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“Future of Pakistan – Evolving Paradigms”
International Strategic Conference

28 & 29 June 2012
London – UK

Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD), a UK based non-partisan think-tank is hosting a series of conferences/seminars and symposiums throughout 2012 titled ‘Future of Pakistan’. On 28-29 June 2012 this strategic conference will bring together a group of world- renowned researchers, celebrated writers and thinkers, politicians, strategists and academics on Pakistan from the USA, UK and Pakistan, to demystify the complexities of Pakistan and bring an understanding to this most pivotal and strategic nation of nations.

1. Background to the Conference

FIRD believes it is essential for world peace to engage with Pakistan in an informed and more inclusive manner moving on from the entrenched global view of the country as a client state which has been the prevailing standpoint of the Western World. Pakistani citizens are particularly perturbed the way they are maligned in the international media in spite of paying the heaviest price against the War on Terror. This conference will focus on the new and evolving paradigms in Pakistan relating to its peoples; state governance and domestic/ international security.

Pakistan, its neighbours and the rest of the world need to understand these factors and adopt a new approach a strategy accordingly. The dialogue is intended to be a significant step towards a road map for new support mechanisms and enabling relationships which bring Pakistan to the fore front in addressing and contributing towards world peace in an otherwise volatile region. If unresolved, Pakistan has the possibility of becoming the next and potentially most dangerous geo-political region.

From the conference, FIRD aims to facilitate the construction of a road map, detailing what Pakistan needs to achieve in the future concerning areas of strategic importance such as: security, foreign policy, education and governance by bringing together experts and engaging them in dialogue, discussion and open exchange of information.

1.1. Conference Objectives:

• To develop an understanding of the current narrative on Pakistan from divergent viewpoints
• To suggest pragmatic and realistic solutions to the problems posed to Pakistan
• To explore opportunities and possibilities for Pakistan in the global spectrum
• To initiate dialogue and promote discourse on the conflicting perspectives to promote peace and build bridges.
• To carry out research on rehabilitation
• To produce a report giving suggestions on the way forward from all of the data gathered at the conference

1.2. Pakistan’s Context:

Pakistan has been placed on the strategic crossroads of history since its foundation due to its vital geo-political location. From its inception in 1947, Pakistan has been making global headlines because of its role as a major ally of the West against the former USSR and then as a frontline state in the War against Terrorism. The success of Pakistan—that is, its emergence as a stable, modern, prosperous, pluralistic country, at peace with its neighbours and within its borders, and integrated economically in South and Central Asia—is imperatively important, even vital to world peace, global security and stability and the broader objectives of the international community.

Challenges

Most of the analysts and strategists identify ten major crises wracking Pakistan:

1. Crisis of Economy – this is characterized by stagflation, dependency, resource scarcity and mass impoverishment.
2. Crisis of Education –characterized by the Madrassah challenge, jihad indoctrination and English-Urdu apartheid.
3. Crisis of Urbanisation – branded by slum development, criminalization as well as ethnic warfare.
4. Crisis of Demography – depicted by a youth bulge, religious conservatism and class volatility.
5. Crisis of Foreign Policy – illustrated by conflict, isolation and estrangement.
6. Crisis of terrorism and radicalization – represented by extremism, violent sectarianism and ethnic separatism.
7. Crisis of Civil-Military Relations – signified by military domination and civilian incapacity.
8. Crisis of Political System and Governance – embroiled by not only corruption but also incompetence and autocracy.
9. Crisis of Law and Order – epitomised by state-organ failure and constitutional gridlock.
10. Crisis of Identity – symbolised by conflicting interpretations between notions of Nation- State vs Pan-Islamism, being primarily Pakistani vs Muslim, and having South Asian vs Middle- Eastern roots.

Opportunities

Pakistan as a Pivotal neighbouring and International State

Apart from the daunting problems, Pakistan offers several opportunities: access to the Arabian Sea and the Gulf; a route/avenue to Iran; unexplored possibilities in pipeline projects transiting Afghanistan and Pakistan to the ocean; and a counterweight to the nearby powers of India, China and Russia. Renowned historian Paul Kennedy and his research associates identified Pakistan as one of the 9 developing countries that could be described as the Pivotal States, whose successes or failures would have implications for regional and global stability. In either case the developments in Pakistan have implications beyond its territorial borders.

Burgeoning Youth and South Asian Boom

Looking at the economy optimistically, in just over 20 years, Pakistan will surpass Indonesia and become the fifth most populous country and the one with the most Muslims. Its youth population increase (the largest number of youth in its history where youth under the age of 29 constitute 70% of the total population) provides it with a baby boom which, if educated and employed, could provide its economy with a demographic dividend long after the equivalent population increases in China and India have aged and retired.

Pakistan has an opportunity to leverage its domestic consumer market to attract multinationals and build up competitive economies of scale in industries like agriculture, electronics, autos, natural resources and engineering for the export market. Peace with India, another area of importance which FIRD is also advocating would turn Pakistan into an energy transit point and geographic hub for a possible South Asian boom in trade and commerce.

Recently, there has been good news emerging from political, military and civil society perspectives with an immense impact on the future of Pakistan, such as:

• Continuation of the democratically elected political government
• The military leadership endeavouring to steer clear of politics
• Judicial activism, resilience of Pakistanis in the wake of terrorist attacks & suicide bombings.
• Constitutional steps in restoration of the balance of power;
• Greater independence of provinces.
• The media’s role in generating awareness of human rights, accountability, corruption and the rise of civil society in search of new paradigms
• The recent thaw in relations with India by Pakistan declaring it the Most Favourite Nation and furthering the dialogue on contentious issues may be termed a big leap forward.

2. Conference Programme and Structure

2.1. Agenda for the Two Days:

Inaugural session – House of Parliament on 28th June 2012, (2pm – 6pm)
Main conference with thematic workshops – FIRD Secretariat on 29th June 2012 (10am- 2pm) Keynote Speeches, Thematic Discourse, Panel Discussions, Dialogue , Workshops

2.2. Speakers:

• Toaha Qureshi MBE – Chairman, FIRD – UK
• Prof. Stephen P. Cohen – Author ‘Future of Pakistan’, Brookings Institute – USA
• Prof. Anatol Lieven – Author ‘Pakistan – A Hard Country’, Kings College – UK
• Dr. Robin Brooke Smith – Author ‘Storm Warning’ – UK
• Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP – Shadow Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – UK
• Maulana Fazlur Rehman – Former Leader of Opposition in National Assembly of Pakistan
• Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman – Coordinator General of COMSTECH- Pakistan
• General ® Syed Athar Ali – Former Secretary of Defence Pakistan – Pakistan
• Rt. Revd Dr. Alexander John Malik – Bishop of Lahore – Pakistan
• Dr. Z U Khan – former Vice Chancellor AKJ University – Pakistan
• Ms. JoAnne Wagner, State Department – USA
• Dr. Farooq Sattar, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis – Pakistan

3. Who should attend this conference?

• Pakistani Diaspora
• Academics
• International relations organisations
• High Commissions/Embassies/Foreign Commonwealth Office
• Pakistani youth organisations
• Councillors, MP’s, Lords
• Think-tanks, Statutory Organisations
• National and International Media

Conference report will be disseminated worldwide in all relevant circles.