On October 11, 2017, Afghan Studies Center held its first advisory board meeting at the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) office in Islamabad to discuss its ongoing activities and the way forward. CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul welcomed all advisors to the board who include Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, former IG Police Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Ambassador Qazi Humayun, Ambassador Seema Ilahi Baloch, Ambassador Mian Sanaullah, Director General Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Jamal Shah, Member of National Assembly Palwasha Khan, and senior journalist Tahir Khan.
The Center’s main objective is to promote academic, cultural and sports exchanges between the youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The advisors exchanged several recommendations in this regard and discussed ways to make the initiative comprehensive in meeting its objectives. In particular, the advisors proposed expanding its activities in the areas of cultural cooperation, media engagement and education which can play a more positive and influential role in removing the distrust between the two peoples. Members of the advisory board were of the view that CRSS has taken a timely and noble initiative for the two countries at a time when the need to mitigate the growing air of negativity between the two is so dire.
Among its prominent activities, the Center offers an internship program for young Afghans, a monthly series of Pak-Afghan Youth dialogues and workshops for both Pakistani and Afghan youth, as well as an opportunity to publish constructive research focused on the two countries.
The Afghan Studies Center is an initiative by the Center for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad – an independent and non-profit think tank and advocacy center.
