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Subscribe to PAKPAC E-Letter February 2009 |
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 Information CornerSummer Internships Fellowships & Internship at White house: White House Fellowships White House Internships http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/ Internship at Capital & Federal Government: Are you starting to plan your summer? Have you considered an internship in DC? (Please note that you must be a U.S. Citizen to work in the US Government.) Department Of Homeland Security has announced a summer internship for college students that are enrolled at least half-time in accredited institutions. Please go to Department Of Homeland Security Summer Internship Vacancy Announcement for more information. Congressman Charles W. Boustany has just announced two internships in his DC office. Please go to the Congressman Boustany website for more information. Current students and recent graduates should submit a cover letter and resume to Jeff Dobrozsi, Chief of Staff, at jeff.dobrozsi@mail.house.go or by fax at (202) 225-5724. For more internships at Hill contact your local elected Congressperson, or contact Congressional Muslim Staffers Association or US Senate Apply for Community Awards: The Arab American Institute Foundation is looking for qualified individuals to apply for our annual Youth Leadership Awards. The Helen Abbott Community Service Awards and the Raymond Jallow Awards for Public Service are given annually by the AAIF for outstanding candidates who have shown a commitment to public or community service. The Helen Abbott Community Service Awards honor students and student organizations whose devotion to community service, selfless acts of care, and interest in improving the quality of life for others reflect the life of the Awards' namesake. Each year the Foundation awards a maximum of two $1,000 individual prizes to exceptional undergraduate students, and one $500 grant to a high school student. Previous recipients have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to balance success in their academic endeavors with selfless service to their respective communities. The Raymond Jallow Awards for Public Service are presented to two deserving candidates whose commitment to public service reflects the life of the Awards' namesake. Two $500 grants are given annually to students and adults who are actively involved in, or plan to participate, in public service. Previous recipients have displayed a strong commitment to service in the public interest. If you feel that you, or someone you know, would be a good candidate for one of our awards, please contact Kyle Haley at khaley@aaiusa.org.  Viewpoint Back to the future: Dr Maleeha Lodhi In his initial days in office President Barack Obama has signaled a fresh start to America’s engagement with the world, pledging to temper power by “humility and restraint” and place greater emphasis on diplomacy to secure its goals. Will this promise translate into a new approach towards relations between the US and Pakistan? Today this relationship is characterized by mutual frustration engendered by a growing trust gap. While the leaderships of the two countries place a high value on their ties, their publics and legislatures increasingly view the other with suspicion and depict each other as an unreliable ally. The advent of a new administration in Washington offers a window of opportunity to redefine and recalibrate relations. Both sides need to guard against unrealistic expectations but be prepared to engage in an honest dialogue. Three things stand out about this troubled relationship from a historical perspective. First, relations have lurched between engagement and estrangement in almost predictable cycles. Second, these swings have occurred under both Republican and Democratic administrations, which have taken turns to impose and then lift sanctions. And, third, the episodic nature of ties has reflected Washington’s changing strategic priorities and shifts in global geopolitics, which in turn has reinforced the perception among Pakistanis that their country is seen from a tactical perspective, and not in intrinsic terms. This burden of history has contributed to a negative dynamic that will need to be addressed if relations are to be placed on a more consistent and positive footing. Read full article FATA—A Most Dangerous Place- Shuja NawazIncreased militancy and violence in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), have brought this region into sharper focus, as U.S., Afghan, and Pakistani leaders attempt to find solutions to the problems underlying the situation there. This most dangerous spot on the map may well be the source of another 9/11 type of attack on the Western world or its surrogates in the region. Should such an attack occur, it likely will be spawned in the militancy that grips FATA and contiguous areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan today. Failure to bring peace and to restore a modicum of stability to FATA will have widespread repercussions for the region and perhaps the world. US Foreign Policy: Democracy Through Developmental in Pakistan - Navaid Abidi President Obama's strategy towards Pakistan is arguably going to be the defining hallmark of his administration's foreign policy. The US needs a strategy that serves long-term goals of eliminating the influence of Al-Qaida, limiting the Taliban's secure base in Pakistan, ensuring the security of Pakistan's nuclear assets, all while making sure Pakistan-India tensions do not become an impediment to economic success of India. Furthermore, the disillusionment of the people of Pakistan with a barely functional democratic state, coupled with the rising tide of extremism and anti-Western sentiments has created a real possibility of Taliban affiliated militant groups expanding effective sovereign control of pockets of the Tribal belt outside of the FATA region. These expanded pockets of extremism further serve as safe heavens for international terrorists. Currently the US strategy is narrowly targeting the operational and financing aspects of Al-Qaida but has no answer to the extremist ideologies that enable distributed and loosely affiliated networks of actors to achieve alignment of action against the US interests. To look beyond this narrow view, Vice-President Joe Biden is spearheading a bill to offer up to $15 Billion in development and economic aid to Pakistan over the next decade. Unfortunately, due to the immense amount of corruption in Pakistan and the mistrust of America's agenda in imposing its values, it is very easy to pour vast sums of money into Pakistan and achieve little progress towards America's strategic goals. Read complete report
Dr. Jamila Khalil - MA
PAKPAC has more openings for active community members to join in and become Board of Directors. Email Nomination@pakpac.net Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee Board of Directors
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Feb 26th at 2237 Rayburn Bldg, Capital Hill, Washington DC PAKPAC is facilitating an advocacy day on hill to educate US lawmakers about Pakistan's needs, and establishing the basis and guidelines of US-Pakistan relationship. A day long program is planned for Feb 26th. PAKPAC encourages its readers to participate in this event. To register for the event please visit PAKPAC website. Special Hotel & transport arrangements have been made for people travelling from outside Washington DC metro area. To show solidarity and unity, the advocacy day is being organized and sponsored by the following organizations (following list is in progress and other organizations are being added) .
