KARACHI, March 27: The two-day conference on “The State of International Relations in Pakistan” organised by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi, concluded here on Thursday after discussing various aspects of the post-Cold War developments, especially since the 9/11 tragedy.The conference was organised in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission and Hanns Seidel Foundation.

In his keynote address, Dr Maqsoodul Hassan Noori, a senior research fellow at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, said that research methodology and its teaching were essential for a vibrant intellectual culture. “It is research that instils the real impetus of growth in a society.”

As a “subordinate system”, South Asia has to face the hegemonic cultural and educational onslaught of the West. Most of the models/paradigms and frameworks are western in origin. It is increasingly felt that indigenisation should be carried out to adapt these models to suit the cultural and social particularities of the region.

Dr Noori said that the post-9/11 developments had presented challenges with the centrality of nations coming under increased pressure from non-governmental organisations, international advocacy groups and threats of ethnicity, terrorism, climate change, globalisation, migration and Aids.

“For the discipline of IR to progress along scientific lines, a multi-pronged approach is needed,” he stressed.

Prof Moonis Ahmar, Chairman of the KU IR department, said that the culture of research required a peculiar openness of mind which could entertain critical and crucial issues.

Prof Rukhsana Qamber, Director of the Area Study Centre for America, Islamabad, said her institution had consistently been pursuing research activities to explore the most significant features of political and economic life of the people living in the Americas.

Prof Naveed A. Tahir, Director of the KU Area Study Centre for Europe, said that the scope of European Studies was expanding fast because of the extraordinary economic integration taking place in Europe.

Prof Azmat Hayat Khan, Director of the Peshawar University’s Area Study Centre for Central Asia, said his centre was equipped with modern expertise for understanding politics of a particular region, adding that findings of regional centres could be very useful for governments and policy-makers.

Dr Shaheen Akhtar, a senior research analyst at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad, said that her research institute like similar others could contribute immensely towards the formulation and implementation of foreign policy objectives and mechanisms.

Mr Ghulam Murtaza Khoso, a lecturer at the Area Study Centre for South East Asia and Far East, Sindh University, highlighted the importance of Pakistan-China friendship, and said the relationship required renewed contacts to be established in terms of increased trade and finance.

The penultimate session focused on the institutionalisation of the IR discipline in Pakistani universities.

Dr Imtiaz Ahmed of the Dhaka University suggested the creation of an International Studies Association of South Asia along with an “international relations assembly”. This association, he believed, could immensely tie the institutions in a powerful network.

Dr Adnan Sarwar of the Peshawar University, Dr Zulfiqar Chughtai of the Balochistan University, Mr Sarfaraz Korejo of the Shah Abdul Latif University, Dr Naeem Ahmed of the Karachi University and Prof Talat Wizarat, former chairperson of the KU IR department, also spoke at the conference.

In the end, shields were presented to the distinguished participants.