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VOL. 31/47 Friday, November 19, 2021 Rabi Al Thani 14, 1443 AH
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South Asian Scholars Spotlight Climate, Economic Issues

From left: Jyotsna Mehra, Kashif Hussain, Kashoon Leeza, and Muhsin Puthan Purayil

n By Elaine Pasquini sector and for development of solar upon principles and a common nar- ently, Pakistan is finalizing a law South Asia, and offers extraordinary
and wind projects. In these ventures, rative that the Quad could push at granting Gilgit-Baltistan provisional opportunities, he enthused. “The
Washington, DC: On November 3, US companies could capitalize on a organizations that look at tech stan- provincial status, which India has region could be an area of focus for
the Stimson Center hosted an online 300,000 English-speaking IT talent dards. contested. regional and global actors to share
discussion on climate base, she pointed out. Muhsin Puthan Purayil, PhD The world’s largest glacier sys- steps to help foster a cooperative
change, US-Pakistan Presently, given that Pakistan candidate in political science at Hy- tem outside of Greenland and Ant- environment and direct energies to-
cooperation, Quadri- and the US are at a political impasse, derabad University, addressed the arctica is in the Karakoram range of wards mitigating effects of climate
lateral Security Dia- the shift from geopolitics to geo-eco- issue of India’s public diplomacy the Himalayas, which extend from change by undertaking sustainable
logue (Quad) deliv- nomics must be driven by the private through diaspora engagement. This the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan development initiatives.”
erables and diaspora sector, Leeza explained. participation through non-govern- to the India-administered territory Gilgit-Baltistan has acquired
politics. In her policy brief, Jyotsna Meh- mental means is aimed at building of Ladakh. importance since the China-Paki-
Kashoon Leeza, ra, consultant at India’s Ministry of “people-to-people ties and influenc- The Indus River and its tribu- stan Economic Corridor – Chinese
editorial and advocacy specialist at External Affairs, outlined the policy ing public opinions in order to influ- taries, directly or indirectly, provide President Xi Jinping’s global infra-
the Islamabad Policy Research Insti- of the Quad partnership of India, Ja- ence their government policies,” he fresh water to almost two billion peo- structure plan known as the Belt and
tute, discussed her work on revitaliz- pan, Australia and the United States, explained. ple across Pakistan, Afghanistan, In- Road Initiative – connects Gwadar
ing Pakistan’s economic cooperation which was created in 2004. While Since the Modi government’s dia and China, Hussain said. About Port with China’s Xinjiang province.
with the United States. “It’s a known the group initially focused on China, inclusion of diaspora engagement 15 percent of these glaciers have al- “I recommend the creation of
fact that US-Pakistan relations have there is a view in Quad capitals that as part of its public diplomacy, sig- ready melted since the 1970s and are new offices to work simultaneously
been security-centric and over the since the Biden administration took nificant efforts have been brought to continuing to diminish. “Decrease of on conflict and climate under local
past two decades…was focused over the focus is now on more global political, institutional and policy lev- the original ice mass can significantly governments,” Hussain said. Think
largely on Afghanistan,” she said. issues. “But…discussions around the els, he said, describing the diaspora effect irrigation, agriculture, tourism, tanks could help devise policies for
Since the US military withdrawal Quad still have a lot to do with China as “new public diplomats” who are hydroelectric speed, drinking water, these newly created offices and “a pri-
from Afghanistan, “for the relation- even if they do not explicitly say so,” expected to engage their host society, catastrophic plagues and cross bor- ority should be to find consensus to
ship to sustain in the long-term it Mehra stated. political elites and opinion makers der conflicts,” he explained. “The ris- declare this entire area an economic
must build on shared interest-based Health care, emerging technol- on critical matters related to foreign ing temperature to two degree Cel- free zone. This would be a confi-
interaction.” ogy, defense and security are areas affairs and policies related to India. sius will leave half of these glaciers dence-building measure between the
Chinese economic presence of interest to the Quad, she said. But, people divided along melted.” countries to reduce tensions.”
in Pakistan is increasingly raising The group has already set ambitious strong party ideological rationales Gilgit-Baltistan’s abundance of Authority should be given to
concerns in Washington, which, ac- health security targets and will look are challenging each other’s views rivers and streams are a tourism des- indigenous people because “for seven
cording to some experts, limits in- at health supply chains especially in through competing narratives, he tination for hikers and nature lovers, decades the international communi-
vestment opportunities for US firms, the field of pharmaceutical ingredi- said. So, consequently, “we have frag- along with lofty mountains, lakes, ty failed to reach any solution for this
Leeza explained. “Pakistan has not ents. mented narratives coming out on pasture, unique culture and histori- vital region rich in natural resourc-
been an attractive investment desti- In addition, climate change, in- certain policies, instead of a cohesive cal sites. The province is home to all es, especially water,” Hussain said.
nation for [US] investments initially telligence sharing and forming a de- narrative,” Purayil lamented. five of Pakistan’s “eight-thousanders,” “There is a need for a solution and
due to security conditions and… fense minister’s forum should be ad- Kashif Hussain, research asso- mountains that are more than 8,000 for that locals and indigenous must
administrative hurdles such as bu- dressed in the future, Mehra added. ciate at Islamabad’s Strategic Studies meters in height. be empowered. Cooperation would
reaucratic red tape and inconsistent On technology, the Quad has Institute, spoke on the challenges Its strategic location between help resolve the disputed border wars
taxation policies.” worked on developing a statement of of climate change and prospects for China, India, Afghanistan and Paki- by creating workable solutions and
Pakistan is an emerging mar- principles on technology design that conflict resolutions, specifically in stan makes it a connecting point to help devise holistic solutions to all of
ket for the tech and clean energy could form the foundation of agreed the mountain communities. Pres- Central Asia, Southeast Asia and these environmental issues.”

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