SEARCH ARTICLE

36 Pages : 351-361

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2020(V-I).36      10.31703/gssr.2020(V-I).36      Published : Mar 2020

Media Agenda on War against Terrorism: An Analysis of British Newspapers

    The war against terrorism was started by the Bush administration after the attacks of September 11th . In this context, America attacked Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 alongside British forces and NATO allies. The present article explored the agenda of the British press regarding War against Terrorism in British press. The study conducted thematic analysis of two mainstream British daily newspapers i.e. The Guardian and The Independent. The standpoint of the British press was inferred to find out either they supported the government stance or they adopted a critical viewpoint regarding these two wars. The results indicated that the British press advised their government to adopt responsible approach to deal with the crisis. Mostly, the issues related to terrorism, Al-Qaeda, US policies and British role in the war against terrorism dominated the news agenda of the British newspapers. The press stressed on the strong role of UNO during the war against terrorism.

    War against terrorism, the guardian, The Independent, thematic analysis, agenda setting, 9/11 attacks
    (1) Aasima Safdar
    Assistant Professor,Department of Communication Studies,Bahuaddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Samia Manzoor
    Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies,Bahuaddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Beenish Zaheen
    Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication,The Women University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.

04 Pages : 55-70

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-II).04      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-II).04      Published : Jun 2018

Terrorist Incidents and Trade

    Employing a trade flow data from 1990 to 2013 within 50 countries, this study estimates terrorism effects on trade. The trading countries are grouped as trading partners (a) within developing countries (i.e. South-South), (b) within developed countries (North-North) or (c) within developed and developing countries (i.e. North-South). The analysis shows that all the standard gravity-type variables carry expected sign while the terrorism effect on trade is recorded significant on statistical grounds and negative when South trades with North.

    Terrorism incidents, War Against Terrorism, South-South Trade, North-North
    (1) Zahoor Ul Haq
    Professor & Dean, Department of Economics, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Zia Ullah
    Assistant Professor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Javed Iqbal
    Assistat Professor, Department of Economics, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.

25 Pages : 434-446

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-I).25      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-I).25      Published : Mar 2018

Impact of Electronic Media on Pakistan's Security

    To control the mindset of any society, media plays an important role due to its ability to transfer information and thereby transform societies. Electronic media which thrives on conspiracies, has not lost its importance and TV is still a popular means of communication. By virtue of technological innovations, electronic media has a vast impact on all segments of society (exposure to modern technology and becoming vulnerable). In the contemporary world, terrorism is a major security threat in Pakistan. Continuous open electronic media coverage of issues occur with inherent bias. Against this backdrop, the role of media becomes crucial as the media agenda is gradually turning into the public agenda. Electronic media is inherently biases to the opinions of those reporting the situation. Admittedly, media can influence a large chunk of society. Importantly, Pakistan’s private TV channels while giving an insight to the audience, intentionally or unintentionally, may drive a negative mindset and give birth to perceived security threats. This paper attempts to ascertain the complex connection between security and the electronic media and also highlights the negative impacts of media on the security of Pakistan.

    Media, Security, Social, Society, Terrorism, TV, Internet, State
    (1) Sarwat Rauf
    Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Inayat Kalim
    Head of Department, IR Program, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Muhammad Mubeen
    Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

05 Pages : 85-108

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).05      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).05      Published : Dec 2017

Kashmir at Crossroad: The Partition's Unfinished Agenda

    Independent dominions in shape of Pakistan and India emerged as result of partition on 14 August and 15 August 1947 respectively while the fate of over 500 princely states awaited decision. Due to overwhelming majority of Muslims, Jammu and Kashmir should have acceded to Pakistan. The hardness in Indian stance resulted in the two wars i.e. of 1965 and 1971 besides two limited wars of 1947-48 and 1999Kargil war. South Asia remained on the brink of war in 2002 standoff and the current escalations in Azad Kashmir. Contrarily, both Pakistan and India had agreed upon the United Nations resolutions, including, "the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be decided through free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of United Nations". The Indian strategy was to gain time on the pretext that "Indians are superior to Pakistanis in military and industrial power therefore Pakistan would accept a settlement imposed by the Indians". Additional India pleaded that Pakistan had joined defence Pacts with west, so India moved away from the process of Plebiscite. Now, India wants to discuss only terrorism brushing aside the core issue of Kashmir. Resultantly, the people of Kashmir are at the mercy of despotic and tyrant Indian Forces and they are suffering the most. How long the innocent population of Kashmir will be looking to ask the world to come forward for an open hearted settlement of this long outstanding dispute? The situation may escalate into a nuclear flashpoint.

