The Centre for Middle East & Africa (CMEA) in collaboration with Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), University of Peshawar organized a webinar titled “Evolving Situation in the Middle East: Implications for the Region” on September 2, 2020.
The distinguished panel of speakers included: Dr. Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, Director IPCS; Ambassador Javed Hafeez, Former Pakistani diplomat; Dr. Farah Jan, Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Syed Qandil Abbas, Associate Professor, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.
In her introductory remarks, Ms. Amina Khan, Director CMEA said that there exist a plethora of issues in the Middle East, all of which are extremely significant and highly relevant to both the regional and global political milieu. There is the oil crisis, conflicts in Syria and Yemen, massive refugee exodus, the longstanding Saudi-Iran rivalry, the role and relevance of OIC in uniting the Muslim world, the possibility of a nuclear arms race in the ME, forging of new alliances as well as the most recent and unique challenge of the coronavirus pandemic; all of these issues contribute to the evolving situation in the Middle East. Fault lines within the Middle East are several and remain constantly evolving which makes it an ideal region for inquiry, research and debate. While issues revolving around growing economic disparity, displaced populations, land disputes, sectarian conflicts and ethnic rivalries warrants serious pondering and discussion – by far the issue of Palestine and plight of the Palestinians stands out as a unique example of occupation and apathy.
