National security dynamics and challenges for Pakistan:

Introduction:
 National security is a state or condition where our most cherished values and beliefs, our
democratic way of life, our institutions of governance and our unity, welfare and well-
being as a nation and people are permanently protected and continuously enhanced.
 Our national security environment is infused with different important dimensions.
Internal threats to our national security make up the first dimension. The growing
uncertainties that lie in the regional and global milieu make up the second dimension of
our national security environment, even as threat of external aggression against our
country remains in the remote horizon. No doubt for century’s national security has been
the basic and paramount concern of the nation states.
 The most serious threat facing Pakistan at the moment is posed by terrorism and the
ongoing war on terrorism, narcotics drugs circulation and growth of different crimes in
Pakistan.
Pakistan National security dynamics:

 Pakistan came into being in 1947, the only second country in the name of Islam after the
state of Madina. It was strong desire of the founder of the nation to have a true
democracy in the country and make Pakistan a welfare state.
 Institutional vendetta is rampant prompted by the evils of personality and family based
politics coupled by rampant corruption in almost all spheres of life. Indeed, Pakistan is
considered one of the most resourceful countries in terms of geostrategic location, strong
agriculture sector, cheap labor and the unexplored mineral reserves.
 Apart, Pakistan has a diverse society which has never been transformed into an
opportunity rather remained a menace to our national security.
We have inherited a very diverse society from the scratch and some watchful enemies in
the neighborhood.
 Our diversity has remained a soft target and our staunch enemy has never missed any
opportunity. Occupation of major portion of Kashmir in the beginning and the separation
of East Pakistan in 1971 are the cases in point.
 Our consecutive governments have miserably failed to cover up its fault lines and are
being exploited till today by the regional and extra regional powers to their advantage.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan, Sindh
specially Karachi and southern parts of Punjab continued to be Pakistan’s problem are as
under the watchful eyes of regional enemies
 During his speech on Independence Day 15 Aug, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Nerender
Modi crossed all the limits and opened alleged gross violation of human rights in
Balochistan, Gilgit- Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Pakistan foreign office spokesman has
termed Modi’s speech as ‘crossing of a red line’.
 FATA, the semi-autonomous tribal lands consist of seven Agencies “Bajaur, Mohmand,
Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North and South Waziristan. There are also six smaller zones
known as frontier regions in the transitional area between the tribal lands and the KPK to
the east.
 The harsh, mountainous terrain of tribal belt runs along the Afghanistan border, drawn
during colonial times by British diplomat Sir Henry Mortimer Durand as a means to
divide and weaken the eleven major Pashtun tribes and turn Afghanistan into a buffer
zone between the British and Russian empires. ‘Durand Line’ was signed between Sir
Durand and Amir Abdul Rahman of Afghanistan in 1893. To the south of the tribal lands
lies the large province of Baluchistan.
 Tribal people joined Pakistan rather than India in 1947. The narrow strip ‘FATA’ is being
ruled through a centuries old black law called ‘Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR)’ made
by the Britishers. This brutal law like collective responsibility was introduced by the
Colonial Empire to punish the tribal for their disobedience and armed resistance.
 These tribal were later on instrumental in liberating the Azad Kashmir from the Indian
clutches. They fought bravely against the Indian occupational troops. Instead of
rewarding them, Pakistan has not brought any change in FCR except the introduction of
adult franchise and extension of political act through ordinances by former PPP
Presidents Farooq Ahmed Khan Laghari and Asif Ali Zardari respectively.
 People of FATA are deprived of basic rights including political, social, economic,
educational, legal etc. Even the elected representatives have no say in the parliamentary
 and administrative affairs of their areas via a vis the Political Agents. The later are
considered as uncrowned kings due to their absolute powers in FCR.
 Balochistan too remained backward due to such criminal negligence on the part of the
state. Masses are deprived of basic rights.Being a huge landscape, Balochistan is laden
with plenty of mineral resources but remained unexplored either due to state neglect or
due to security reasons coupled by the corrupt and exploitative attitude of local Nawabs,
Sardars and those who were on the helm of affairs. Unprofessional handling of Nawab
Akbar Khan Bugti added fuel to the fire.
 As a result, the locals became a soft target to be exploited by the enemies for their vested
interests. The self exiled rebel Baloch leaders including Khan of Kalat, HairbyarMarri
and Brahmdagh Bugti continued to be exploited by the foreign powers specially the
Jewish lobby and RAW-NDS nexus at their convenience to achieve their agenda of
destabilizing Pakistan.
 Situation in Gilgit – Baltistan and Karachi is also fragile. The area remained backward
and lacks development in the field of infrastructure, health, education, industrialization
etc. Apart from the security measures taken for CPEC, government has to transfer more
funds to these areas to bring it at par with Punjab, change the political status of FATA
without wasting any more time and take the political parties on board.
 Pakistan is going to lose a golden opportunity as China has huge potentials in terms of
finances, technology, human expertise and ready to provide all these. Indeed, Pakistan
has to take bold steps and convince China of its sincerity in developing the shortest
Western CPEC route. Otherwise all will be in vain and our coming generations will curse
us as usual.
 Security Challenges for Pakistan:

1. Geography
 Pakistan Border With India
 Pakistan Border With Iran
 Pakistan Border With Afghanistan
 America Interest in the region
2. Absence of Good Governance
 Institutional Deficiencies
 Corruption
 Deficient Rule of Law
 Incapacities of Public Sector Personnel
 Lack of Political Will within Ruling Elite
 Flawed Taxation System
 Rising Inflation
3. Inter-Provincial Disharmony

 Distribution of Resources among Provinces

 Provincial Autonomy under 18th Amendment
 Nationalist Movements
 Baluchistan Movement
 Seraiki Movement
 Hazara Movement
 Inter-Provincial Water Distribution Row
 Provinces' Representation in the Army
 Federal Legislative List-Part II (of the Constitution of Pakistan)
4. Socio-Economic Problems
 Poverty
 (a) Growing Trend of Militancy
 (b) Increase in Suicide Incidents
 Illiteracy
 Unemployment 2
5. Army's Predominance of Foreign Policy
  Army's Role in Kashmir Policy
 Army's Role in Afghan Policy
 Army's Role in U.S. Policy
6. Kashmir and Afghan Policy 54
 Kashmir Policy
 Afghan Policy
7. Status of FATA
8. Political Expedience and Lack of Vision
9. Feudalism
10. Bureaucratic Lethargy

Trigger Causes of Instability:

1. Soviet Invasion
2. War on Terror and Military Operations
 Drone Attacks
3. Natural Calamities
4. Blackmailing by Political Parties
 Politics of MQM
 JUI-F and Other Religious-Political Parties
Baluchistan – Pakistan's Festering Wound!
1. Baluchistan in General
 Ethnic Composition
 Status of Human Security
 Insecurity among Hindus in Baluchistan
 Geo-Political Situation
 Political Landscape
 Pashtun Parties
 Baloch Nationalists (Separatists)
 Major Groups
2. Law and Order 2010 108

 Attacks on the Governor and Chief Minister

3. Balochistan - in 2010, Socio-Political Situation.
4. Appeasement by Army
5. Provincial Autonomy
Karachi – Seething Under Violence and Terror:

1. Background
2. Political Factor
3. Ethnic Factor
4. Sectarian Factor
5. Gangsters and Criminal Elements
6. Solutions