Anita M. Weiss, Professor in the Department of International Studies
at the University of Oregon, spoke today about women’s rights in
Pakistan at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. Weiss
stressed the importance of getting women’s rights developed in Pakistan. Educating more women was a main issue Weiss spoke about and
the creation of more schools for female education was presented
as a solution. She discussed the fact that only 4% of girls in Pakistan reach the education level of the ninth grade.

Weiss described the fact that Pakistan’s government is working on solutions
that will improve the status of women, but that more action is necessary.

Professor Weiss described three steps that need to be implemented in
order to strengthen women’s rights in Pakistan. The first step focuses
on the legislature and the need to create more laws that support women. The second step describes the need to increase women’s participation in political
elections, both within political candidates and voters.

Weiss discussed the importance of involving more women in the
political sphere, to be able to integrate women more in society.
The third step focuses on women’s economical rights, such as the right
to earn an individual income. If the economical rights are improved,
women’s status will raise in society.
By involving more women in the grass-roots levels, the problems and
solutions can be presented from the group that is affected and more
efficient ideas can be created.

Weiss also pointed out that by improving women’s rights in Pakistan,
it will not only help the women, but also the country’s development.
The U.S. can help Pakistan in this area by working with both the
Pakistan government and with different Non-Governmental-Organizations  (NGO’s).

The both can be assisted by the United States through economic
resources and also with the knowledge of equality and women’s rights. One
example of this is the area of judicial rights.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former Represenative Vin Weber (R-Minn) spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations conerning American relations with the Muslim world. Secretary Albright said that Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world, but that Afghanistan and Pakistan are closely tied in their turmoil. She continued that most Americans are “woefully ignorant” of the Muslim world, and that America’s approach should not be one of ‘tolerance’, but rather one of ‘respect’. Concurrent to that line of thought is the notion that the United States should be prepared to deal with Islamist democratic elections where the results are not favorable to American policy. Albright said people all over the world are ready for democracy, but that the United States should take the position of supporting popular democratic movements, not “imposing democracy”. Weber echoed that sentiment, but insisted that the U.S. could help build the “preconditions for democracy”, such as improving women’s rights or encouraging an open media.

Regarding America’s approach to fighting terrorism, Albright said that the U.S. must not fight terror in a way which creates new terrorists, and that every civilian death makes both the United States and our causes suffer. Regarding the policies of ‘targeted killings’ and assassinations, Weber highlighted that both the Bush and Obama administrations said that they would not ignore ‘actionable intelligence’ on the locations of terrorists. Albright also stated that it is important for America to distinguish those who were civilians and those who were “murders”.

“Power does not work, it only creates more violence so what needs to be done is diplomacy, good will and justice.” said Dr. Agha Saeed, founder of the Pakistan American National Alliance (PANA).

A press conference held today by PANA in Washington, D.C. addressed the need for economic, cultural, social and political aid from the Obama administration and the U.S. They indicated that the ultimate goal is to propose a partnership for peace, utilizing smart power (combination of hard and soft power) rather than coercive power, and to fight against international terrorism.

According to the document titled “Pakistani-American Initiative for Peace in South Asia” given to press conference attendees, the extremism of terrorist attacks continue to worsen after the events of 9/11. The fight against terrorism in Pakistan resulted in the deaths of more than 1200 military personnel not including numbers of innocent victims. The document also indicated specific reasons for India witnessing so many terrorist acts which was due to methods of understanding and dealing with terrorist groups.

The Pakistani-Americans expressed that Pakistan has supported the American agenda in favor of U.S. policy and they are hopeful that the U.S. will do the same in return. New Hampshire State Representative Saghir Tahir said that educating Americans is a good way to get their support. “The American people are the best, most caring, loving, sharing people and if you talk to them just like now 79% of Americans they oppose war and they realize that war is not a solution.” he said.

 

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President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan Aitzaz Ahsan says an independent justice system in Pakistan would be a be good tool against the war on terror. (2:53)

 

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Extremists in the Middle East believe the war on terror is “targeted against Muslims” said Former Interior Minister of Pakistan Aftab Khan Sherpao. He added that this belief some have in Pakistan is “misguided.”

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) held a discussion on extremism in Pakistan. Sherpao said that the U.S. must rely on dialogue with native Pakistanis, development of the country of Pakistan, and deterrence against insurgents residing in Pakistan. He added that “winning the hearts and minds of people” in that region is very important.

Sherpao did caution that military action would not accomplish anything in the fight against terrorism, but that Pakistan “needs immediate help.” He said that Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are “well resourced” and “highly motivated.”

Former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin said that “extremism is spreading” in that region. She added that the situation is as bad as ever in Pakistan, saying “Anti-Americanism is at its peak” in the country. She said that we must not merely help Pakistan on its Afghanistan border, but “all of Pakistan.”

USIP Senior Rule of Law Advisor Alexander Thier said that “Pakistan is in turmoil.” She said the extremist movement in Pakistan is “threatening everything.” Sherpao agreed, saying extremism in
Pakistan “affects the world as a whole.”

Former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin says that extremism is at its worst level ever in Pakistan. She also says that our assistance to the Pakistanis must be about them, not us. (0:56)

 

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More than seven years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is not caught nor dead and according to Bruce Hoffman, professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. The al-Qaida network is establishing safe havens and re-organizing in the regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, showing they’re becoming even more dangerous and likely to succeed with a new attack against America, he said. “I see al-Qaida having a lot to celebrate in 2008,” said Hoffman at the ‘Al Qaeda 3.0’ conference hosted by the New American Foundation and New York University’s Center on Law and Security.

According to Frances Townsend, Homeland Security adviser to President Bush during 2004-2008, establishing instability and strengthening extremism among the tribal areas in Pakistan is another strategical move of the al-Qaida network in order to get nuclear armed. “The Taliban has re-established it’s strength in Afghanistan, they are working very diligently to destabilized the new government in Pakistan,” Townsend said. She highlighted the importance of America recognizing and not underestimate the major influence al-Qaida have on geopolitics as they continuously have intentions to be influential in the area. Her future expectations is that the al-Qaida network will expand the foot hold they have gained in Pakistan, and continue to plot a new attack on U.S. soil and execute it.

Peter Bergen, senior fellow at New American Foundation and CNN’s national security analyst, highlighted the decreasing popularity and public support of the al-Qaida network. He said the strategy of Osama bin Laden is attack the far enemy to make his close enemies to fall. According to Bergen, the leaders and members of al-Qaida are not poor and undereducated people. “If you’re poor, you’re too busy being poor to be a terrorist,” said Bergen. He also underlined that there is still sleeping terrorist cells within American borders, planning a new attack on the United States.

Obama’s Foreign Policy Adviser Susan Rice discusses Obama’s strategies for Afghanistan and Pakistan as she speaks following the vice presidential debate in St.Louis, MO. (:40)

 

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Foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute Malou Innocent discusses how the Taliban and al-Qaida have been able to takeover the tribal lands on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.(0:30)

 

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vice president of defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute Ted Galen Carpenter says that the U.S. has to accept that Afghanistan will not be a western style democracy. (0:54)

 

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