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INFLUENCE OF NON- STATE ACTORS ON NATIONAL SECURITY PARADIGM

Introduction

1. Pakistan, ‘land of the pure’ was created as a separate homeland for the Muslims.

Since coming into existence as an independent state, Pakistan is facing internal and

external threats. The challenges of threats faced are, old as well as new. The internal

threats are of grave importance to Pakistan’s wellbeing. Most of the problems

precipitating interstate tensions and threats are created from within, by its geopolitics, its

location, economics and history. Along with its religious identity Pakistan is also a multi-

ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural state. These characteristics have at times created

problems for Pakistan1.

2. The role of non state actors (NSAs) in international affairs is becoming

increasingly important, especially in terms of conflict. In the post-bipolar era, and

especially after 9/11, a major trend in violent conflict is asymmetric warfare – be it intra-

state civil war struggles, insurgencies or terrorism. Traditional warfare, in the form of

conventional war between two states has been replaced increasingly by asymmetric

and unconventional warfare with states using low intensity warfare to undermine an

enemy state from within2.

3. Pakistan is confronted with the challenge of reigning in these NSAs. A

combination of weak government, under development, poor economic outlook, lack of

basic amenities and general discontent, coupled with external factors like power play

1
Rafeh A Malik. “Threats to Pakistan’s Internal Security”.[online] Available.
http://www.defencejournal.com/2003-08/opi-e.html.
2
Dr Shireen M Mazari. “The centrality of non-state actors in promoting peace and stability”.[online]
Available http://www.issi.org.pk/publication-files/1305617175_81448332.pdf.

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between world powers in the region, have made Pakistan the hotbed of NSAs, where

they can germinate, proliferate and operate with impunity. Both violent and non-violent

NSAs are vying to exert their influence in the space provided by the above mentioned

factors. On the other hand, emergence of NSAs as important players has also caused a

paradigm shift in our security calculus. We have been engaged in a war against NSAs

since ten years. For the first time in sixty years of existence, the state has realised the

extent of the threat within and set out to eliminate it. This has elicited great sacrifices

from both the nation and the armed forces. Till 2010, the army alone had suffered

around 10, 000 casualties (Figure 1). The effort was lopsided in the beginning but now it

has started to bear fruit. The initial setbacks in dealing with the NSAs can be ascribed to

the lack of understanding regarding nature of these NSAs and the inadequacies of the

state machinery.

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PART – I

NON STATE ACTORS – CONCEPTUAL CONTOURS

General

4. It is generally recognized that the process of building a capable state requires the

participation of all the vital forces of a nation. A capable state is one that has all the

attributes of a modern, strong, responsible and responsive state, a state capable of

effectively discharging its duties of delivering security, peace, prosperity and other

public goods to its people. Although the state has traditionally been considered as the

focal point of this process, other sectors, including non-state ones, have an important

role to play, and the importance of this role has grown significantly over the past couple

of decades. It is thus important to identify these other actors and recognize those areas

wherein they can contribute, and have indeed contributed, to the process, as well as to

appreciate better their nature, their mode of intervention, the constraints hampering their

action as well as to explore ways in which their participation can be rendered more

fruitful and less problematic.

5. Concept of National Security – An Overview . The term security, is often

observed in the parochial context, seldom do we go into the conceptual framework.

Security is generalized in military connotation, but with the rapid developments in the

existing world, different dimensions of it have come to the forefront 3. Despite all

ambiguities, various definitions of security have been formulated.

3
Rafeh A Malik. “Threats to Pakistan’s Internal Security”.[online] Available
http://www.defencejournal.com/2003-08/opi-e.html.

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a. Hans Morganthau define security; ‘National Security must be defined as

integrity of the national territory and its institutions 4.

b. Amos Jordan and William Taylor have asserted that “National Security,

however, has a more extensive meaning than protection from physical

harm; it also implies protection through a variety of means of vital

economic and political interests, the

loss of which could threaten fundamental values and vitality of the state 5.

c. McNamara is of the perspective that for Third World nations, “security

means development.” 6

9. Definition of NSAs. While the state is still the dominant international actor

on most issues, a variety of NSAs are increasingly involved in crucial issues of world

economic and political issues. NSAs are defined as entities7:-

a. Participating or acting in the sphere of international relations.

b. Organizations with sufficient power to influence and cause change in

politics.

c. Not belonging to or existing as a state-structure or established institution

of a state.

4
Morgenthau J. Hans, Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace, 3rd edition, (New
York: Alfred A.Knoff, 1960), p.562.
5
Jordon A.Amos and William J. Taylor Jr. American National Security, (Baltimore: John Hopkins
University Press, 1981), p.3.
6
Crabb V.Cecil and Mulaby V.Kevin, American National Security: A Presidential Perspective (California,
Books/Core Publishing Company, Pacific Grove, 1990), p6.
7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-state_actor

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10. Types of NSAs. NSAs can be found in all sizes and configurations. They are

usually differentiated on the basis of the power they wield, their objectives and their

modes of operation; out of these, the latter is explained below, owing to its relevance to

internal security of a state. NSAs can be grouped into following categories as per

modes of operation:-

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