Centre For Afghanistan Studies
September 30, 2023 2024-08-20 4:39Centre For Afghanistan Studies
Research Centres
Centre for Afghanistan Studies (CAS)
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About Us
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Team
Located at the crossroads of South Asia and Central Asia, facing southwards from the Hindukush into the Indian sub-continent and looks down northwards into India’s extended neighbourhood.
Afghanistan’s political geography has left a deep imprint not only on the regional geo-political calculus but is also mirrored in its diverse and complex socio-cultural tapestry.
Traditionally the India has had deep civilizational links with Afghanistan. The change in political geography of the region with the 1947 partition notwithstanding, India has maintained good political relations with the Afghan state. The only aberration thus far being the period of Taliban rule (1996-2001). India’s engagement with the country was stepped up after 2001 with the aim of contributing to international efforts to bring peace, stability and eventually resuscitating the country as a bridge between South and Central Asia. However intensified political and diplomatic engagement has not translated into a deeper socio-anthropological understanding of Afghan society, essential to evolving a sound policy prognosis.
The Centre for Afghanistan Studies (CAS) through its research intends to provide a window into complex yet fascinating dynamics shaping socio-cultural, geo-political and economic landscape of Afghanistan. CAS would contribute to cutting edge, policy oriented research on Afghanistan and its implications for the region at large. It would also provide a platform for collaborative exchange programs and transmission of knowledge to students and scholars.
Mission
- Engage with key thematic of politics, society and culture in Afghanistan and its impact on regional geo-political dynamics.
- Undertake collaborative research and transfer of knowledge to host societies.
Objectives
- Serve as a resource hub for students and scholars on Afghanistan and the larger region.
- Contribute to cutting edge research.
- Promote exchange of knowledge, ideas and people.
Activities
1. Institutional networking
Collaborate with research and educational institutions in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Promote active exchange of research scholars and students.
2. Research
Engage in trans-disciplinary research, drawing on, but not limited to fields of history, anthropology, sociology and political science.
Examine the impact of prolonged armed conflict on the social, cultural, political and geo-political landscape of Afghanistan.
Establish a first of its kind resource centre on Afghanistan in India in collaboration with the Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University.
3. Course(s) Offered
South and Central Asia: Key Issues and Perspectives
Dari Language
4. Outreach
Disseminate research findings in the academic and policy circles through organization conferences and research publications
CONTACT US
DR. RAGHAV SHARMA
Associate Professor, Assistant Dean (Academic Affairs) and Director, Centre for Afghanistan Studies
Mob : +91-8396907463
Email : raghav@jgu.edu.in
BLOG:CHARCHA
Charcha is a forum for discussion of and engagement with ideas. The blog has been conceptualised in keeping with the vision of CAS of a commitment to an exchange of knowledge and ideas across societies and disciplines. We encourage young researchers, students and academics to offer contributions analysing recent developments in Afghanistan and the region. Contributions are encouraged on, but not limited to:
- History
- Politics
- Society and Culture
- Security and Foreign Policy
- Gender
- Education
- Economy
We accept contributions on three languages:
- English
- Pashto
- Dari
Blog posts are broadly expected to adhere to the following guidelines:
- The length of the blog posts should be between 1,000-1,500 words.
- The blog posts should be written in a manner that they are accessible to a wider, non-specialist audience.
- Blog posts can include images (not more than four) and tables, graphs. These source for these must be appropriately cited.
- Please include a short author biography along with an email.
All blog posts must be submitted to the Editor via email (raghav@jgu.edu.in). The editorial team would require 5-7 working days to review your blog post prior to publication. Please feel free to get in touch with our editorial team to share and/ or discuss ideas/ topics that you may be interested to publish on. Please note all blog posts would be subject to an editing process which may include suggestions for additions, deletions or revisions.
Blog Posts
- The Paradox of Refugee Protection for the Refugees from the Global South
- EXAMINING THE LEGALITY OF THE US INTERVENTION IN AFGHANISTAN
- Rise, fall and subsequent rise of Taliban and its implications.
- The Myriad of The Grand Trunk Road India-Afghan Relation in The Age Of Taliban
- Does Afghanistan Matter to The World Anymore? Part I: Insights into The Western Engagement With Afghanistan.
