Conflict Management in Pakistan

1. Conflict Management in Pakistan Presented by: Thomas Asberg thomas.asberg@pacs.nu

2. What is a Conflict? Conflict is an evitable & pervasive aspect of human life Forms: • intra-personal conflict – within individuals • inter-personal conflict – between individuals • intra-group or national conflict – within groups, organizations, communities & nations • inter-group or international conflict – between groups, organizations, communities & nations

3. Effects of Conflicts Negative Positive • promote new ideas • destruction of relationships and lives • unpleasant • encourage better understanding • undesirable • stimulate growth • communication process break down • facilitate more effective solutions to problems • increase in problems • erection of barriers

4. What is a Conflict Management? Conflict management is a multi-disciplinary, analytical, problem-solving approach to conflict that seeks to enable the participants to work collaboratively towards its management Management connotes ‘settlement’, workable solution or consensus. There is no simple formula that makes conflict vanishes, but there are approaches that can minimize the destructive effects of conflict and maximize the possibility of management.

5. Conflicts in Pakistan at a Glance Conflicting views and Pakistan is no exception • Afghan war and its repercussions • Ethnic Strife – tension amongst provinces – regional groups assert their cultural and nationalist agendas • Sectarian Strife -- Political exploitations in the name of religion • Role of Pakistan as frontline state, serving American interests in the war against Communist Soviet Union • Military dictatorship • Regional tension – Pak-India conflict over Kashmir

6. Afghan War & Its Repercussions • the migration of Afghan refugee groups to major urban regions of Pakistan added to antagonisms within the Pakistani society, especially in Karachi where ethnic strife increased • The shift in the Afghan movement where Pakistan began backing rabidly pro-Islamic elements after the Afghan movement had failed to arrive at a pro-Pakistan and pro-Saudi solution gave a fillip to Islamists in Pakistan • the establishment of a powerful network of militant ‘Madarasas’, originally set up to train volunteer 'students' - for the war in Afghanistan. These ‘Madarasas’ combined weapons training with a fundamentalist & violent interpretation of Islam • drug trafficking was encouraged for the short-term motive of financing the Afghan resistance movement which, now, is the most important source of finance for most militant groups

7. Ethnic Strife • roots primarily concentrated in Karachi & other urban regions of Sindh • concentration of ‘mohajirs’ – those migrated after Indo-Pak partition • shift of powers from to Punjabi bureaucratic military clique • Feudalism • Power exploitations • Economic disparity Management Steps the increase in literacy level and awareness, has reduced the conflicts to certain degrees and people have started realizing that unity is one of the major keys for progress & success… present government has played a significant role in propagating this spirit of unity amongst the different groups…

8. Sectarian Strife • roots of the conflict can be traced to the use of religion by General Zia-ul-Haq (1977-88) as tool for regime legitimization • religion was exploited for political gains • strong correlation was established with the war Soviet intervention in Afghanistan (1979) • American support in the Afghan war against Soviet Union strengthened the militant forces with these religious groups • ‘Madrasas’( religious schools) & training camps were established in the name of Islam, actually working with the support of external forces with vested interests Management Steps Present government has put a stop on establishment of these ‘Madrasas’, campaigns are initiated for the elimination of such institutions and students of these institutions are encouraged to go to regular schools…. End of Afghan was has also reduced the concentration & external support for this sector

9. Sectarian Violence Year 2001 Year 2002 Comparison shows the control and reduction in the violence, which speaks of the policies and steps taken by the present government plus also highlights the positive aspect of end of Afghan war

10. Pro American role of Pakistan • the popularity of the religious political parties in the recent elections is the result Military Dictatorship • hindrance to democracy • control of power in concentrated hands Pak-India Conflict over Kashmir • arms race • threat to regional peace Management Steps Measures have been taken to address these issues by both the public & private sector to increase awareness amongst the people to eliminate the negative forces being generated thru these conflicts

11. Conclusion Low literacy rate, lack of education & awareness, high poverty level led to the exploitations of the people at all levels, giving birth to issues which were sponsored for negative objectives associated with power game. In a nutshell, I conclude that ignorance is the weapon of mass destruction and leading to rise of conflicts and other associated problems …so steps should be taken for the elimination of ignorance and promotion of education…