National Security Issues in

Contemporary Pakistan

1
 Historical Perspective of
Pakistan’s National Security

2
 What is National Security
• Modern concepts of national security arose in the 17th
century during the Thirty Years War in Europe and the Civil
War in England.
• In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia established the idea that the
nation-state had sovereign control not only of domestic
affairs such as religion, but also of external security.

3
 What is National Security
• Therefore, National Security can be categorized in two.

1. Internal Security
2. External Security

4
 What is National Security
• Based on internal and external security domains, there are
two types of security threats to a country’s national security.

1. Traditional Security Threats

Traditional security threats include the ones in which
military is the referent object.
2. Non Traditional Security Threats
Non-traditional security threats include other domains of
security like economic, food, politics, human rights, trade etc.
( Natural-Man Made) 5
 Types of National Security
Based on both Internal and External security, following types
of National Security are studied in International Relations.

• Economic Security
• Energy Security
• Health Security
• Food Security
• Environmental Security
• Geostrategic Security
6
 Non- Traditional Security
Traditional Security Issues Issues
• Environmental Degradation
• Natural Disasters
• Internal Threat
• Flood
• External Threat
• Earthquake
• Afghanistan Factor
• Population Explosion
• Indian Factor
• Food Security
• Kashmir issue
• Water Scarcity
• Siachen conflict
• Economic Security
• Sir Creek Issue
• Energy Security
• NGOs Role
• Health Security
• Smuggling of Drugs
7
 Economic Security
Economic security or financial security is the condition of
having stable income or other resources to support a
standard of living now and in the foreseeable future. It
includes probable continued wealth. predictability of the
future cash flow of a person or other economic entity, such as
a country.

8
 Energy Security
An uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an
affordable price is termed as Energy Security.
Energy security has many aspects:
1. Long-term Energy Security
It mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in
line with economic developments and environmental needs.
2. Short-term Energy Security
It focuses on the ability of the energy system to react
promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance.
9
 Health Security
Health or Global Public Health Security is defined as the
activities required, both proactive and reactive, to
minimize the danger and impact of acute public health
events that endanger people's health across geographical
regions and international boundaries.

10
 Food Security
Food Security means that all people, at all times, have
physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary
needs for an active and healthy life.

11
 Geostrategic Security
A geostrategy or Geostrategic Security is about securing
borders, and access to certain trade routes, strategic
bottlenecks, rivers, islands and seas. It requires an
extensive military presence, normally by establishing
military bases ( Army, Navy and Air) and the building of
warships capable of deep oceanic power & Merchant Ships
for Maritime trade.

12
 Environmental Security
Environmental security is the state of protection of
vital interests of the individual, society, natural
environment from threats resulting from human caused
or natural impacts on the environment.

13
 Background
• There has been a general debate among the scholars of
international relations for the last two decades that the
defense and foreign policies of the “small” and “weak” states
do contribute to shape regional and international politics.

• However, during the 19th century, the international system

was Europe centric then Europe-North American centric
international system and afterwards it was dominated by two
superpowers in the post-world war II and finally by the
United States after the fall of Berlin wall.
14
• From 1945 to 1989, the international system was exceedingly
controlled by superpowers and other forces shaping the
international system appeared secondary and dependent.

• Thus, when the state of Pakistan emerged on the map of the

world, it also came under the influence of the great power
rivalry at its embryonic (undeveloped) stage.

15
• So, in order to fit out in international configuration and to
maintain its territorial integrity, which was threatened by
much larger neighbor, Pakistan joined the western camp in
the 1950’s.

• Thus, before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the

behavior and policies of small states were studied from the
viewpoint of great powers policies and due consideration
was not given to the policies of small states.

16
• However, hierarchical (arranged in order of rank) pattern of
the international system with two superpowers at its apex
(peak) and pulling the strings of international politics could
not sustain itself over a long period of time due to certain
factors.

• Besides, the process of globalization gave further impetus

(inspiration) to the rise of small powers and non-state actors
that played more active role in contributing towards
transformation of international politics.

17
• And finally, the end of ideological confrontation ensued
(resulted) by less interference of great powers in the
domestic affairs of other regions.

• This transformation contributed to multipolarity in the

international system.

