Peace and Conflict

Panel at the SANR Meeting 2021 chaired by Henrik Chetan Aspengren

Presentations

Naheed Shabbir, Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), University of the Punjab
How to address the Growing Phenomenon of Islamophobia - Exploring Connection with Global Immigration

Following the 9/11 attacks, Islamophobia emerged as a prominent point on the research agenda. However this sentiment existed long before. The aim of this paper is 2 dimensional study; First, based on ongoing discussion and empirical analysis, the study investigates whether Islamophobia is purely anti-Muslim and anti-Islam. I argue that it is a prejudice concept, scrutinizing that terrorist threat is associated with anti-Islam and realist threat is with anti-Muslim. The negative attitudes toward immigration have added fuel to the fire. Almost 25 Million Muslims are living in EU countries and this threat is on rise that Muslims eventually will threat the social fabric of West. I will investigate the questions; Is extremism only faith based? Are radicalization and extremism linked to the economic marginalization? My argument revolves around the fact that there is no radical Islam. It is just the lack of knowledge and religion, the way people look and therefore terrorism cannot be linked with any religious motivations. In this talk, I will argue that anti-Muslim discourses are interconnected to radical ethno-nationalist narratives more broadly. The answer, I hypothesize, is owing to the physical distinguishability of Muslims in these countries / global immigration which merges with a nativist anxiety around physical displacement. Finally I make the point about the negligence of Muslim leaders and West that helped widen the gap between West and Islam. The growing phenomenon of Islamophobia if not addressed seriously, will have grave consequences. The larger implication of this argument is that the West should play its role and faith based radicalization should be shunned and focus on identity based extremism which is no less dangerous.

Syed H. S. Soherwordi, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Peshawar
A Triangular Afghan Peace Process between the Taliban, the US and the Kabul Regime: From Prelude to Epilogue with a Holistic Approach

Peace is elusive on national and international level for Afghanistan. Intra-Afghan disharmony resulted in chaos and destruction to all and sundry since 1970s. Pakhtuns (Taliban) and non-Pakhtuns are at the daggers drawn on ethic lines. This has resulted in instable and weak Afghan governance structure. At international level, Taliban-US peace talks have bit more than it could swallow.  Taliban’s demand of the US complete withdrawal and the US wish for a Taliban’s negotiated surrender is far from reality. Taliban are a political and a military reality whereas American precipitous withdrawal would further destabilize Afghan imbroglio. Based on Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and secondary data with descriptive and analytical approach, this paper takes a pragmatic view of the situation by introducing BATNA (Better Alternate for Negotiated Agreement) between Taliban-US and Taliban-US-Kabul regime negotiations. With completion of the US-Taliban talks on 29^th February 2020 on the basis of give and take, intra Afghan (Taliban-non-Pakhun) dialogue will have a positive view for peace: power-sharing, role of women, democracy and non-violence. The cause of attenuation of the previous peace processes was just that they were not all-encompassing. Both cycles of peace-talks depend on sincerity of intent of the warring parties and/or groups. However, peace is not just the elimination of violence. It needs ethnic harmony, reconstruction & development, good governance and positive role of neighboring countries of Afghanistan. Still, will peace, that follows, be morbid or ecstatic? That’s the question of the question.