PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY 2022-2026

PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY 2022-2026

The very fact that Pakistan has laboured to come out with a fresh National Security Policy(NSP) it’s contents definitively give away two clear deductions. One, a reality has dawned upon Pakistan that it needs to reset, reboot it’s trajectory, and steer a course correction. Two, a realisation has finally struck Pakistan that there is no alternative to self reliance. This 100 page document has only 62 pages for public domain, and rest are secret. The Secret part, necessarily covers the implementation and enforcement of the NSP, which would cover sensitive issues on both internal and external threats. Mirroring  India’s aspirations of Ram Rajya, Imran Khan translates his new Pakistan as Riyasat-e-Medina, that new NSP is aimed to achieve. 

 

The architect of the document is Pakistan’s young scholar and National Security Advisor who is 9th in succession roll. He is one out of the only two civilians that were found suitable for the job. It adds to a positive tenor, because concurrently the opposition in the Parliament is accusing Government of militarisation of civilian institutions, by appointing defence officers as their Heads. Dr Moeed W. Yusuf, the ANSA, had a chartered career graph, from the days he was first picked up by Ambassador William B Taylor picked him in 2010 as South Asia Advisor in US Institute of Peace. It’s here C Christine Faire accused him of being a Pakistani asset promoting his Government’s interests at the expense of US Taxpayers money. Moeed graduated to Chairperson of Pakistan’s Strategic Policy Planning Cell (SPPC), in September 2019, and then to NSA in May 2021. The deep state and its US connections keeps political observers intrigued. May be Moeed, is a catalyst in setting new course for Pakistan’s security. 

The New Security Policy clearly evolves from Pakistan’s threat perceptions which mainly include:

a) Likely collapse of Pakistan’s internal Economy.

b) Disintegration of Pakistan’s Polity due to poverty, inequality, sub nationalism, sectarian and religious fundamentalism.

c) Enmity with India. 

The Policy places economic security at the core of comprehensive national security. NSA states “The challenge before us is to move away from the traditional guns versus butter debate, instead recognising that traditional and non-traditional aspects of national security must be linked through a symbiotic relationship”.  Bhutto days are over when he said “we will eat grass but have a bomb”. The Gun over butter led imbalance has put Pakistan on a verge of Economic collapse. Pakistan ignored the fall of USSR, that was drawn into mad Arms Race and Cold War. China, demonstrated wisdom by sticking to self reliance, indigenous production, industry and designing a shrewd economic strategy to beat giants like USSR. The new NSP has shown shifting focus to Economy and not leasing out strategic location advantage to US in lieu of money, as the earlier Military regimes indulged into. 

The new NSP talks now Geo Economic advantageous location Pakistan enjoys as against geo strategic earlier. Policy discerns to take advantages of inter connectivity as Pakistan is confluence of Central and West Asia with an access to Indian Ocean. The country is betting high on CPEC and economic advantages accruing from. 

Pakistan, has realised its time to liquidate all kinds of sectarian militia that have gone far to claim sub nationalism. The Policy identifies the internal threat and emphasise on Government’s writ to eliminate Non State Actors. To quote from the policy: “Pakistan is committed to safeguarding its sovereignty in all its manifestations by ensuring national cohesion and harmony, ………by ensuring the writ of the state. Our guiding principle for national cohesion and harmony will remain ‘unity in diversity”. It envisages four-pronged policy of engagement: separating reconcilable from irreconcilables; cutting off recruitment; constricting financial sources; and pursuing targeted socio-economic policies to address governance-related concerns in regions where violent sub-nationalist elements operate. 

Indian strategic observers will perforce look at the policy with great amount of suspicion, and it is with a reason. Pakistan, has been ghastly unreliable, unpredictable and venomous. Secondly, hate Muslim and hate Pakistan is new narrative that blows the political wind in the country. Therefore, negating the Policy’s changed outlook would serve Indian domestic purpose as well. The policy on the other hand talks of Kashmir explicitly, dedicating a separate paragraph. Officially, there is no relenting on Pakistan’s Kashmir Policy, but its proxy war to liberate Indian administrated Jammu & Kashmir, is already on a low burner and may remain so in coming summers. This has to be watched closely. With Taliban not singing, Pakistan may find continuing Proxy war little difficult as compared to earlier times. As the US funding gone dry, her diplomatic support withdrawn, Pakistan’s proxy war in Kashmir has a crunch. This aspect is the smell of NSP’s Kashmir factor. 

The question remains of the Classified portion, the 38 pages that explains the execution or enforcement of policy. There is a repeated mention of Whole Nation Approach. Does it imply, a greater synergy between Military and Civil apparatus of Government? Could be a wishful thinking, but our best bet is hope. To quote from concluding paragraph: “Pakistan aims to advance its vital national security interests through a whole-of-nation approach that synergises collective efforts towards the attainment of a prosperous and secure country that is at peace with itself and others. The policy subtly mentions about improving Pakistan’s global image also. Firstly, an attempt to absolve itself from terror funding yoke of FATF and secondly by improving internal security environment.  To quote the Policy Objectives :” Undertaking intelligence-based operations against all terrorist groups, preventing any use of financial sources for terrorism” as well to “Ensure Pakistan remains a secure destination for intellectual activity, businesses, investors, and visitors”. 

It could be an overly optimistic view, but the world is realigning and new order is in the making. So, a new Pakistan can’t be ruled out, that has learnt her lessons hard way. Developments in Middle East and Kazakhstan have a strong message that it’s ultimately well being of its people, that nations hope to thrive at. India must be on a watch to see how does the walk go after a big big talk.