Direction alignment by National Security Policy
A country in the world can achieve its goal of national security only if its inhabitants are protected from all forms of deprivation and oppression.
The state should be the guarantor and protector of all their basic human rights, there should be complete unity and consensus at the national level, and the country should be self-sufficient in economy along with defense.
Pakistan has long felt the need to formulate a unified national strategy and in this matter, the present government has made a practical progress by formulating a five-year National Security Policy.
The public version of this policy has presented to the nation while the confidential part is related to the internal and external security of the country and important state affairs.
The document brought before the people has clarified the need for national security on which Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that “the nation’s fate has been rectified by the Security Council” while Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that military security is only one aspect of national security and the formulation of a comprehensive policy covering all aspects of national security is a correct and timely step.
Even though the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s National Security Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Nasir Janjua had also prepared its preliminary draft, but no progress could be made in its customary formation.
Understanding the graveness and functionality of the National Security Policy, the present government has not only formulated the National Security Policy, but also has brought it before the people and linked with them in the form of modelling economic resilient Pakistan.
It is commendable that the government has harmonized the national security policy with the economic policy. The government is fully aware that only a strong economy can guarantee strong defence. If the economy is weak, defence will be vulnerable too.
Therefore, the survival of the country is possible only by building the economy on strong foundations and this will improve the stability of the country and as a result a strong bond will be established between the people and the state.
Welfare and well-being of the common man, its participation in national affairs and consultation in important matters are also considered as important pillars of national security, if the citizens of a country do not have access to basic amenities and opportunities for advancement, national resources cannot be augmented or their distribution is not fair, so ignoring the issues of education, health and law and order is considered as appropriate then national security will remain in danger.
The PTI government has taken steps in the right direction by covering all these issues in the National Security Policy, but formulating a National Security Policy alone will not solve all the problems of the country, fast and fruitful practical steps will also have to be taken.
The first thing to do in this regard is to control the growing population at the top and then provide other facilities.
It has been increasing for many decades, so no national security policy will be of any use to us until the increase in poverty and ignorance will not be stopped. In this regard, the National Security Committee will have to come up with an effective strategy.
No matter how many beautiful and expanded number of words are used, they will not change the destiny of the nation and will not be able to correct the direction.
—The writer is a regular columnist, based in Lahore.