Please contact us if you know of any organization that would like to join the above list of participants. Make an appointment with your Congressperson (Representative and Senator) for Feb 26th PAKPAC would like you to setup an appointment with your Congressperson on Feb 26th asking for a meeting in the Congressperson Office or to join Advocacy day participants for breakfast or lunch at the Capital Hill. A suggested letter to be written to your Congressperson for appointment is prepared for your convenience. Contact information about your Congressperson can be found at link. Talking Points PAKPAC in conjunction with other participating organizations have developed a series of talking points that will be shared with Advocacy Day participants and elected officials or their staff. These talking points cover
1)
Pakistan 's
role and the affect on the people of Pakistan in the
war on terror.
If you have questions about the Advocacy day then please contact us via email or 202-558-6404. Registration is required for this event. Community Action Needed Petition the practices of DHS Since its creation following 9/11, many of the policies and practices of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have resulted in the unjust treatment of immigrants, including enforcement measures that separate family members, increased detention of immigrants, and significant backlogs of visa and naturalization applications. With former Governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, recently confirmed as the new Secretary of DHS, let President Obama know immigration policies must be humane, just, and Constitutional by signing the Rights Working Group petition. Petition to waive HPV Vaccine Requirement for Immigrant Women & Girls
Monitor new laws passed that may impact you PAKPAC has setup a site where individuals can monitor bills and laws passed by US Congress that could impact you. Get more information of the bills being discussed or passed. Civil Liberties Guantanamo Bay detention facility to be closed PAKPAC welcomes President Obama decision to close Guantanamo Bay and other detention facilities within a year. President Obama issued three Executive Orders and a memorandum relating to civil and human rights, including requiring the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within one year; reviewing detention policy options; and ending torture and interrogation techniques used against detainees. In addition, Obama has called for a full review of the case Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a citizen of Qatar who being held as an enemy combatant in South Carolina. Employment Discrimination President Obama approved the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a step forward towards addressing employment discrimination. The Act reverses a 2007 Supreme Court decision that required wage discrimination complaints be filed within 180 after the employer's original decision to pay an employee less, even if the employee did not learn about the discrimination until much later. Wage discrimination is an issue that affects many individuals, including women and immigrants, yet can often occur without the employee's knowledge. This law is a milestone in restoring rights to those affected by discrimination and unequal pay. If you feel you or someone you know has been discriminated at work based upon your ethnicity, faith or gender then please contact us. Anti-Immigrant Enforcement Measures Included in Economic Stimulus The House of Representatives recently passed its version of the economic stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. While intended to jump start the economy, it also includes provisions that will have a devastating impact on immigrant workers in the United States. This includes a requirement that all businesses and entities receiving money from the stimulus package use the E-Verify program to check the immigration status of their workers through the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration. E-Verify is an extremely flawed program that uses inaccurate databases; can lead to unjust firings of employees of immigrant backgrounds; and is extremely prone to employer abuse. Furthermore, such a requirement will delay the disbursement of stimulus funds, much needed to remedy the current economic climate, and impose additional burdens on small businesses seeking to grow. As the Senate considers its version of the economic stimulus package, community members are encouraged to contact your Senator through the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) to oppose the inclusion of E-Verify measures, which undercuts the purpose of the bill and will hurt businesses and workers during this economic downturn. Religious
PAKPAC Committees Three New Committees formed PAKPAC has formed three new committees they are:
Education Policy Committee under the leadership of Salman Malik will focus on the needs of Pakistani children and teachers. It will promote cross cultural visits and training.
Mahleqa Samdani will lead the efforts for missing persons in Pakistan. She has worked with think tanks & NGO's in analyzing the role of civil society players in effecting social, political and economic change in the Islamic world.
Rahilla Zafar will head a committee to foster relationship with young Indian Americans. Rahilla has substantial community building and journalism experience in Afghanistan & South Africa. Future Activities
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The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) is a nationwide, membership based, non-profit lobbying organization registered with the United States Federal Government. PAKPAC’s mission includes advancement and strengthening of U.S.-Pakistan relations. It is organized to be a unified voice on issues and concerns common to the Pakistani American community. PAKPAC’s focus includes an active environment to foster greater political and civic engagement amongst the Pakistani Americans. PAKPAC is also focused on collaborating with other regional and national Pakistani American organizations to ensue increased efficacy and reduced duplication of the stated goals. PAKPAC along with our affiliates is working to serve as a watch dog for inaccuracies and bias in media coverage about Pakistan and Pakistani Americans. We are also involved in educating media groups, journalists, politicians, academicians and members of think tanks about views of concern and importance to the Pakistani American community |
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