18
 Geo Strategic Environment
The geo-strategic environment has caused serious concerns
for the newly founded state of Pakistan in 1947 as it is
located in the region known as the Fulcrum of Asia. A
region where India, Pakistan, China and Soviet Union come
across each other.

19
 Geo Strategic Environment
The politics of this region is characterized by:

1. Several discontinuities
2. Dynastic politics
3. Military coups
4. Intra-regional conflicts based on diversified ideology
5. competing national objectives
6. Territorial disputes and political rivalries
20
 Superpower Influence In This Region
Moreover, superpowers also maintain their influence overtly
or covertly in this region. Thus, while formulating security
policy, Pakistan has to take into consideration vulnerable
geo-strategic atmosphere, intra-regional rivalries and as well
as the policies of great powers in the region.

21
 Hostile Strategic Environment From Its
Neighbors:
When Pakistan was carved out of sub-continent in 1947, she
faced hostile strategic environment from its neighbors especially
from India and Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s relations with India were full of mutual distrust and

hostility because of various factors. The reasons were pre-
partition antagonism (rivalry, hostility ) between two communities
residing (staying) in British India especially after the battle of
independence when the rule of Mughal Empire ended.
22
The communal (between different communities, especially
those having different religions or ethnic origins) crisis was
further fueled by annulment of the partition of Bengal, and
betrayal (violation of trust and contract) of Gandhi in the
Caliphate Movement, Urdu-Hindi controversy, Hindu
nationalism, Nehru Report, and tyrannical (unjustly cruel,
harsh) rule of congress ministers.

23
 Geo Strategic Environment
Furthermore, during the last phase of Pakistan movement there
was mutual enmity (hostility, antagonism) between leaders of
Muslim League and Congress.

In addition, immediately after partition the relations were further

sored because of influx of refugees, communal riots (massacre)
especially in Punjab, the problem of minorities, distribution of
financial and military resources, the water crisis, and territorial
disputes, especially on Kashmir. All above narrated events
shaped the perception of masses and ruling elite.
24
In the initial days of Pakistan’s foreign relations with India,
it was generally believed that India did not want to
amicably solve issues between the two countries. Later,
India posed existential threats to territorial integrity of
Pakistan.

25
Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have not been cordial
(friendly) since her inception. When the Afghan government
realized that the British government was going to withdraw
from sub-continent, they laid their claims over some
territories in NWFP (KPK) and some parts of Baluchistan.

However, these claims were never apparently pronounced

by the Afghan government. When independent state of
Pakistan was created Afghanistan refused to recognize her
in the United Nations.

26
In addition, India backed Afghanistan over their claims,
and this caused tension in the security circle of Pakistan.
The Pakistani ruling elite had apprehensions (worry) that a
two front war could be simultaneously initiated by her
neighbors. Secondly, Pakistan lacked territorial depth; and
its main communication lines run parallel to Indo-Pak
border.

27
Thus, several major cities of Pakistan were so close to
border that the Indian troops had to be confronted at the
border.

This required highly proficient (skilled), well equipped and

hard-hitting army which Pakistan lacked at its formative
phase. This intensified Pakistan’s feeling of insecurity vis-à-
vis (relating to) its neighbors.

28
• Border Security which is linked to the geostrategic
environment is of primary importance for Pakistan as its
long border regions are linked to a traditional enemy
(India) in the east and a politically volatile country
(Afghanistan) in the west. However, compared to eastern
borders, the Pak-Afghan border proves to be more
troubled and insecure. Pakistan’s political and military
forces have been formulating a comprehensive strategies
to deal with the border issues.

29
 Formative phase objective of security Policy
• The vulnerable geo-strategic environment and the security
concerns established in the initial phase of independence
shaped Pakistan’s worldview. It was characterized by a
deep sense of insecurity inspired by external threats to its
independent existence.

• The main goal of Pakistan’s initial security policy was

search for external security to maintain its territorial
integrity from hostile neighbors in fragile security
environment.
30
 Formative phase objective of security Policy
This objective could be realistically achieved in two ways:
• First, by strengthening its security against external threats
primarily from India and secondarily from Afghanistan.
• For that reason, Pakistani military began its modernization
process in various aspects. While the first phase of
modernization was going on when she got involved in the
first Kashmir war (1947-48) with India that gave further
impetus (motivation) to reorganize and modernize its
military in order to meet short-term and long-term security
challenges.
31
• Secondly, for the training of troops, Pakistan established
new training centers encompassing the military academy
at Kakul that substituted the institutions that were lost to
India at the time of independence.

