PUBLICATIONS
AP Photo
March 4, 2008
"Police Reforms: Agenda of Change"
The International News, (Pakistan)
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"...Besides leading to bad governance and a deplorable law and order situation in the country, police failures also have compounded the threat of religious extremism and terrorism. Poor data collection on crime and criminals and inadequate analytical capabilities hamper effective law enforcement. In many instances, banned militant organisations continued with their publications and in some cases wanted criminals, and terrorists changed their party affiliations (hurriedly joining groups that were not under government scrutiny after theirs were banned) and the police remained clueless. Here the police was also handicapped as many militant groups were producing "freedom fighters" for Kashmir and Afghanistan and had working relations with the intelligences services, and hence police officials were reluctant to go after some of these elements thinking that they might be the assets of some "other state institution." Things are reported to be progressively changing in this sphere lately, but the serious challenge remains...."
AP Photo
March/April 2008
"Power House"
Foreign Policy, (Inbox Section), issue 165
By Matthew Kroenig, Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 2007–2008
"When Kenya convulsed with violence after its flawed election in late December, many expressed surprise that one of Africa’s most stable countries could so quickly fall victim to ethnic hatred. But political scientists Steven Fish and Matthew Kroenig noted something else: a feeble legislature. Despite the opposition winning twice as many legislative seats as the president’s party, opposition members still took to the streets. Why? Because they wanted the only office that has any power in the country: the presidency...."
AP Photo
February 25, 2008
"Security and Intelligence"
The International News, (Pakistan)
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"The Pakistani Army positively contributed towards the holding of free elections on Feb 18, but it cannot be expected to do the job of law enforcement endlessly. Dependence on the military for such tasks ultimately persuades its leadership to increase the army’s involvement in the political domain, and in the process that follows such thinking, Pakistan loses many years. Generals like Waheed Kakar and Jahangir Karamat are rare, and given some recent developments it seems that Pakistan is lucky to have another of their kind in the form of the new chief, Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. This golden opportunity should not be lost (like before) to nurture and groom civilian institutions to stand on their own feet."
AP Photo
February 19, 2008
"Pakistan Elections: A Clear Verdict"
The Guardian, Comment is Free...
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"As for Musharraf, he is living in a fool's paradise if he thinks he is going to be a father figure to the next prime minister of Pakistan. The new government will be under tremendous public pressure to bring back the deposed judges, and that could sound a death knell for the Musharraf presidency. For the army, which is distancing itself from Musharraf already, institutional interests, saving prestige and influence, will be more important than rescuing a president who continues to shoot himself in the foot. The west in general — and Britain and the US in particular — must show patience while democratic forces settle; at least as much patience as they showed with military dictators. This is the very least that the people of Pakistan earned yesterday."
imranthetrekker
February 15, 2008
"Pakistan: Opposition Parties Are Poised to Win Poll"
Oxford Analytica
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"While there is a considerable risk that the elections will be rigged and that poor security will deter voting, pro-Musharraf parties will be swept from power. The PPP is expected to secure the most votes, raising the prospect of a grand coalition of parties united in opposition to the president. Stable government will depend on their ability to work together, as well as with Musharraf, for as long as he remains in power."
AP Photo
January 2008
"A Profile of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan"
CTC Sentinel, issue 2, volume 1
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"The organizational strength, military strategy and leadership quality of the Taliban in Pakistan's tribal territories has qualitatively improved during the last few years. At the time of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan in late 2001, allies and sympathizers of the Taliban in Pakistan were not identified as 'Taliban' themselves. That reality is now a distant memory. Today, Pakistan's indigenous Taliban are an effective fighting force and are engaging the Pakistani military on one side and NATO forces on the other."
AP Photo
December 31, 2007
"Musharraf Cannot Escape All Blame"
The Australian
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"...Pakistan has lost a desperately needed leader. With Pakistan's future in the balance, the West's help and support will be crucial, but that means recognising that Musharraf is not the only leader who can resolve Pakistan's many problems and manage the war on terror. On the contrary, by nurturing the present environment of instability and uncertainty, Musharraf himself must be regarded as one of Pakistan's biggest problems."
December 31, 2007
"The Elections Must Go Ahead"
The Guardian, Comment is Free...
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Without credible elections, restoration of the independent judiciary and effective curbs on the activities of the country's intelligence agencies in internal affairs, Pakistan cannot be rescued from a certain slide into more chaos. Pakistan's history is full of cover-ups and Bhutto's murder is proving to be no different.
December 28, 2007
"Blame the Unfinished Afghan War"
PostGlobal, A Conversation on Global Issues with David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria
By Kayhan Barzegar, Former Associate, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, 2010–2011; Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/international Security Program, 2007–2010
"The assassination of Bhutto is the consequence of an unfinished job started in 2001 by the international community in Afghanistan; it is also a blow to the war against global terrorism and to democratization in the region."
AP Photo
November 26, 2007
"Is the NWFP Slipping Out of Pakistan's Control?"
Terrorism Monitor, issue 22, volume V
By Hassan Abbas, Former Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
"The NWFP is not likely to physically slip out of Pakistan’s hands.... Religious political forces have lost some of their support base (Daily Times, November 22) due to poor governance ..... Musharraf’s arbitrary imposition of emergency rule (read: martial law) has targeted those very forces which can challenge extremists. Many human rights activists and lawyers in the NWFP were arrested and top judges of the NWFP high court known for their progressive views and integrity have been sent home. Among the militants, however, this action of Musharraf is being interpreted as his weakness, further emboldening their activities...."
