The situation in our country in the wake of global and internal changes affecting Pakistan has evoked multiple challenges. Not to get bogged down by their sheer number it seems important to analyse each and every challenge that the country is facing. These need not only a reaction from the state to tackle them but as an opportunity for developing new vistas of understanding for responding to the problems our country and society is facing.
Among the external challenges are conflicts with India and Afghanistan, those not in the immediate vicinity have to be tackled using the opportunity to re-arrange our international relations. A new and neutral foreign policy concept must be developed on the Eurasian idea, taking into account Pakistan’s location at the contented crossroads. The unity of Asia and Europe basically will be operational when the ambitious “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) of which Pakistan is an important part becomes a functional reality. CPEC is not only an economic and financial challenge, but security challenge as well with a host of false information, biased reporting and foreign-based objections launched against it on a daily basis. Our security apparatus has to be enabled to uphold not only the national narrative but build alternative narratives.
Another external challenge that needs decisive action is the image of Pakistan that is more often than not negative. Reaching out to the world with a narrative that shows how colourful, multifaceted and rich Pakistani culture, geography and society are and what exactly the role of Islam is meant to be would give an opportunity to establish understanding and friendly relations with many countries that are today still hesitant to be our friends.
The main internal challenge — internal security has to be tackled and the significant progress made must be spelt out, among it the multifaceted initiatives for de-radicalization that are underway but are not less noticed by the larger public. Pakistani people and institutions have to understand that the information war going on internally and externally that has to be faced by us. The answer to misinformation and plain lies cannot be to counter them with new lies and more misinformation but to make decisions and political issues transparent and provide truth to the public. Not all and everything can be disclosed openly but the scope for what could be disclosed is surely much wider than the practice today.
That applies to all challenges that Pakistan is facing today. Important for internal security is a stable economy and the reduction of poverty. Both problems are interrelated but one does not automatically promote the other. While taking measures to remedy our economy and raise the income of our population by creating jobs the opportunity would be to change economy around in such a way that economic gains help the poor and fight poverty rather than making the rich richer.
The environmental deprivation of Pakistan and the outfall of climate change that promotes water scarcity and droughts which as a consequence endangers the livelihood of all our population is another challenge. While remedies would include measures for water preservation, creating awareness for pollution and finally bringing in an effective ban of plastic bags the opportunity lies in making environmental considerations part of all decision making processes, be it in the energy sector, agriculture or industry, politics and so on. Our energy crisis is closely related to the water crisis and so should be the solution. Water power is the cheapest variety of energy production, dams can be many and small so as to produce power and preserve water on a local basis.
To take full advantage of the ongoing changes in the world education and promotion of skills to our workers is a major challenge. We must not only bring millions of children into schools but also to revise teaching material in a way that education becomes meaningful and knowledge is applicable to the lives and helps children not only to earn degrees but to become skilled workers, able technicians and engineers and last but not least: better human beings. The opportunity in designing our educational system is to realize that knowledge is not only for the labour market but it is for refining the character of the students, to open up their spiritual capabilities and their ethical standing. Women empowerment is part of this task and needs sensitive handling given the fact that most Pakistani women live in tribal and rural societies with patriarchal structures which means that to empower a woman presupposes to take along the men at the same time.
Given the revolution that is going on in the security sector worldwide the topic of ‘Hybrid warfare’ was introduced and its challenges need to be explained. In a world where conventional wars are still fought but provoked by unconventional means Pakistan needs to be ready to face and handle irregular warfare by countering such attack that may aim at disinformation, external financial support to opposition forces with the aim to bring down governments or other hostile acts like false flag operations. While it is relatively easy to find a response to specific challenges an entire host of ethical questions is coming up that have to be considered and included into the strategy.
To quote, my good friend and roommate from 34th PMA Long Course, Brig Sher Afghan, one of the more brilliant soldiers produced by the Pakistan Army, “Taking advantage of Pakistan’s geopolitical location we can play critical role in SCO, provided we attain economic, political and social stability. Unfortunately, we have been struggling to improve these essential elements of power, so far. Could the new government, through new vision and dynamism, expedite the process, is a pivotal question. An improved internal security situation will lay edifice to our expeditious progress. This calls for a combined effort of the government and armed forces, to deal with the rogue elements, without fear or favour. Precursor to this lies in high moral ground and will of the government to deal with such elements. Given the influence of pseudo- religious elements in our society, will the government shed appeasement policy and deal with them with iron hand, particular when most religious (some foreign funded) and miscellaneous political partiers etc. clandestinely support them. Only a national leader of the stature of IK, can do it. If we succeed in clamping down on them, once and for all, Pakistan will be in a position to play its rightful role in SCO,” unquote.
(Extracts from a lecture to the National Security Workshop at the NDU by defence and security analyst).
