'You cannot hold two watermelons in one hand': gender justice and anti-state local security institutions in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Drawing on feminist insights and advocacy on identity politics and security, and peace/state/nation building literature, this chapter considers whether normative considerations ought to steer or constrain existing institutional processes, through which, taking into account contemporary security issues, institutional capability is strengthened. This is done with a particular focus on gender justice issues during the peace building process in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The example of Afghanistan elucidates that simply adding women in security institutions based on a top-down gender mainstreaming agenda, does not necessarily ensure gender justice.