- The Fall of Kabul and Its Security Forces
- Maleficence and Mystics Sufi Principles Versus The Taliban Regime
- Cultural Massacre in Afghanistan Heritage Plunder and Its Preservation
- Afghanistan’s Economic condition – Past, Present and
Future - Profiling the Taliban I
- Profiling the Taliban I
- Profiling the Taliban II
- Profiling the Taliban III
- Profiling the Taliban IV
- Profiling the Taliban V
- Profiling the Taliban VI
- Profiling the Taliban VII
- BARRAN : A Movie Review
- A Morning in Kabul
- Afghan refugees living in India
- Afghanistan Peace Talks: The Participation of Women [Download PDF]
- Triade – Coalition against Terrorism [Download PDF]
- Afghanistan’s Re-integration in SAARC [Download PDF]
- Experiencing Afghan Hospitality [Download PDF]
- Interfaith Peacebuilding Workshop (17-18 Oct 2018)
- Buzkashi: The Power Politics in the Field [Download PDF]
- Improved Indo-Afghan Trade Relations [Download PDF]
- Gender Dynamics in Afghanistan [Download PDF]
- Ashraf Ghani’s Visit to India[Download PDF]
- How Cricket is Changing the Lives of Afghans[Download PDF]
- Cooperation between Indian Armed Forces and Afghan Armed Forces [Download PDF]
- Indo-Afghan Relations: Turning a new page under Modi? [Download PDF]
- An Overview of Multi-National State Re-Building through the aegis of the ISAF [Download PDF]
- Afghan Parliament since 2015 [Download PDF]
- Afghan Drug War [Download PDF]
- Understanding Post-9/11 Afghanistan [Download PDF]
- Nawruz Celebration in Mazar-i-Sharif [Download PDF]
- Women in Afghanistan: Past, Present and Future[Downlod PDF]
- Afghanistan’s Unending War [Downlod PDF]
- Decoding the Growing Relations between Russia and the Taliban : Reasons and Implications [Downlod PDF]
- US NSA’s visit to South Asia – implications for India[Downlod PDF]
- Afghanistan: A Country Profile [Downlod PDF]
- Inaugural edition of Charcha, Centre for Afghanistan Studies (CAS) online blog. Hima Bindu in conversation with Mr. Omaid Sharifi, founder of path-breaking initiative Art Lords, Kabul, Afghanistan. FEBRUARY 2017.
[Downlod PDF]\=]\ - The Af-Pak dispute[Downlod PDF]
- Discussing China’s Role in Afghanistan By Ishita Dutta
- What Does the Afghanistan Situation Mean for India? By Ishita Dutta
- Pre-Taliban Developments of Commercial Dispute Resolution in Afghanistan By Zahid Omarzai (October 2021)
- Virtual Talk and Photo Exhibition on ‘Afghanistan: People and Places.
- Afghanistan, the Taliban Regime and the Question of Governance
- Panel Discussion- ‘Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Understanding the Changing Dynamics of the Region’ Date: 5 May
- Online Public Lecture on “Ethnic Conflicts in Pakistan: Global Perspectives Vs. Reality” Date: 17.05.2021
- Part of the Problem or Solution?: Regional Perspectives on Afghanistan’s Road to PeacePart of the Problem or Solution?: Regional Perspectives on Afghanistan’s Road to Peace Date: 24.04.2021
- Part of the Problem or Solution?: Regional Perspectives on Afghanistan’s Road to Peace- Date: 24.04.2021
- Afghanistan: Prospects of Stable Peace, Prospects of Continuing War? – 4th June 2020
- United Religion Initiative workshop on “Inclusive Peace-building – 27th-28th Feb , 2020
- Public Lecture on Problems in integration of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan By Afrasiab Khattak
- Parwana , a play in collaboration with the IIC an India Afghan Foundation 2nd November , 2019
- United Religions Initiative – workshop on “Interfaith Peace -building” ” 19th-21st October,2018
- Food truck by ILHAM, group Afghan women refugees on Campus on the occasion of women’s day
- Public lecture by Kenneth Holland on “Peace-Building for Nation Building:Searching for international peace in the age of Globalisation”
- Public lecture by Charge’d Affairs , His excellency Mohammed Naim Tahir Qadiry , on Afghanistan post 9/11
- Book Launch “Two Lanes through Afghanistan”, authored by JSIA students
- Public Lecture on “chinese Outreach to Afghanistan” By Dr. Raghav Sharma
