The government of Pakistan declassified the public content of National Security document in January 2022. National Security Policy (NSP) from 2022-2026 is all-inclusive and comprehensive document which takes into account the need for a paradigm switch from military centric approach towards safeguarding economic front.
Historically, Pakistan faces immense security risks across the geographical borders particularly from its arch rival India. Resultantly, maintaining military hard power was essential to its existence. But over the years, wide ranging threat spectrum, changing tactics of the warfare and considering the fact that enemy could possibly exploit the political, economic or societal fault lines voices growing apprehension in policy making circles to meet the non-traditional security challenges.
Multi-pronged security policy also vows special weightage to citizen’s welfare. The chief facet of ‘citizen centric’ approach is to guard the fundamental rights to ensure the prosperity, dignity and development of people.
Economy oriented vision in changing regional security dynamics
National Security document explicit geo-economic vision which supplements geostrategic location to expand economic resources to fortify traditional as well as non-traditional security facets. The policy concedes Pakistan’s foreign policy main concern is to have peace and stability in the region based on mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity. NSP identifies Pakistan’s focus on economic diplomacy in a changing world order rather than being indulge into block politics.
This significant switch in policy is because of securing citizens’ wellbeing and also because of the nation’s bitter experience of its past engagement in Afghan war and acting as a major non-NATO ally in the American led Global War on Terror at the stake of peoples’ development. Henceforth, NSP exclusively reiterates Pakistan is no longer interested in becoming partner in war and conflicts. It doesn’t prefer itself to be merely looked through geopolitical lens rather it’s the time where economic interests would accentuate country’s strategic positioning and engagements.
Securing Economic Front
Pakistan has prioritized economic centered security over military oriented security. This doesn’t mean that Pakistan will overlook traditional threats rather it means Pakistan will stick to combat traditional threats but at the same time will also search for economic allies. In past Pakistan’s national security was India centric but now it has re-conceptualize the national security preferences that in addition to military alliances building economic partnerships and securing economic front is of equal significance.
The policy highlights Pakistan as ‘geo-economic pivot’ where Pakistan find itself as ‘melting pot of global economic interests’. Inclusive economic progress and prosperity first based strategy is vital to national security. Seeking economic development through strategic orientation and diplomatic engagements is something to be celebrated.
Pakistan is focusing on the CPEC, a mega project which opens diverse investment and trade opportunities. It connects China’s Xinjiang province which hold strategic significance with Pakistan’s Gwadar port through the establishment of roads, railways, and pipelines to transport raw materials, oil, gas and cargo. For some geopolitical reasons both US and India opposes CPEC tried to oppose and sabotage the project.
Economy section also brings our attention to prevalent challenges and macroeconomic weaknesses. The policy also hailed to address the challenges of underdevelopment and policy failures. Today socio-economic indicators of Pakistan are quite low and in its 75 years of history Pakistan is still struggling with the colonial legacy of class differences, institutional influences.
The document explicitly stated to address three critical most challenges which includes to encounter external imbalances, to bridge economic inequalities between rich and poor, to meet horizontal disparities between Pakistan’s developed and underdeveloped regions. Economic growth Drivers of statecraft stresses to enhance the ‘national resource pie’ and improve socio economic indicators to uplift the downtrodden section of society.
Pakistan will be able to secure socioeconomic development by relying on export led economy and CPEC is one of the classic mean to achieve that end and procures the benefit of regional interconnectivity. Economic front will be secured through trade, energy, technological innovation, human resource, and education.
Defense and Territorial Integrity
NSP mentions securing air, land, and sea border is supreme alongside dealing with threats in cyber and space domains. The policy draws attention towards conventional military threats particularly from the India. The rise of Hindutva as an extremist ideology poses grave threat to deal with. It also expressed concern over the ‘linger border disputes’ and continuous ceasefire violation of Indian troops along the Line of Control LOC which damages civilian lives and assets.
Pakistan is responsible country and always prefer peace over violence but rising investment of India in defense sector equally creates the necessity for Pakistan to continuous to upgrade its conventional capabilities to deal with any cross-border coercion and intrusion. The defense sections also touches upon the rising competition in maritime domain. It quotes Indian Ocean as a space for contestation.
Henceforth, NSP acknowledges to protect Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ, ensure freedom of navigation, and protection against adversaries’ surveillance of our sea lines of communications and cyber intrusion.
NSP also receives mention of space security. Pakistan has always adopted a clear policy against the militarization of space but considering the Indian developments Pakistan will be bound to invest in national space programs. It further discusses the aims to meet the disinformation and cyber based attacks. Keeping in view the threats emanating from the use of digital soldiers and hybrid warfare tactics adopted by non-state actors, proxies and rival India (as EUdisinfoLab revealed) Pakistan needs all-inclusive approach involving the general public to overcome hybrid warfare threats to Pakistan stability and security.
Foreign policy
Pakistan has prioritized to project its real positive image and shunned all negativity that its adversaries has long been projecting through disinformation campaign and propaganda. Great power competition can be seen over increase resource race and influences. In an evolving world order, Pakistan in contrast to political diplomacy will be relying more on economic diplomacy to have economic gains and to secure strategic interests.
Pakistan holds a vital geo-economic hub and strategic location that bids itself as ‘melting pot’ of global and regional economic interest via connectivity inventiveness. It act as a pivot for linking resource rich regions together. Foreign Policy of any country is based on its national interest. Pakistan’s national interests lies in securing sovereignty and citizens’ wellbeing. A balanced foreign policy possibly lessens conflicts while advancing national interests through economic and political diplomacy playing vital role in foreign policy.
Pakistan wishes regional peace and remains committed to improve ties with its neighbours based on mutual respect. Pakistan has serious concern over India’s unilateral action of August 2019 which people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has strongly opposed. Pakistan stresses peaceful resolution of Kashmir disputes in accordance with UNSC resolutions and consider it as is central to bilateral relationship between both states. Use of force in occupied Kashmir and enforcing one sided solution to long outstanding dispute, and continuous buildup of artillery are matter of serious concern and aren’t conducive sign for regional peace and security.
Pakistan also desires peace and stability in Afghanistan, its position as a gateway to Central Asian Republics is a chief driver for backing peace in Afghanistan. NSP also features bilateral cooperation with China, and welcomes mutual engagements and FDI in CPEC project. With its neighboring Iran, Pakistan remains committed to ensure border management and regional peace. Pakistan seeks to strengthen bilateral relationship with US. However, Pakistan is no longer interested in ‘camp politics’. It prefers to expand relationship beyond counter terrorism areas and prioritize to have mutual beneficial engagements in sphere of trade, investment, energy and security.
Conclusion
To conclude, National Security Policy elucidate geo-economic vision and concedes Pakistan’s foreign policy main concern, of peace and stability in the region based on mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Shift in Pakistan’s policy from geo-politics to geo-economic in addition to securing geostrategic interest in the transforming regional and global order are subject to both domestic and international power politics challenges.
Nevertheless, Pakistan needs comprehensive strategy to implement the NSP and for that purpose, there is a need to think beyond the Party politics at domestic front. Whosoever, comes in power the process of executing the policy needs to be prioritized. Moreover, Institutional reforms must be done to ensure the proper implementation of policy thereby, safeguarding National interest of Pakistan at colossal extent.
