Video: Najam on Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism
Interviewed by the CCTV America news talkshow The Heat (January 11, 2016), Dean Adil Najam of the Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies, said that counter-terrorism efforts against the Taliban will only work if there is a coordinated and comprehensive effort by both Pakistan and Afghanistan. He added that for both countries bringing governance and ‘state authority’ to ungoverned regions will be at least as important as military action.
A guest on The Heat’s discussion on the impact of Afghan peace talks and counter-terrorism measures, Najam argued that the levels of trust and the working relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is so low that a comprehensive solution is difficult unless the major powers in the region – both USA and China – help the two in working better together.
Najam was of the view that while the task is arduous there is a new seriousness on the Pakistan side, particularly within the Pakistan military through its Zarb-e-Azb campaign.
You can see the video of the full show, including Dean Najam’s interview, here.
Dr. Adil Najam is the inaugural Dean of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. Earlier, he served as Vice Chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Lahore, Pakistan. His research focuses on issues of global public policy, especially those related to global climate change, South Asia, Muslim countries, environment and development, and human development. More on him, here.