    Pakistan, Kashmir Issue, India, UNO, India, Cross Border Terrorism
    (1) Hikmat Afridi
    Phd Scholar, Department of Politics & IR , International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
    (2) Manzoor Khan Afridi
    Assistant Professor and HoD, Department of Politics & IR , International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
    (3) Ijaz Khalid
    PhD Scholar and Demonstrator, Department of Political Science, AWKUM, Mardan, Pakistan

07 Pages : 122-136

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).07      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).07      Published : Dec 2017

From Peace Talks to Operation Zarb e Azb: Politics of Consensus Building for Counter Terrorism

    Pakistan faced severe challenges of violent extremism and terrorism after US invasion of Afghanistan. The successive governments pursued both political and military means to bring an end to this problem but to no avail. The war against terrorism was highly unpopular among the people and it was the main cause of failure to combat terrorism. In 2013, the newly formed government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to give peace a chance after a decision of an All Parties Conference (APC). Consequently, the dialogue process, through the committee members nominated by the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ensued that kindled the hope of peace and stability in the country. However, the process was crippled after a few months and government launched a military operation against TTP and other militant outfits in the country. The paper explores the factors that lead the government to start peace talks with TTP and analyzes the challenges that dialogue process faced and ultimately caused its failure. Finally, it highlights the benefits, particularly the national consensus to combat terrorism that dialogue process produced despite its failure to bring peace in the country.

    Peace, Talks, Terrorism, Taliban, Military, Operation, Consensus, Government.
    (1) Manzoor Ahmad Naazer
    Assistant Professor, Department of Politics & International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (2) Sadaf Farooq
    Assistant Professor, Department of Politics & International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (3) Masood Rehman Khattak
    Lecturer, Department of Politics & International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

01 Pages : 1-17

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2016(I-II).01      10.31703/gssr.2016(I-II).01      Published : Dec 2016

Pakistan Internal Security Dilemma: Strategic Dimension

    The paper reflects on Pakistan's complex security situation and the causes of current challenges that Pakistan is facing due to vacillating foreign policies. It also reviews the role of factors that contributed towards the instability of the country. After Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan involved in a proxy war and trained Mujahideen to liberate Afghanistan. In 1980's sectarianism floored the state, and since it has rooted in Pakistani society. The country brokered several Post-Soviet peace agreements between different militaristic groups in Afghanistan but in vain. Finally, it recognized Taliban for the cause of peace (though temporary) on its Western border. After 9/11 the country had to reluctantly take a "U" turn on its Afghan policy under immense US pressure. This swing of policy opened a Pandora-box for the country i.e. terrorism, Jihadist, ethnicity, sectarianism, economic and political instability in Pakistan. In this state of affairs corruption, deteriorating law and order situation, political instability and economic fragility, variables of internal security, act as key factors in a peaceful solution of conflicts.

    Terrorism, Jihadists, Sectarianism, Ethnicity, Militancy, Political Parties, Militant Wings, Economic Instability, Taliban, Dictatorship, Civilian Rule, Democracy
    (1) Sohail Ahmed
    Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, COMSATS, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Mahwish Bakht
    Research Scholar, MSIR, COMSATS, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Sumbal Hussan
    Junior Research Fellow at HRC, Islamabad, Pakistan.

01 Pages : 1-17

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2016(I-I).01      10.31703/gssr.2016(I-I).01      Published : Jun 2016

Political Islam in Perspective

    The paper critically evaluates the notion that political Islam is a threat to world peace. The argument is developed in the light of Islamic history and fundamentals of Islam and the research is based on primary and secondary sources. There was a time when magical influence of Muslims in every field of life (socio-economic, Political scientific) was conspicuous. For instance, Al Farabi's books influenced platonic theories. Similarly influence of Sufism on the works of William James, Goethe, August Comte, Nietzsche, Voltaire and Rousseau also cannot be over looked. Muslims taught geology, geography understanding of mathematics rules of philosophy and Industrial Arts and quality of products. Islamic state and society showed many signs of internal decay by 11th Century. The symptoms of decadence were discernible even earlier, the decline of the power and prestige of the caliphs even in their own capital. So, the problems lay with Muslim rulers and parties in rule but not with political Islam. The result was weak administration which shook the foundations of Islamic Empire. It is very important to have a state in order to preach Islam that is why, Mohammad (SWS) established Madina as a political entity to prevail justice on the lines of Quranic injunctions.

