Pakistan emerged on the world map 77 years ago. Surprisingly, Pakistan has never announced its Defense policy in the form of a government document made public for the common masses. However, Pakistan’s defense policy is determined by the official statements of the government or military. Today, in-depth analysis of Pakistan’s defense policy will be provided by analyzing the National Security Policy.
National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026
National Security Policy (NSP) was made public in 2022. NSP is a 48-page document that covers all the threats and challenges that Pakistan faces in contemporary times. This research will cover the aspects of Sections V and VI of the NSP.
Section V: Defense and Territorial Integrity
Section V of the NSP deals with the Defense and Territorial Integrity. Under this section, several points are identified. These points include;
- Border Security.
- Maintenance of Full Spectrum Credible Minimum Deterrence.
- Military modernization.
- Enhancement of space technology according to country needs.
- Combating hybrid warfare.
Analysis
Pakistan has been on the front of the Global War on Terror. The GWOT helped Pakistan realize the significance of its military, paramilitary, and LEAs. NSP is the first instance in the history of Pakistan where security of all domains has been of special focus. Emanating from military/border security, focus on human and, most importantly, economic security has become the center of attention for the state.
The military security of Pakistan is a top priority due to the hostile environment of South Asia. India is a major security threat, while the situation in Afghanistan is not in the favor of the country. Pakistan’s extended support in GWot has imposed the negative impression of Pakistan in the hearts and minds of Afghanis. A major chunk of instability within the country is caused either by Indian proxy wars or Afghanis who have been busy in terrorism and extremism.
To counter the threats from the tactical level or the operational level to the strategic level, Pakistan is investing rigorously to maintain the Full Spectrum Credible Minimum Deterrence. Military modernization is part of the maintenance of FSD on the strategic level, while emphasis on the quality training of paramilitary and local LEAs serves to protect the tactical stability.
Pakistan is investing in space security while showing its concerns. Pakistan is an advocate of Proposed Prevention of an Arms Race in Space (PAROS) and has constantly shown its interest in the peaceful usage of the common heritage of all mankind. The latest space program of Pakistan is a joint effort in collaboration with China to capture the images of the moon for further research.
NSP also addresses the challenge of hybrid warfare and cyber threats that Pakistan faces. To tackle those challenges effectively, Pakistan is investing in its infrastructure development, like NASTP. Moreover, Pakistan is committed to a robust mechanism as a countermeasure to these threats. But the only problem that arises from integrating emerging technologies with infrastructure is technical vulnerability. The system becomes more prone to cyberattacks and high chances of hacking.
Section VI: Internal Security
Section VI of the NSP covers Internal Security. Under this section, several points have been identified, which are as follows:
- Good governance.
- Zero tolerance policy on terrorism, extremism, and aggressive sub-nationalism.
- Cracking down organized crime.
- Strengthening of the justice system.
Analysis
According to the NSP, the aim of internal security is to ensure a stable and secure Pakistan where citizens enjoy their constitutional privileges and are protected against violence, extremism, and crime, and where the rule of law is upheld equally for all.
After fighting two most successful battles against terrorism, Pakistan has been acknowledged globally. Terrorism is one of the most commonly used methods to disrupt the internal harmony and international image of a country. In the case of Pakistan, terrorism has been used in the past to affect the development for instance, the threat to the Chinese ambassador regarding CPEC. Pakistan adopted a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and any other kind of extremism that can affect internal peace. Examples of this policy include Operation Zarb-E-Azab, Operation Raad-Ul-Fassad, and Operation Zarb-E-Istekham.
Organized crime is one of the biggest problems that Pakistan faces in modern times. Pakistan has strengthened their grip on the crackdown of organized crime in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which resulted in Pakistan’s Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT). It focuses on improved quality of investigation, prosecution, and criminal justice system. Along with the improvement of the justice system, Pakistan is also focused on improving the quality and response time of LEAs. All these measures have been taken to ensure an equitable, responsive, and citizen-focused system of state.
From the analysis of Sections V & VI of the NSP, it is imperative that the state of Pakistan is aware of all the threats and challenges. The NSP points to the fact that Pakistan is prepared for multi-dimensional security dilemmas. The state of Pakistan deliberately maintains its defense ambiguity, especially in terms of nuclear matters, to have an advantage over the adversary in case of mishap to avoid any embarrassment on an international level. As for the internal security matters, relevant authorities have issued documents from time to time for public usage. Those documents filled with government directives and intentions to counter certain problems provide promising evidence that Pakistan is not only competing on a regional or international level, but it is also fighting a multi-dimensional war as well.
The author, Saad Burney, is a student of Strategic studies at the National Defence University, Islamabad, with an impeccable record of debating over international politics.
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