- Public Lecture on “My Enemy’s Enemy: India in Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion to US Withdrawal” By Professor Avinash Paliwal
- Invite to you the Screening of Rabindranath Tagor’s
- Invites to you the screening of “The Breadwinner”
- Invites to you the screening of “Buzkashi boys”
- Public Lecture on “Chanakya Chakra on Twitter #CCdialecticsAfghanistan @Chanakyachakra ‘s second discussion forum wi”
- Invites to you screening of Children of Heaven
- Screening and discussion on “Discussants: Saber Salem and Shukriya Yar”
- Signing ceremony of Memorandum of Undarstanding (MOU) between The American University of Afganistan in Kabull & O.P Jindal Global University
- Movie Screening on “The Kite Runner”
- Movie Screenings of the Baran
- Movie Screenings of the Colour of Paradise
- Seminar Reports
Islamic Radicalization in Pakistan with Captain (Dr.) Alok Bansal
- Afghanistan: People and Places
- Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Understanding The Changing Dynamics of The Region
- Afghanistan from Bonn to Doha: The Challenges Ahead?
- Part of the Problem or the Solution? Regional Perspective on Afghanistan’s road to peace A webinar report. By Ishita Dutta.
Project on School Education in Faryab, Afghanistan
This is a short term, third party project being executed in collaboration with Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA)(https://iwaweb.org ). The project aims to critically and comparatively evaluate the sustainability of educational facilities set up by Norway and Department of Defence, USA respectively across ten different provinces of Afghanistan. Key findings of the project have been compiled in the form of a report published by IWA. For a copy of the report’s full findings : (Click here).
Khanabadosh: Experiences and Implications of Afghan Refugee in India
CAS has been awarded a grant by the Research Committee of Jindal Global University (JGU) to execute a project on Afghan refugees in India.The foremost concern of this research will be to critically engage with the experiences of conflict displaced Afghan population in India living as non-camp refugees. The foremost concern of this research would be to engage with the question of what are the key drivers propelling Afghans to migrate to India in larger numbers? Second why does India lack a structured legal regime for refugee protection? An engagement with this question would also entail examining differing approaches adopted by the Government of India to different communities coming to the country in search of refuge. An engagement of such nature assumes significance in light of continued inflow of displaced populations into India, in addition to Internally Displaced Populations (IDP’s) within India.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
Himabindu Karibhuktha
Associate
Shukriya Yari
Research Associate
The Centre for Afghanistan Studies is committed to its vision on the joint production and dissemination of knowledge on Afghanistan through conducting joint research, webinars, exchange of students and faculty. CAS has thus sought to actively forge partnerships with a diverse set of educational and research institutions in Afghanistan. Below is a list of our partners in Afghanistan:
Center for Afghanistan Studies Internship Guidelines
Center for Afghanistan Studies (CAS) provides internship opportunities for all students of JGU who preferably have a background in–but not limited to–history, sociology, political science, international relations and public policy. This is a voluntary internship that enables students to get practical experiences through variety of activities. CAS accepts applications for internships on a rolling basis for a minimum period of eight weeks. The intern will work closely with the CAS management team to assist in the center’s activities.
Roles & Responsibilities
Assist in preparing information and research materials
Assist in administrative duties of the center
Organize center’s events i.e. movie screenings, trainings, workshops, conferences etc.