    Political Islam, Pakistan, Muslim World, Terrorism, Dialogue, Collaboration
    (1) Zahid Anwer
    Professor (tenured), Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
    (2) Nelofar Ikram
    PhD scholar, Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.

06 Pages : 54-63

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-II).06      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-II).06      Published : Jun 2021

Neo-Orientalist Gambits in South Asian Global Game in Aslam's The Blind Man's Garden

    This study focuses on the great global game of chess of Neoimperialist played in South Asia. It explores that to fetch global capitalist designs, global forces have devised a global Neo-Orientalist game of chess in three perspectives, i.e. economic, cultural and political, for three-level players, i.e. great players, little players and domestic players. The economic ventures urge the need to divide the South Asian Muslims into good and bad categories through neo-orientalist cultural and political gambits, as is revealed from Nadeem Aslam's 'The Blind Man's Garden' (2013) that critiques the hegemony of Neo-imperialist global forces working purely for their global designs in the region. It exposes economic, political, cultural and strategic motives behind two basic goals: the establishment of neo-imperialism through the elimination of borders for neo-liberalist gains by homogenizing world culture; and the eradication of global terrorism for which war has already been launched there.

    Globalization, Great Game, Terrorism, War on Terror
    (1) Atta-ul-Mustafa
    Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities & Linguistics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Amara Javed
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, Government College Woman University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Sahar Javaid
    Lecturer, Department of English, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

01 Pages : 1-8

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-IV).01      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-IV).01      Published : Dec 2021

ISPR Productions vs. Nationalism, Inclination to Join Army and Image Building: Case of Pakistan's Military Operations

    This study targets to investigate the impact of Inter-Services of Public Relations (ISPR) production, broadcasted during the war against terrorism, on Pakistani youth. It is hypothesized that ISPR productions have helped in inflating the motivation level of Pakistani youth, thus helping in promoting the nationalism and positive image of Pakistan. Furthermore, the role of ISPR productions in motivating youth to join Pakistan's Army is also explored. A cross-sectional survey research design was used. The sample of this study was comprised of youth aged between 18 to 24 years, selected through the non-probability purposive sample. The measures comprised of a self-constructed indigenous questionnaire assessing the impact of ISPR productions during a military operation in image building, promotion of nationalism and motivation to join the army. The data analyzed through SPSS Version 22.00 yielded insightful findings. The finding revealed that watching ISPR productions helped in instilling a fervent attitude of Pakistani youth towards nationalism and the Pakistani military. There had been a clearer inclination of youth to aspire for joining the military for upholding the nationalism beliefs, and this finding appears promising, keeping in mind the relative declining opinion that has been observed in youth from the past decade pertaining to nationalism and military operations.

    ISPR Productions, the War against Terrorism, Image Building, Nationalism, Inclination to Join the Army and Pakistani Youth
    (1) Rubab Musarrat
    Lecturer, National University of Modern Languages, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muniba Fatima Zahra
    Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Media and Communication Studies, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Amna Ashraf
    Lecturer, National University of Modern Languages, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

22 Pages : 223-229

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).22      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).22      Published : Mar 2022

Ahmed's Journey into Islam: A Critique of Essentialization of Islam

    Islam in western literary and non-literary discourse has been represented stereo typically as a static, extremist, jihadist, fundamentalist religion of terrorism, a threat to western ideology. Akbar S. Ahmed's Journey into Islam critiques the distorted images of Muslims, Islam and its practices.This article attempts to highlight the stereotypical representation of Islam and Muslims in media and academic representations. The theoretical framework for this research paper is based upon the methodological assumptions derived from Edward Said's Covering Islam (1997). It explores the true picture of Islam as a religion of peace, compassion and harmony and challenges the association of terrorism with Islam.

    Islam, Jihad, Stereotypes, Media, Terrorism, Expansionism
    (1) Muhammad Ijaz
    Lecturer in English, Department of Humanities and Linguistics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
    (2) Ghulam Murtaza
    Associate Professor, Department of English, Government College University, Faisalabad. Punjab, Pakistan
    (3) Bahadur Ali
    Lecturer in English, Department of Humanities and Linguistics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan