This document discusses a new international research and education network connection between Pakistan and the United States. It notes that the physical connection will be an STM1 connection between Singapore and Karachi, connecting Pakistan's research network PERN2 to the global research network structure. The funding for the connection comes from the US National Science Foundation and Pakistan's Higher Education Commission. It is expected to be operational on August 15. The connection represents an opportunity for enhanced collaboration between scientists and researchers in both countries.

1. Pakistan – US International Research and Education Network Connection A international cooperative activity E TEIN3 South Asia Feasibility Study – August 11, 2008 Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Some background on the connection Physical connection details The opportunity presented by this connection

3. The US inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin said, “ An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”.

4. This project has it genesis in the US-Pakistan Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology lead by Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman of the HEC and Dr. Arden Bement of the NSF. One objective that originated in that meeting is, now quoting directly from the report…“introduction of high speed connectivity between the two countries”. However, one point needs to be made clearly. The primary objective of the Joint Committee Meeting was to enhance collaborations between US and Pakistan science and technology efforts. This network connection is an important mechanism for enhancing those collaborations. But, it is only a mechanism. It is now our responsibility to use this mechanism, this network connection, as a tool to enhance Pakistan-US science and technology activity.

5. Pakistan Network Connection STM1 connection between Singapore and Karachi, connecting PERN2 to the global NREN structure Funding split between the US-NSF and the Pakistan HEC. Expected to come alive 8/15 A project involving many partners HEC in Pakistan NSF in the US US Department of State TEIN2 Project of the EC

9. Cooperative Activity This project is possible because of cooperation between the Pakistan HEC, the US National Science Foundation, represented by Indiana University and the European Commission represented by the TEIN2 Project. Without any one of these partners, the project would be impossible (or at least much more expensive). This type of cooperative activity seems to be somewhat new, but essential in the extension of R/E networking to South Asia.

10. Applications and Regional Networks Networks are not useful without applications Regionally aggregated networks are more useful than stand alone networks The most useful networks are those driven by applications Regional networks driven by applications are very powerful forces in research and education and in pursing additional development funds.

11. Questions and comments…. Jim Williams Indiana University [email_address] http://pakistan.indiana.edu http://globalnoc.iu.edu