Regularly update center’s website content
Engage audience through regular posts on the center’s social media platform
Publicize center’s blog among students
Contribute a minimum of two articles or one research paper to the center’s blog
Assist in conducting research projects
Any other activity assigned by the team
Criteria & Qualifications
Full time student enrolled in the under–graduate or Postgraduate program at JGU
Proficient computer skills
Excellent command of English language
Dari and Pashto language skills are preferred
Excellent communication skills
Ability to work individually and as a team player
Ability to execute assigned tasks in given deadlines
Please note interns are not offered any remuneration. Your application must be accompanied by a detailed CV; a one-page cover letter stating why you wish to intern with the center; and one short writing sample of 800 words. Interested candidates may send in their applications to raghav@jgu.edu.in or bdaud@jgu.edu.in. to raghav@jgu.edu.in
Journal:
- Forthcoming:Sharma, Raghav– Afghanistan: A Country Profile in Markus and Kerri (eds.)– Handbook of Asian States, VDM Verlag, Germany, 2020
- Forthcoming: Sharma, Raghav– Afghanistan and Geo–Politics of the Sub–Continent in Dhalival, Shweta (ed.), Routledge, UK/India, 2020
- Forthcoming: Daud, Bilquees– Education for Peace, Rehabilitating Non-Violent Discourses in Afghanistan, Omniscriptum, Latvia, 2020
- Daud, Bilquees ‘Perception of Afghanistan in the Western Media’ published by Afghanistan Center at Kabul University on 18th April 2020.
- Daud, Bilquees ‘Reading Edward Said’s Orientalism in 2020’ published by Afghanistan Center at Kabul University on 2nd March 2020.
- Sharma, Raghav- Afghanistan: Discerning China’s Westward March, Asian Affairs, October 2019, Routledge, London,
- Sharma, Raghav– What’s Next for the US–Taliban Peace Deal, The Asia Dialogue, University of Nottingham, 08 April 2019, https://theasiadialogue.com/2020/04/08/the-long-read-what-next-for-the-us-taliban-peace-deal/
- Daud, Bilquees– Peacemaker from the Past: Bacha Khan’s Challenge to Radical Islamic Narrative, IIC Quarterly, Vol. 46, No.1, New Delhi, 2019
- Peacemaker from the Past : Bacha Khan’s Challenge to Radical Islamic Narrative
- PASHTO LANDAY : A Mirror of Folk Life
- EDUCATION COMPROMISED? – A Survey of Schools in 10 Provinces of Afghanistan
- Sharma, Raghav- Afghanistan ‘s Ethno-Political Challenges: A case for Federal Arrangements in Arpita Basu Roy and Srimanti Sarkar ed. THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN: ISSUES AND PERSP ECTIVES, Knowledge World Publishers, New Delhi, 2016.
- Sharma, Raghav– Nation Ethnicity and the Conflict in Afghanistan: Political Islam and the Rise of Ethno-Politics (1992-1996) , Routledge, London UK, 2016
- Sharma, Raghav“Afghanistan’s Ethno-Political Challenges: A Case for Federal Arrangements” | in Arpita Basu and Srimanti Sarkar ed., The Political Future of Afghanistan: Issues and Perspectives, Knowledge World Publishers, New Delhi, 2016
- Sharma, Raghav– Book Review: Rajen Harshe and Dhananjay Tripathi (Ed.), Afghanistan Post 2014: Power Configurations and Evolving Trajectories. New Delhi: Routledge, 2016, pp. 248, Rs.895. ISBN: 9781138666917, India Quarterly, Sage Publications, 2017, Vol.73, p.1–4
- US Withdrawal from Afghanistan: A Power Decline?
- Unfolding Developments in Afghanistan with Ambassador Farid Mamundzay
- The Gendered Experiences of the Changing Hues of the Afghan landscape: In conversation with Heather Barr
- The Mechanics of Radicalization in Afghanistan; from Refugee Camps to Madrassas
- Discerning Social Change and Women’s rights in Afghanistan with Dr. Bahar Jalali
- Changing optics of Indo-Afghan Relations: A View from New Delhi.
- The ‘Artivists’ of Kabul with Mr. Omaid Sharifi
- A Place Called Home(?) With Dr. Anwesha Ghosh
- Understanding The Taliban Identity with Ms. Sippi Azerbaijani
- The Afghan Peace Process with Dr. Omar Sharifi
- The Resilient Redlines of Afghanistan- Women in Peace and Security, with Ms. Wazhma Frogh/h4>
- Afghanistan’s Arduous Path to Peace: from Bonn to Doha with Mr. Malaiz Daud
- The Pashtun Question – with Mr. Abubakar Siddique
- The Afghan Peace Deal and Beyond- with Mr. Tahir Qadiry, chargé d’Affaires of Afghanistan to India
- Life and Struggle in Balochistan- with Mr. Mazdak Baloch, political activist.
- The Pashtun Question – with Mr. Affrasiab Khattak
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