DIIS-seminar: Pakistan og krigen i Afghanistan

Time: Monday, 14 June at 13 – 15 hours

Venue: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, ground floor, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Kbn K

Time: Monday, 14 June at 13 – 15 hours

Venue: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, ground floor, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Kbn K

With an insurgency in its tribal areas, a campaign of suicide attacks in its major cities, a history of unstable political and economic institutions, a population living largely in poverty, a difficult relationship with its immediate neighbours, and a strained security alliance with the United States, Pakistan is facing challenges on a momentous scale.

Based on his experience as a general in the Pakistani army and director of several government institutions, Major General (retired) Sikandar Shami will comment on the battle against Islamic extremism from the point of view of Pakistan.

From the US-led ‘Jihad’ against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, through the American imposition of crippling sanctions during the 1990s, to the current ‘alliance of necessity’ in the battle against Al-Qaida and the Taliban, General Shami will firstly provide a historical perspective on the difficult relationship between the United States and Pakistan.

He will outline the current distrust that continues to strain relations between the two allies and negatively affects their operations in the war: while Pakistan is wary of another abandonment of the region – as America did after its victory over the Soviets – America accuses Pakistan of playing a double game by continuing to protect its assets among the Afghan Taliban.

Secondly, he will focus on the perception of Western involvement in the region, as seen by the people of Pakistan as well as the country’s independent and often aggressive media.

Whether right or wrong, they present Pakistan’s challenges in a light greatly differing from that of the reports coming out of the New York Times or CNN, and if combined with an understanding of Pakistan’s history, they can provide crucial insights into the country’s current turmoil. In turn, this may offer the basis for a more effective engagement by Western leaders.

Speaker: Sikander Shami, Major General (R), Pakistan

PROGRAMME

13.00-13.05
Introduction by Lars Erslev Andersen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

13.05-14.00
“The Ongoing War in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Tribal Areas: The Pakistani View” by Sikander Shami, Major General (R), Pakistan

14.00-14.15
Coffee Break

14.15-15.00
Q & A

Chair: Lars Erslev Andersen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use our online registration form on http://diis.dk/sw93545.asp

And do so no later than Friday, 11 June 2010 at 12.00 noon.

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.

Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), The Conference Section, Strandgade 56, 1401 Kbn K, tlf. 32 69 87 51, e-mail: [email protected] og web: www.diis.dk