ISSN: 2219-0562 Vol. V, Issue I, 2013 ISSRA PAPERS Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA) National Defence University, Islamabad Patrons Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal, HI (M) Patron-in-Chief Major General Noel I.Khokhar, HI (M) Patron LieutenantColonel Dr. Saif ur Rehman Editor-in-Chief Lieutenant Colonel Manzoor Ahmed Abbasi Editor Mr. Muhammad Usman Asghar Assistant Editor Advisory Board Maj General Hidayat ur Rehman, Chief Instructor, B Division, NDU, HI (M) Islamabad Dr. Lubna Abid Ali School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Dr. Noman Omar Sattar Acting Director, Area Study Centre for Africa, North & South Asia, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Dr Huang Qixuan Assistant Professor, School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China Dr. Shanthie Mariet D'Souza Research Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore Dr Daanish Mustafa Department of Geography, King's College, London ISSRA Papers is sponsored and edited by the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA), National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Manuscripts and editorial communications may be directed to the editor. Statements, facts and opinions mentioned in ISSRA Papers are [ solelyof the authors and do not imply the official policy of the Institution, Editors and Publisher. Telephone: 051-9260651-52 (Extension: 5272) Fax: 051-9260663 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ndu.edu.pk ISSRA PAPERS VOL-V, ISSUE-I, 2013 CONTENTS Page  The Modern Decalogue: Mashriqi’s Concept of a 1 Dynamic Community Dr Sarfraz Hussain Ansari  Emerging Middle East: Interplay of the New 25 Power Centers Mr. Muhammad Shabbir  An Appraisal of Health Sector in the Backdrop of 45 18thAmendment Ms Asma Sana  The Social, Political and Economic Effects of the 65 War on Terror: Pakistan 2009 to 2011 Mr. Tariq Khan  Environmental Issues of Indus River Basin: An 89 Analysis Abdul Rauf Iqbal  Governance Issues in Pakistan: Suggested Action 113 Strategy MuhammadUsman Asghar  US Asia Pivot Strategy: Implications for the 135 Regional States Ms. Beenish Sultan  Priority Areas in the Parliamentary Legislation 151 (2008-2013): An Appraisal Ms. Mahroona Hussain Syed  IMF-The Economic Tool to Advance American 177 National Interest Faqir Hamim Masoom Editor’s Note The salient feature of ISSRA Papers First Half 2013 is that its focus has been shifted more towards the analysis of governance and policy issues. It was very encouraging for the editorial board that highly experienced and serious researchers are now approaching, to get their papers published. The readers will find a marked difference in the quality of papers in the days to come. The current issue contains important papers, dealing with a variety of policy issue. The first article,written by Dr SarfrazHussainAnsari, dilatesupon the philosophical discourse of Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi (1888 – 1963), who was trained as a scientist, but during his studies at Cambridge, he took up diverse subjects. He experienced the functioning of the British Raj from close quarters and also watched the fall of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey. He became interested in the study and reform of conditions, in which Muslims found themselves at that juncture. The paper contains invaluable insight, as to how a balanced world-view can be promoted. The next article ‘Emerging Middle East: Interplay of the New Power Centres’, written by a passionate researcher of NDU, Mr. Muhammad Shabbir, is a pertinent survey of existing situation in Middle East. A power transition amongst the regional players is now under way, from which new power centers are emerging. In this regard, this study attempts to assess the geo-political effects of the ‘Arab Spring’ on the region; to delineate the impact of rise of Islamists on the regional policies of Egypt, Turkey and Iran; and to evaluate the consequences of a possible Israel-Iranian war on the regional balance of power and geo-strategic developments. i The next paper, written by Ms Asma Sana, a faculty member of NDU, deals with equally important subject of public policy i.e. Health Sector of Pakistan, an area which rarely attracts the attention of researchers. The health sector has become a provincial matter and, resultantly, the Federal Ministry of Health has been dissolved. This paper is an attempt to investigate the impact of 18thAmendment on the health sector and it also suggests measures for improvement in our health policies as well as in their implementation mechanisms. In his paper ‘The Social, Political and Economic Effects of War on Terror’, Pakistan, Mr. Tariq Khan has provided very useful empirical analysis of War on Terror in the context of Pakistan. The paper attempts to study the social, political, and economic effects of the war on terror on Pakistan from 2001to 2009. This issue also contains a paper on ‘Environmental Issues of Indus River Basin’, written by Mr. Abdul Rauf, a Research Associate at NDU. The central argument of his paper is that continuing population growth is significantly reducing per capita water availability and increasing industrialization and urbanization are bringing important shifts in water use. Climate change is exerting additional, chronic strains on water resources, potentially shifting the seasonal timing or shuffling the geographical distribution of available supplies. He pleads for a rapid planning for both the conservation and preservation of water resources in Pakistan. Another NDU researcher, Mr. Usman Asghar, has taken up the issue of governance in Pakistan. He argues that Pakistan needs to review and revise its policies to achieve effective and efficient governance practices. Law and order, energy, economy, political stability and national harmony are the key governance issues in Pakistan, which need comprehensive policy response. ii The paper ‘US Asia Pivot Strategy: Implications for the Regional States’, written by Ms Beenish Sultan, a Research Associate at NDU, analyses the U.S. foreign policy focuses in the Asia, particularly in the Indian Ocean. The paper argues that it is now one of the vital US interests to secure its economic outreach, so as to provide a ladder to its defence planning. In order to tackle the economic dominance of China and deal with its own declining economy, the U.S. made public its ‘Asia Pivot’ strategy. This envisaged a policy of