Pakistansk terror-ekspert om sit hjemland

Time: Monday, 22 November at 12 – 14 hours

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

Background

In recent years, Pakistan has become a symbol of violence, extremism and terror. An expert on terrorism, Norwegian Laila Bokhari has visited her father’s homeland, Pakistan, many times in the past few years.

Time: Monday, 22 November at 12 – 14 hours

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

Background

In recent years, Pakistan has become a symbol of violence, extremism and terror. An expert on terrorism, Norwegian Laila Bokhari has visited her father’s homeland, Pakistan, many times in the past few years.

In her book, “Hellig Vrede – Min Reise gjennom Pakistan” (Holy Wrath – My Journey Through Pakistan) (Gyldendal, 2010) she takes the reader on a tour of cities and the countryside, and visits with the poor as well as the affluent. We meet politicians, generals and enraged Islamists.

As one of few Western experts, Bokhari has spoken to a number of people in the lawless tribal areas bordering on Afghanistan, and combines this with descriptions of daily life in Pakistan. Bokhari forces us to look at our biases against political Islam and terror. She also describes signs of hope in the country that her father once left behind.

She tracks the footsteps of mujahids in Kashmir and the volatile border areas to Afghanistan, but also ventures into discussions with religious and militant leaders, young and old militants to understand the drive behind a force that constantly shakes us all.

It is also the story of those left behind after a suicide attack; the relatives, mothers, sisters and widows of martyrs. This is a well-informed and riveting book that provides fascinating insight into religious extremism.

Laila Bokhari is currently posted to the political section of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad. She has been a research fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

She has also worked with the UN Security Council’s al-Qaida Taliban Monitoring Team in New York. She has consulted with NATO, OSCE, UN and several governments, and is a well-known commentator and lecturer.

PROGRAMME

12.00-12.05
Welcome by Lars Erslev Andersen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

12.05-12.15
Introduction by Qandeel Siddique, Research Assistant, DIIS

12.15-13.00
Holy Wrath – My Journey Through Pakistan by Laila Bokhari, Author and Diplomat, Islamabad

13.00-13.20
Coffee Break

13.20-14.00
Q & A

Chair: Qandeel Siddique, Research Assistant, 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://www.diis.dk/sw101725.asp

And do so no later than Friday, 19 November 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