“South Asia has two poles and these poles are poles apart: mystical and militant. A suitable amalgamation of both these will have an enduring and peaceful impact on the region.” These views were expressed by Brig. Retd. A.R. Siddiqi, Executive Director of Regional Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Karachi, at an International Workshop on Conflict Management Mechanisms and the Challenge of Peace. This workshop was organized by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi on Monday, 26 November 2007, in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad, under the Program on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. He further added that India and Pakistan have long remained immune to the realization that culture sometimes precedes politics. He gave an example from the world of poetry that a Mushaira- a poetical gathering- could vastly enhance feelings of mutual trust and togetherness among the peoples in India and Pakistan. In today’s world, he added, the trends in South Asia seemingly tend to be moving towards cooperation rather than conflict.

Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi said in his Inaugural Address that there was a need for greater linkage between the world of academia and common man’s understanding. The Vice Chancellor applauded the efforts and performance of the Department of International Relations for having kept alive the culture of dialogue and discussion. The increasing gap between people’s perception of reality which in most cases remains unaided by scholarly input is causing great harm to the increased realization of the importance of peace. Therefore, efforts by scholars are a response to the long unheard cries of the unheard all over the world. A little amount of wealth would be enough to de-escalate conflicts and tensions in the world. This duty cannot be performed by the corporate world and for this the intellectual world will have to come forward to cater to the needs of humanity at large. In his keynote address, Ambassador Retd. Tariq Fatemi stated that conflict was an inherent feature of human beings; which in no way means that men could not transcend this difficulty. Amb. Tariq Fatemi gave examples from South Asian independence movement in which Pakistan’s creation was an explicit example of democratic mindset and struggle. He emphasized over the need of creating outlets which could give dissent an opening and release. This culture of tolerance is needed for consolidating the principles upon and for which Pakistan has been created. He said that this two-day workshop was an effort towards establishing the environment in which greater freedom of thought could become realizable.

Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar, Chairman, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi and Director, Program on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (PPSCR), stressed an increased role of conflict management studies. His paper- entitled ‘Conflict Management Mechanisms: Need for an Alternate Approach’- focused on the ameliorating role that conflict management techniques could play in paving the way for managing and controlling the conflicts. He mentioned Pakistan-India, Sino-China and Bosnia as concrete reflection of the actual achievements of conflicts management mechanism’s role. Dr. Moonis further added that negotiations, mediation and arbitration are very effective tools for lessening the intensity of an ongoing conflict. In this regard, the role of conflict management experts, state and civil society is very important for putting the process of peace on track. Flexibility and accommodation are necessary attributes required for entering into a process of peace and dialogue. The world is not without examples of peacefulness and the concrete realization of the principles and methods of conflict management and resolution. The role of scholars is primarily to analyze and understand the conflicts in the
most dispassionate manner and then suggest solutions which take into account the indigenous needs of the people concerned.

Ms. Salma Malik- Faculty, Department of Defense and Strategic Studies, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad- said in her paper on ‘The Role of Research Institutes and Think Tanks in the Process of Conflict Management’, that there was an urgent need for establishing independent think tanks. She was of the opinion that think tanks through sustained and dispassionate research could lead to exceptionally viable solutions and damage control methods for several conflicts of the world. The prolongation of the conflict, in her view, leads to compassion fatigue in the minds which must be toned down. Mr. Alexander Justin- Civil Society Activist, UK- said that lot more human effort was needed in Iraq. His paper on ‘Conflict in Iraq’ questioned the increasing surge in violence in Iraq. He opined that significant role is being played by human rights organizations in Iraq and Iraq certainly needs greater integration among its people. Iraq had to overcome its societal divisions and for this greater democratization and pluralism were needed which could consolidate the environment of accommodation and mutual
understanding among the divergent strands of thoughts in Iraq. Lt. Gen. Talat Masood, Defence Analyst, said in his paper on ‘Iran-US Conflict’ that USA was actually the first country that provided a nuclear reactor to Iran. Iran after Iran-Iraq War, in his views, realized the need for a sustained nuclear program. He said that strategically it was difficult for USA to permeate Iran militarily because Iran was neither Iraq nor Afghanistan. He mentioned the fact that any military adventure by USA in this regard would culminate in unimaginable consequences for the world at large which would be irreversible in nature and scope.

Prof. Dr. M. Shamsuddin, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi said in his Inaugural address that the ideas of conflict management and peace were quintessential for any healthy society of the world. The sessions were followed by a lively question and answer session. People from different walks of life participated in the workshop.


(PROF. DR. MOONIS AHMAR)
CHAIRMAN & PROGRAM DIRECTOR

 

 

 

 

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