Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA) was formally launched on May 3rd 2008 as a think-tank by a group of academics, activists and media persons (see minutes of the first meeting on http://www.airra.org/meeting/meeting1.htm ) after detailed discussions for more than one year among the members and friends around the world. AIRRA has been working as a virtual and vibrant organization during this period. The Islamabad office of AIRRA was formally launched on Dec 21 2008 while Peshawar office was inaugurated on March 30, 2009. The theoretical basis for the organization goes like this.

As there are diverse issues and diverse perspectives of opinion makers (and of people around the globe) on the issues related to the people of FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Northern Baluchistan, we would like to go with the multiplicity of theoretical frameworks which means that no single theory, ideology or dogma will be owned by the thin-tank. The only criteria are moderate rational thinking, scientific approach and objective methods. As the land and people are in world focus, we need to create more spaces for different stake holders while articulating the perceptions of the people of all the ethnic, linguistic, cultural and socio-political groups that inhabit in FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwaand Northern Baluchistan between South & Central Asia. Each society has its own needs. They only need to be spotted accurately within the existing context. Therefore we have sufficient ground to exist as we have loads of needs. But such Needs are required to be defined and described (through research work) so that we have reasons to address them.

The founding members of AIRRA here assign this role to themselves not primarily representing a section of the population but because they would like to ‘try to associate themselves (theoretically speaking) with popular organizations and help the general population itself become organized. This should lead us to conclude that by all means we would like to avoid the fallacy of ‘beating the people with the people’s stick’. The Think Tank would collectively make all efforts to avoid the pitfall of vying for any kind of political power. We strongly support the role of individuals and organizations in presenting solutions and directing the dynamics of change towards empowerment and prosperity of the people at large.

AIRRA is a non-profit organization which has been envisioned to remain independent, both ideologically and organizationally, and is meant to carry out scientific and rational studies for policy recommendations to countries in the region (South and Central Asia), international community and development organizations. The geographical focus for research will initially remain to be FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern Baluchistan in Pakistan, and South and Eastern Afghanistan because of convenience and easy accessibility.

AIRRA shall focus thematically to understand and recommend for human security, social development, regional cooperation and an environment free of extremism and terrorism that would probably usher in an era of pluralism, equal economic and political opportunities, rule of law, and individual and collective empowerment for the people of South and Central Asia within their state institutional frameworks in consonance with nature.

• AIRRA shall publish books, monographs, papers and policy based research reports on the region. This may lead to the construction of an indigenous discourse which AIRRA will strive to integrate with the discourses on national, regional and international levels.
• AIRRA shall promote a pluralist, tolerant and empowering environment through arranging orientation sessions for budding researchers, activists, media persons and parliamentarians.
• AIRRA shall push forward for the inclusion of policy recommendations emerged as a result of scientific research studies through conferences, seminars, vigils and peaceful demonstrations. For this purpose, AIRRA shall make every effort to network and collaborate with organizations working on or in the region.
• AIRRA shall organize workshops, seminars and training sessions for the development of research skills for those who have the potential to be sound researchers.