integration to a regional approach. The porous border, militant networks require a regional approach. While Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan would be important in this context equally compelling will be its ability to engage India. Its engagement with India would also impinge upon its decision to look for a military solution to militancy. As has been the case Pakistan needs a peaceful Eastern border to deal with militancy squarely in its Western border. Similarly Pakistan’s success in countering militancy not just in FATA but in other parts of Pakistan will help the Indo-Pak relations. This paper will explore a possibility of a cooperation to deal with the threat of militancy that is poised to engulf the entire region.

Dr Smruti S Pattanaik

Dr Smruti S Pattanaik is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi (India). After completing her PhD in South Asian Studies, from the School of International Studies, JNU, she joined the IDSA in 1998. Her area of specialization is South Asian politics focusing on role of military, politics of identity and dynamics of India’s relations with its neighbours.

Her current study focuses on Political Islam, Islamic militancy and the States in South Asia making a comparison between Pakistan and Bangladesh the two most important Muslim countries in the region. She was a visiting Asia fellow at the Department of International Relations, Dhaka University for a year in 2004 studying the politics of identity in Bangladesh and in 2007 she was again affiliated as a visiting Fellow in the Dhaka University to study the politics of religion and the role of Jamaat Islami Bangladesh.

She has received numerous international fellowships like the Kodikara Award (RCSS, Colombo), Asia Fellowship (2003, Asian Scholarship Foundation, Bangkok), Follow up grant (Asian Scholarship Foundation, 2006), Hermes Postdoctoral Fellowship (Fondation Maison des Science de l’Homme, Paris, 2008). She was attached to the Centre for International Relations Research (CERI) and MSH (Paris) to conduct post doctoral research on “Broadening Consensus in Fighting Religious Militancy/terrorism: Can Democracy in Pakistan Ensure regional stability”.

She has published a number of articles in reputed journals, and has contributed chapters in books, delivered lectures on security issues both in India and abroad. She has published a book titled “Elite Perception in Foreign Policy: Role of Print Media in influencing Indo-Pak relations” (Delhi, RCSS and Manohar, 2004).

Dr Pattanaik's presentation at the Countering Militancy in Pakistan: Domestic, Regional and International Dimensions Conference will be, Militancy in Pakistan: Exploring a Regional Approach to the Problem.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

1. INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE ON PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND, AUGUST 12

Time : 1-2pm

Venue: Theatre 2, Economics and Commerce Building

2. ASIA WEEK 2009, AUGUST 17 – 21

ALL ARE WELCOME

PROGRAM DETAILS AT http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/news/asiaweek.html

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: KEVIN MARCH