Pakistani Educational Leadership Project at Plymouth State University

The following paper was written by David Chorney. David is currently working with us as a student intern and wanted to share his paper with our Pakistani cohort in the interest of receiving local feedback on the position he holds in this writing. The following is an abstract, the paper is available on our site here.

To: Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asia

From: David Chorney

Subject: U.S policy towards Pakistan

Date: 02/22/08

Executive Summary

• The United States needs a consistent foreign policy towards Pakistan to increase trust between the two nations, stop the terrorists gaining a strong hold in the tribal areas, help stop terrorist recruiting, and to promote a growing democracy.
• Policy One: Is a combination of democracy and allying itself with Pakistan’s military. No Sanctions. Create an equal relationship with the civilian government and the military.
• Cost Benefit of Policy One: Major costs are money and time. Promoting democracy may result in an election of a leader that is part of an Islamic movement or anti-American.
• Benefits: Look at the past and the al Qaeda leaders captured with good relations with Pakistan. Greater Stability in Pakistan. Liberal theory says democracies are more peaceful and work better together.
• Policy Two: Build up infrastructure. Reform Pakistan’s educational system to decrease the number of students going to radical Madrassahs. Proven evidence from NGOs this will work. Also look at how stabilization helped China’s economy.
• Cost of Policy Two: Make sure aid is used for the educational reform. Do not need another Abdul Qadeer Kahn. The problem arising from empowering a mass of people. Building up infrastructure could create more competition.
• Benefits: A lot of potential. Diminish the amount of recruits terrorist groups can choose from. Direct correlation between uneducated people and terrorism. Education will help stabilize country and modernize economy. Look at India’s young educated skilled workers.
• Policy recommendation three: Give aid to military. Develop tribal areas. Restore political legitimacy in Pakistan. Short term answer.
• Costs of policy three: Money and the reaction of the army to a civilian government. Cost of Musharraf not accepting a civilian government or power sharing agreement.
• Benefits of policy three: In tribal areas ends reliance on terrorist groups. Legitimizes government and political system and gives power to choose back in the people. Helps develop economy. Promotes good working relationship between U.S army and Pakistani army. Short term solution to problem put increase troops on border of Pakistan in Afghanistan.
• Recommended policy: Combination of Policies two and three. Educational reforms coupled with the economic development of the tribal regions. Also military aid and political reform to restore legitimatization.

Hello everyone!  I am Michelle Lauriat- the Administrative Assistant for PELI.  

We are thrilled to be in the final stages of planning for the institute and are eagerly awaiting your arrival at Plymouth State University!  I have reviewed your nomination packets numerous times and I am very excited to finally meet you all in person. 

Have a safe and enjoyable trip – we’ll see you on Sunday!

-Michelle

Greetings to the incoming cohort. At Plymouth State University we are in the final planning phase for your arrival. In collaboration with our Pakistan partner, ITA, we have been designing a two part orientation that will take place in both countries.

During the Institute’s Orientation Week, you will be participating in introductory seminars, learning about a range of available resources, and meeting the the University’s dedicated Pakistani Committee. The Committee consists of professionals from the University community who are involved with the Pakistani Project throughout the year. It also expands to include graduate faculty, graduate students, doctoral and undergraduate interns, and community volunteers.

The Institute schedule is packed with educational and cultural opportunities. Because of the grant goals, much of the academic component will be field based. You will be exploring dynamic environmental and cultural heritage models developed by the National Park Service and the White Mountain National Forest. Other academic sessions will focus on sustainable energy initiatives for inclusion in the classroom and educational leadership, management and planning. Please share with us any pertinent curricular frameworks and standards.

You also have been invited to join the Arts in Education Institute and Plymouth Writing Project for interactions with your New Hampshire counterparts.

We have been reading your nomination packets with great interest. It will be fascinating to hear more about the wonderful work that you all are accomplishing in Pakistan – the learning always goes both ways.

At Plymouth State we look forward to welcoming you as our honored guests and colleagues. Special thanks to ITA and the Pakistani Project’s alumni for their input on Institute planning.

Regards,

Blake Allen, Director, Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute

Michelle Lauriat, Administrative Assistant