• Several selected officers were sent to the United States,

the United Kingdom and other developed countries for
special training. After Pakistan joined the western
security camp against communism, US military advisers
came in Pakistan to provide necessary training and
technical advice to Pakistani officers.
32
• Thirdly, modernization process involves the acquisition
of arms and ammunitions in necessary quantity and
quality and in this field, Pakistan was handicapped as it
did not inherit a single ordnance factory and most of its
share of arms and ammunitions were withheld by India
after the outbreak of the Kashmir war.

33
• Thus, Pakistan started to build an ordinance factory on
emergency basis and by the end of 1951, the first ordinance
factory was inaugurated at Wah, Pakistan. It also purchased
arms, aircrafts, and naval ships especially from the United
States and Britain.

• Some of the military pertinent equipment was bought on

cash while other on loan though most of the equipment was
obtained through western sponsored aid. However, at later
stages, Pakistan diversified its sources of arms supply and
purchased arms from France, West Germany and China.
34
• The desire to augment security was one of the major
reasons that Pakistan allied with the west and joined
western security arrangements in 1954-1955.

• Although economic conditions also forced Pakistan to

enter into defense pact with the United States because at
its embryonic stage Pakistan was facing economic crisis
especially grain shortage and US showed willingness and
later provided economic aid to Pakistan.

35
• This goodwill gesture on the behalf American
administration facilitated Pakistan’s entrance into
security accords. Thus, Pakistan and the United States
signed the Mutual Defense Assistance Treaty in May
1954.

36
• US agreed to provide weapons and training to Pakistani
troops. This mutual defense pact was ensued by the
creation of the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization
(SEATO) in September 1954. Through Mutual Defense
Agreement, the CENTO and SEATO, Pakistan gained
over $900 million worth of military equipment.

37
• The United States and Pakistan signed these defense
pacts keeping in mind different objectives. The US
longed for containing the Soviet Union and China from
sponsoring communism; while ambition of Pakistani
leadership was to counterbalance Indian superiority by
attaining military and economic assistance from the US.

38
• The cordial relations between the US and Pakistan in
early 1950s and 1960s proved very helpful for Pakistani
military establishment because military cooperation
between them enabled Pakistani forces to overcome
many of its deficiencies.

• This relationship gave further boost to the

modernization of military and effectiveness of the Air
Force and the Navy improved by gaining valuable
experience by participation in the CENTO’s joint
exercises.
39
• However, the over-all balance of power in South Asia
remained in favor of India though Pakistan gained much
needed confidence. Pakistani ruling elite began to believe
that they could now withstand against Indian military and
diplomatic pressures.

40
• The US aid augmented the position of military in the
domestic political system of Pakistan as it was receiving
the US aid. Besides many of the internal resources were
in the hands of military that enabled military to develop
itself in the most modernized segment of society
characterized by cohesion, hierarchy, discipline, and
esprit de corps.

41
• These security pacts were not a one-sided affair, the US
also gained several advantages from this alliance. It
received support from the second largest non-communist
Asian state.

• The US benefitted from communication, intelligence

gathering facilities and other security related services in
Pakistan. These were useful for American global strategy
of the Soviet containment.

42
Modifications In The Security Strategies:
The main objective of Pakistan security policy, i.e., the
acquisition of security against external threats did not alter
but the strategies to attain those goals changed with the
passage of time because of change in the international as
well regional politics in the late 1960s and 1970s.

43
Reasons Pakistan foreign policy shift
•1: u2 spy plane 1960
•2: Sino-India war 1962
•3: Pakistan-India 1965
•4: Fall of East 1971

44
Modifications In The Security Strategies:
Three major events provoked the security planners to
revise their defense strategies. These were the supply of
arms to India by the west after the Sino-Indian border
dispute, the September 1965 war between India and
Pakistan and the establishment of Bangladesh in December
1971.

45
• Moreover, there was obvious shift in Indian defense
policy and more resources were allocated for security
purposes. Thus, the Indian defense expenditure
increased during 1963-1972.

