National Security Policy of Pakistan — 2021
THE National Security Policy (NSP) of Pakistan has been approved by the Cabinet on 28 December 2021. Earlier, it was presented and debated in a forum of key stakeholders: The National Security Committee (NSC). As per National Security Advisor, Moeed Yusuf, the National Security Policy of Pakistan primarily aims to strengthen the security apparatus with a clear direction to tackle all internal and external challenges, facing the state and society of Pakistan.
While elaborating the essence of NSP, Moeed Yusuf said that, NSP of Pakistan is formulated on the lines of a ‘comprehensive national security framework’ which takes into consideration all aspects of national security while the “ultimate purpose of national security was to ensure the safety and security of citizens.” Studying the international models of national security policies, the key constituent of national security includes the element of good governance as the predominant principle. Good governance in turn covers; “accountability, transparency, rule of law, participation, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency.”
Having a comprehensive national security policy after decades is a very well-coming step. Unfortunately, the crisis of national security and national integration in Pakistan have severely affected its political stability, social integration and economic stability in it’s over seven decades of history. Indeed, in the absence of a national unity and integration there remained challenges for the national security of Pakistan. In a way, there is a direct relationship between national integration, national security, political stability and economic prosperity. In the words of scholars, the ‘national security is the ability to preserve a nation’s physical integrity and territory to maintain its economic relations with the rest of the world on reasonable terms to preserve its nature, institution and governance from disruption from outside; and to control its borders.’ Harvard University professor Charles views national security through the lens of national power. He defines the “National Security… is best described as a capacity to control those domestic and foreign conditions that the public opinion of a given community believes necessary to enjoy its own self-determination or autonomy, prosperity and wellbeing.”
The current dominant discourse on national security in Pakistan is based not only upon regional and international realities but also on the issues of identities, democracy and issues related to the social transformation of society. The society of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has fragmentation along ethnic, religious and linguistic lines. The cohesiveness of these entities is crucial to build an integrated nation. Unfortunately, Pakistan has been subverted from within and the nation is struggling for a unified identity to mark its political culture.
Pakistan is an Islamic ideological state and it should safeguard its ideology overtly, for it is the repository of its nationalism, national spirit, interest and power. Any programme for national integration would pre-suppose a graceful acceptance and realistic recognition of the fact that Pakistan is a multi-cultural, lingual and ethno-national nation-state and society. Pakistan’s ethnicity can be transformed into a positive asset. Cultural co-existence resulting from cultural confluence and interaction is the answer for Pakistan. Pakistan has developed a culture of political intolerance and by-passed the true Islamic ideology and as a result, having no de facto national integration. Pakistan should plan the remedial measures so that its national security can be ensured through national integration. True democracy with the involvement of people of Pakistan (rather dynastic base democracy) is the binding force between national security and integration.
Indeed, seven decades is not a less a time needed for nation building and social transformation of Pakistani society. This process of transformation of a nation into a proud and prosperous nation is not a complex assignment. It needs dedication, statesmanship and nationhood where masses are aware and stakeholders of any decision, taken by Parliament. Unfortunately, no serious efforts have been made to formulae policies where political parties and masses were amalgamated with each other. It may take even centuries and heavy cost before attaining such landmarks of national integration. However, the process of nations’ disintegration is swift and simple in nature, needing no expertise. One wrong decision at strategic level can quash a nation’s achievements of hundred years.
The history of Pakistan is full of such irrational decisions which proved against the national interests and national integration. Relying too much on external powers and following their dictates while ignoring the domestic situation and economic status without doing cost-benefit analysis caused huge losses to the state and society of Pakistan. A state’s internal peace and stability is the most important ingredient towards nations’ building. A safe and secure country provides a platform to all the state’s institutions to flourish and perform their functions to their optimum capacity. Safety and security shall also attract the domestic and foreign investors to put their money for good return, ultimately befitting the state and its people.
The factor which serves as a catalyst in the recipe of a nation’s building is the technological advancement through education. The investment in the education sector provides solution to the causes of a state’s failure as reflected in the ignorance theory of nations’ inequality. Low education breeds poor leadership — ill-informed, illiterate, inefficient, ill-advised and ignorant of the worth of the national wealth — ultimately dragging their country to a dismal situation, whereas education produces enlightened and informed leaders, advisors, think-tanks and policymakers, capable of taking the country out of crisis. Through a good governance system, state’s machinery can provide good governance, ensuring the optimum functioning of the state’s institutions, especially those linked with provision of public services.
The wholesome behaviour of Pakistan in the domestic affairs and international arena is the mixture of its economic, political, social and security paradoxes. Therefore, the states’ elite, advisors and analysts should discuss all in sync, rather in isolation. Let’s follow an institution’s progress which leads to sympathetic detonation on other institutions, triggering the process of national unity, integration, prosperity and finally providing guarantees for the national security of Pakistan.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
