Lets Not Ridicule Pakistan's New Security Policy

We in India have a tendency to look down upon and mock at everything that originates from Pakistan and have a stereotyped image of it , as depicted above.

However, We are least qualified to be mocking at it because India does not have a National security Policy as yet, despite having faced numerous wars and separatist movements all over the country. As a result we have been resorting to adhocism when it comes to responding to various security challenges that the Nation has been / is facing.

The polity in subcontinent, by nature, is status quoist , that includes even Pakistan. It carries out reforms only when it faces a crisis. India carried out few military reforms after facing a humiliating defeat in 1962, thereafter Post Kargil and it started its economic reforms in 1991 when it became bankrupt.

So, given the fact that Pakistan has achieved this feat and announced its Security Policy, it should be studied carefully and critically examined. If we do not do so, Pakistan is one enemy which if succeeds, will not give us a SECOND CHANCE and an opportunity to reform.

Salient aspects of Pakistan’s Security Policy and What Pakistan’s Big wigs spoke.

1. New National Security Policy would act as an umbrella document, to be used as a guideline for Pakistan`s foreign, international and defence related policies.
2. The Policy document is meant for a period of five years from 2022 – 2026 but will be reviewed every year. PM Khan is projecting this Policy document as the country’s first ever strategy paper that would spell out the National security vision and guidelines for the attainment of National Goals.
3. The full 110-page NSP document would remain classified. However, a shorter nearly 50-page version is being published. Critical analysis of the state of affairs in various sectors is contained in the main document, and the implementation framework and the indicators developed for monitoring and evaluating the progress made towards the policy’s execution are not being included in the public version.
4. The document has sections on national cohesion, economy, defence, internal security , foreign policy and human security. Yes one may still find lots of gaps related to its implementation. But one can not deny that it is an important document which may if not lost to political whims and fancies will have a profound impact on the future of Pakistan.
5. The document has highlighted the need of Economic security and rather emphasized this as the central theme of the new national security policy and so underlined the need for peace in the region and cordial relations with the countries in the region. PM Khan said “ it was not possible for a country to remain secure for long if its economy was not stable. If you have to go to the International Monetary Fund at regular intervals, it means you security will be [adversely] affected”. 
6. The new policy also emphasized on “zero-tolerance” for any groups involved in terrorist activities on Pakistani soil. It said Pakistan will adopt a four-pronged policy of engagement: separating reconcilables 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.
7. The policy also underlines that extremism and radicalisation on the basis of ethnicity or religion pose a challenge to Pakistan and therefore inculcating interfaith and inter-sectarian harmony and societal tolerance in all its forms will be prioritized. PM Khan explained that the National Security Policy 2022-2026 centers on the government’s vision, which believes that the security of Pakistan rests in the security of its citizens. He during the debate on Policy further emphasizing the need of social cohesion said ; Any national security approach must priorities national cohesion and the prosperity of people while guaranteeing fundamental rights and social justice without discrimination,
8. The Policy, PM Khan during a Press brief also emphasized on the need of the rule of law. He said Rule of Law is important for prosperity and progress and strong presence of the rule of law is the prime reason behind the progress of any country . stressed the need for enforcement of law and compliance with contracts. 
   “One of the main reasons there is minimal foreign investment in Pakistan is that they [investors] do not trust Pakistan’s judicial system,” he said, adding that these companies and investors instead sought arbitration in international courts.
9. An official dealing with the Policy said “We are not seeking hostility with India for the next 100 years. The new policy seeks peace with immediate neighbours.”
10. Kashmir has once again been emphasized upon, although not as the core issue of conflict but as an issue for which Pakistan will always be committed to provide moral and financial support.
11. The policy is aimed at addressing three critical economic challenges, external imbalance, socio-economic inequalities, and geographic disparities between developed and under-developed regions of Pakistan.
12. When asked about the message it sends to India, its NSA said: “it tells India to do the right thing and jump on the bandwagon to benefit from regional connectivity to uplift our peoples. It also tells India, if you don’t want to do the right thing, it will be a loss to the entire region, but most of all India.”

Analysis.

1. Because the subcontinent by nature is status quoist and carries out reforms only when it is hurt, so it can be safely assumed that Pakistan has brought out this document because it is feeling the Pain now. Its economy is in a precarious situation, in last 30 years it has needed IMF assistance 11 times to bail itself out of the crisis. Secondly, the world or rather its important ally USA has now gone indifferent and Pakistan’s stature in the international arena has suffered a serious set back. Hence, this National Security Policy which its Ruling establishment feels would give direction to the country.
2. This Policy document is out rightly an INWARD LOOKING document which has highlighted the challenges Pakistan is facing as a nation , be it ; social cohesion, internal stability, threat from sectarian strife, or economic turmoil , its foreign relations and law and order. It has highlighted every bit of it frankly and honestly and forthrightly. It has not tried to hide and shove things under the carpet. For instance refer to para 8 .
3. It has tried to look at the security in all its manifestations and so viewed Security challenges Holistically.
4. The Policy, the Govt feels will provide the Nation and its people a sense of direction towards which each one has to proceed.
5. Like in India when Economic reforms were launched, in 90s, the then opposition criticized the Govt and it was not easy for Dr Singh and Narsimhan Rao to push through the very basic reforms. And not only that , since then all Govts have found it extremely difficult to push the economic reforms. Even the reforms in military have not come at a desired pace.
6. Therefore, One may call this document a Laundry list of all the challenges Pakistan faces, hence what is to be seen is- How will Pakistan WALK THE TALK and execute the changes it is desiring. This road is going to be really tough as it entails taking tough decisions and for a Nation whose institutions have been marginalized by military, whose economy is in shambles and whose society has been nurtured for decades with ; Religion and only Religion, WALKING THE TALK is likely to be an uphill task.
7. The Document although seeks peace with India but in a threatening tone. It is therefore unlikely that this will lead to any normalization of relations between the two any time sooner.
8. Notwithstanding the above, we should not undermine the capability of a nation and society to transform itself because, No one in Early 1990s when India started its basic reforms could predict that these small reforms within a period of two decades will transform India into one of the fastest growing economies and world’s Fourth largest economy.

Conclusion.

It is said that Half the battle is won, when an organization is able to honestly and rightly identify the challenges it faces. In that sense, It appears that ; Pakistan is now trying to take a Road that we Indians took in 1947 and 50s and We Indians are taking a Road which Pakistan had taken in 1947.