• India also initiated its five years defense plan to

modernize its forces. Part of the defense plan was
financed from internal resources whereas most of it
was financed by the West and the Soviet Union.

46
• Thus, she modestly revised her foreign and security
policies in order to effectively deal with growing
military disparities in the South Asia.

• Pakistan started to downplay the security arrangements

with the West and started to look towards other
international players for military and economic assistance
even towards the socialist camp.

47
• When the war was going on, the US imposed arms
embargo on India and Pakistan. This decision of
American administration to cut the supply of arms to
Pakistan seriously undermined its ability to fight against
the Indian army because most of its defense
procurements were primarily American.

48
• One Pakistani author stated that the American arms
embargo had serious repercussions on Pakistan’s defense
capability and was one of the factors which led towards
the dismemberment of East Pakistan in 1971.

49
• However, after the 1965 war, the US partially uplifted
arms embargo in 1966 and allowed the sale of non-lethal
weapons. One year later, the arms ban was further eased,
and it was allowed to purchase spare parts of that
military equipment supplied in the past.

50
• But no new combat equipment was allowed to be sold to
either country. However, during the Nixon era, on one
special occasion in 1971, Pakistan was allowed to
purchase lethal weapons but as soon as the civil war
broke in the East Pakistan all kinds of arms supply was
again banned.

• It was in 1975 that arms embargo was lifted, and South

Asian states were allowed to purchase lethal weapons on
‘cash and carry’ basis.

51
 Fall of Dhaka and Security of Pakistan
Pakistan’s military debacle in East Pakistan and the creation
of Bangladesh with India’s active support confirmed
India’s military and political preponderance in South Asia.
India’s desire to become regional hegemon and to change
power dynamics in its favor emerged after 1971 war.

52
 Fall Of Dhaka And Security Of Pakistan
Therefore, India continued to pursue its military
modernization program and acquired all categories of
weapons from various sources as well as developing
indigenous defense production. By the early eighties, India
had one of the strongest defense and defense-oriented
industrial base in the Third World.

53
With the fall of Dhaka, the previous responsibility of
security of the East Pakistan was no longer there, even then
the over-all security condition aggravated in multifarious
aspects because now India could easily send more troops
from East Pakistani border to the borders of the West
Pakistan as initially there were cordial relations between
Bangladesh and India.

54
Moreover, India decided to detonate nuclear device in May
1974, described as Peaceful Nuclear Explosion by the
Indian government had severe ramifications for South Asia.
India’s entry into ‘nuclear club’ transformed the dynamics
of power politics and regional security patterns in South
Asia because now India would be in position to hover its
nuclear sword over other non-nuclear South Asian states
and to strangulate their policy options.

55
 Pakistan Adopted Two Strategies After Fall Of
Dahka
Thus, Pakistan reacted to this changing vulnerable geo-
strategic environment in South Asia by adopting a two-
pronged strategy in the post 1971 period. The first strategy
was to settle issues related to 1971 war with India in
amicable manner.

56
 Pakistan Adopted Two Strategies After Fall Of
Dahka
The issues were the return of prisoners of war, acquisition
of territory that was lost to India on the Western front, and
the rehabilitation of war affected areas and the people. In
the aftermath of India’s nuclear explosion, more funds
were allocated to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission to
expand one’s own peaceful nuclear program.

57
In order to resolve these outstanding issues a diplomatic
process began in 1972 at Simla where prime ministers of
the both countries met, and signed accord known as the
Simla Pact. Besides, these diplomatic overtures, Pakistan
took several steps to augment its defense structure so that it
could not let India to become regional hegemon to squeeze
policy options of Pakistan.

58
To deter Indian military superiority, Pakistan continued to
improve the training quality of its forces, strengthened its
force structure by fresh recruitments and increased its
defense expenditure in order to purchase more
sophisticated weapons from abroad. As far as the additional
worry pertinent to India’s nuclear threat was concerned,
Pakistan pursued three-pronged strategy.

59
However, Pakistan made its intentions clear that it did not
want to build nuclear bomb even then its peaceful nuclear
program was rejected by India and the international
community.

Secondly, Pakistan sought international guarantee from the

United Nations that no nuclear weapon states would use
nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states. So that
non-nuclear weapon states could live in peace without
acquisition of nuclear weapons.

60
Thank You

61