confronting some, while cooperating with others, asthe prime objective. The second last paper, titled ‘Priority Areas in the Parliamentary Legislation (2008-2013): An Appraisal’, written by Ms Mahroona Hussain Syed, Research Associate at ISSRA, contains an analysis of existing practices in the parliamentary legislation in Pakistan. The paper argues that the most important policy issues, which impact on the lives of the people, somehow, do not find place in the priority list of legislation and how important it is to conduct research not only on policy-formulation practices but also on the promotion of policy advocacy. The last paper of this issue ‘The Economic Dependency of Countries on International Monetary Fund (IMF), written by Intern Faqir Hamim of NDU, looks at the IMF as a policy tool for the US, to advance its national interests. Citing a number of cases, as to how, when and where USA has been using IMF to pursue its national interest, detrimental to other states that are recipients of the IMF loans, the writer argues that the countries like Pakistan should be vigilant about IMF machinations. The paper offers fresh perspectives and alternative lens on contemporary issues. iii The Modern Decalogue: Mashriqi’s Concept of a Dynamic Community Dr Sarfraz Hussain Ansari1 Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi (1888 – 1963) was trained as a scientist, but during his studies at Cambridge, he took up diverse subjects; including one Triposs in Oriental Languages. Back in the then British India, he became Vice Principal of a celebrated college, namely, Islamia CollegePeshawar. He experienced the functioning of the British Raj from close quarters and also watched the fall of the Ottoman Empire in Turkey. He became interested in the study and reform of conditions, in which Muslims found themselves at that juncture. In studying the Muslim decline, Mashriqi generalized the problem; as he did not look simply at the fall of Muslim power. He took into account all nations of the world and theorized about the rise and fall of any nation. Indeed, he went further and thought in terms of welfare of humanity as a whole. Mashriqi's concern for the mankind was justified in view of the First World War’s toll, which shocked all thinking people in the world. To Mashriqi, annihilation of the human kind seemed to be a distinct possibility. In seeking to answer the problem so formulated, Mashriqi made use of his religio-scientific training. He elaborated a view based on synthesis of religion and science. 1Dr. Sarfraz Ansari holds Ph.D in Pakistan Studies. He is currently serving as Assistant Professor at Department of Government and Public Policy, National Defence University, Islamabad. ISSRA Papers2013 1 The Modern Decalogue: Mashriqi’s Conceptof A Dynamic Community This paper will attempt to answer three questions:-  How Mashriqi attempted synthesis of religion and science?  What did Mashriqi understand by a dynamic nation?  What were the elements of his ‘Modern Decalogue’ that could facilitate the creation of a dynamic nation? Mashriqi’s Synthesis of Religion and Science Religion, according to Mashriqi, was "the greatest of all that is believed and practiced in the world".1 Rituals, sacrifices, offerings, alms, pilgrimages, prayers, donations etc, were continuing mysteries of religious practices and customs; they were taken for granted by followers of various religions prevalent in the world. Overwhelming majority of people felt no need to understand the mystery of the ongoing religious practices. Not only the common man, but the learned and wise also participated in rituals, without much analysis. One and all considered rituals as a `vital purpose of their life'. Mashriqi says, "In the entire history of man's presumption and belief, in fact, in much of what constitutes an account of his struggle and action, Religion alone is that persuasive and quiet catalyst the amazing influence of which is visible almost on every individual. And, religion, too, is such an undebatable, unarguable, and unceasing heritage of man that everybody considers that his inherent right to keep it in unquestioned custody2". The problem, of course, was that such universality of religious devotions and rituals was equally matched byuniversal disagreement on the nature of religion. It had not been possible, moaned Mashriqi, "to find an irrefutable and unanimous agreement even about the Being of God and His real Will".3 Indeed, there was no sign of 2 ISSRA Papers2013 Dr. Sarfraz Hussain Ansari decrease in mutual difference among Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims, "every man considering his ownFaith true and the rest a mere falsity".4There was the universal conflict, negating the claim of all religions to possess any truth. The universality of religion with its `murderous mutual conflicts' presented a great problem.5 "Much of the bloodshed in the world, its horrifying wars, its great conflicts and massacres were attributed to differences in faith. Often a people did massacre another, because it had a different religion, and because it professed a different faith, worshiped another god, believed in a different prophet".6To Mashriqi, such a state of affairs was not in the interest of mankind. He thought it was of universal importance to seek solution to the problem. By the time Mashriqi was pondering over the problem, science had come to assume the status of a powerful social force. Utilitarian applications of scientific knowledge led to the production of such magnificent results in practical life as thousands of miles of railway track, millions of yards of cloth, unlimited steam power, iron and steel machinery, devices for instant communication, and multiplication of innumerable conveniences for the benefit of mankind. They all struck the imagination so forcibly as to make any question of the scientific assumption look like superstitious folly. Mashriqi was convinced that with the development of scientific knowledge mankind came to draw firm conclusion and was led to "new openings to power".7 It was on the theoretical front that science was even more relevant to his purposes: science had begun to win consensus of ever increasing number of people on many contested issues. Science could create unanimity as to its findings, its `truths'. Mashriqi noted, "Human beings were unanimous on the facts of mathematics".8 Knowledge of scientific laws, e.g., the law of gravitation acted to end many quarrels ISSRA Papers 2013 3