One Day  National Conference

Afghanistan’s New Tribulations: Search for Entry Points

At Area Study Centre (Russia, China & Central Asia) University of Peshawar On 

January 19, 2023

Concept

Afghanistan is passing through the worst humanitarian crisis after the takeover of Taliban in August 2021. The withdrawal of the U.S. and the NATO forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover of power, forced many Afghan refugees to cross the Pakistani border. Unlike the previous influx of Afghans into Pakistan back in the 80s, this time many young Afghans had to halt their education and jobs and take refuge in Pakistan. According to UNHCR, some 117,547 refugees crossed into Pakistan in Jan & Feb. 2021 with a significant peak of 35,289 persons in August 2021 – a considerable number being women, children, and students. Afghan refugees in Pakistan have no inclination to go back due to the lack of pull factors and extraditing Afghans by force too is unlikely in present scenario. Additionally, thousands Afghans have sought refuge in other countries of Europe and North America. 

The multifaceted challenges emanating from the recent events are political, security, social, economic, and cultural in natureand have implications for both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The alarming economic situation caused by the US sanctions on banking transactions from outside and stoppage of aid to the country has severely impacted economic activity leading to extreme poverty. People to people contacts too have come to a halt and the exemplary social cohesion between Afghans and host communities have taken a hit within Pakistan. 

To take stock of the prevailing situation and propose policy options, a one day national conference has been arranged at the Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar on January 19, 2023. The objective of the Conference is to discuss key challenges and come up with concrete recommendations and strategic options for the policy makers.

The Conference will address five key themes as outlined in the table below and will try to answer question posed against each theme. 

ThemeKey questions 
Challenging the security-based paradigm Is a shift from a security paradigm to trade and regional labour market paradigm possible? What preconditions needs to be in place for this paradigm shift?
 What are the key entry points to expand trade and investment between Afghanistan and Pakistan (particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)?
Ease of cross border movementHow can the two countries rationalize visa regimes such that students, patients, and traders can cross over easily?
 How successful has been the border management initiatives since take-over of the Taliban in 2021?
Ensuring National securityCan a mechanism be put in place whereby national security advisors from both countries meet on regular basis?
 How can the government of Afghanistan help the government of Pakistan in reducing growing terrorist attacks that have intensified after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan?
People to people interactionHow to mitigate negative perceptions among the people of the two countries about each other?
 What can the governments do to address these negative tendencies
 Can the role of social media be leveraged to create social harmony between citizens of both countries 
Policy Incoherence towards Afghanistan What is the current policy of Pakistan towards Afghanistan and how could it be made inclusive by taking local stakeholders from KP and Baluchistan?
 Given the situation, Afghan refugees in Pakistan have no inclination to go back and extraditing Afghans by force too is unlikely in present scenario. The question thus is ‘how the Govt. of Pakistan’s strategy of repatriation as the ultimate solution be modified towards a policy of reform in refugee management in the country

2

One Day National Conference

Afghanistan’s New Tribulations:

Search for Entry Points

At

Area Study Centre (Russia, China and Central Asia) University of Peshawar

Thursday, 19th January, 2023

PROGRAMME 

1000 hrs- 1030 hrs​Arrival of the Guests

1030 hrs-1045 hrs​Welcome Address by Prof. Shabir Ahmad Khan, Director, Area Study Centre (Russia, China and Central Asia) University of Peshawar

1045hrs-1100hrs​Prof Azmat Hayat Khan, Former Director/VC

What are the main features of Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan after the recent changes in that country? How a mechanism can be developed for national security advisors of Pakistan and Afghanistan and from neighboursof Afghanistan to meet on a regular basis?

1100 hrs-1115 hrs ​Ayaz Wazir, Former Ambassador

How can Pakistan make its foreign policy towards Afghanistan inclusive by taking local stakeholders from KP and Baluchistanonboard?

1115 hrs-1130 hrs​Haji Mohibullah, Consular General of Afghanistan

How can the government of Afghanistan help the government of Pakistan in reducing growing terrorist attacks that have intensified after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan?

1130 hrs-1145 hrs​Asif Durrani, Former Ambassador

Is a shift from a security paradigm to trade and regional labour market paradigm possible? What preconditions needs to be in place for this paradigm shift?

1145 hrs-1200 hrs​Muhammad Shehzad Arbab, Former Chief Secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

How can the two countries rationalize visa regimes such that students, patients, and traders can cross over easily? How successful has been the border management initiatives taken in the past?

1200 hrs-1215 hrs​Brig. (Retd) Saad Muhammad, Political & Strategic Analyst

How to mitigate negative perceptions among the people of the two countries about each other? What can the governments do to address these negative tendencies?

1215 hrs-1230 hrs​Juma Khan Sufi, Analyst

​Way forward for Pakistan and Afghanistan mutual cooperation in current circumstances 

1230 hrs-1245 hrs​Mohammad Abbas Khan, Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

How can Pakistan’s strategy of repatriation as the ultimate solution be modified towards a policy of reform in refugee management in the country?

1245 hrs-1300 hrs​Shahid Hussian, Senior Vice President, Sarhad Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

What are the key bottlenecks to expansion of trade and investment between Afghanistan and Pakistan (particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)?

1300 hrs-1330 hrs​Lieutenant General (Retd.) Asad Durrani, Former Ambassador

Concluding Remarks / Key Takeaways

1330 hrs-1400 hrs​Questions/Answers Session

1400 hrs​Lunch