University of Sindh

Jamshoro

Department of Political Science

Topic: National Security Challenges to Pakistan

Submitted by: Jeewan Lal (2k17-pol-39)
Submitted to: Madam Bakhtawar Talpur
Abstract
It is undeniable fact that Pakistan’s society is not a unified society in terms of
language, religion, culture, customs and living-style but a pluralistic society where
people from different ethnic groups, religious and sectarian affiliations have been
living in harmony and relative peace for hundred of years. The constitution of
Pakistan guarantees the freedom of expression, religious belief and protection of
cultural heritage of different social groups to its citizens. In spite of this, Pakistani
society and polity has experienced ethnic, sectarian, extremist and religious strife
from the country’s inception and this has taken worse at beginning of 21 st century.
This ongoing militancy and religious strife mainly can be contributed to the
communal and ethnic divides generated by long and bitter experience of dictatorial
rule. However, due to lack of clarity in our nation-building project these divisions
and tensions were further exacerbated in Zia regime so much that these tensions
now threaten to pull apart the very fabric of our society. The impact of
authoritarian rule, de facto use of a notary style of government, and promotion of
religious strife, sectarianism and extremism by the ruling elite are some massive
factors that have deteriorated this situation.
Security
The word security can be defined as “the quality or state of being secure such as
freedom from threats, freedom from danger, freedom from fear or anxiety or
something that is make its secure and safe.

National security
National security is a state or condition where our most cherished values and
beliefs, our democratic way of life, our institutions of governance and or 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. The growing uncertainties that lie on the regional and global milieu
make up the second dimensions of our national security environment, even as a
threat of external aggression against our country remains in the remote horizon.
No doubt for the country’s national security has been the basic paramount concern
of nation.
 Literary view
Introduction
Pakistan, a land of pure, was created as a separate homeland for the Muslims of
sub-continent. Since coming into existence as an independent state, Pakistan is
facing internal and external threats the challenges of threats are old as well as new.
What is conventional and non-conventional threats?
Conventional threats are those which are clear and identified and can easily be
solved through bilateral attempts. Inter-state conflicts, issues and tensions falls in
this category. For instance, Kashmir issue between Pakistan and India, conflicts in
Indian ocean among states and other of this kind which can clearly be analyses.
While, non-conventional threats are faceless, nameless, spreading violence, fear,
and anxiety in a society . ethnic violence, sectarian, extremist and religious strife
and militant tendencies prevailing in a society have no any valid outlook, rather
multi-dimensional posture for posing threat against state.

A democratic modern Muslim state was a dream of founding father. However, it

could not sustained because; (a) bureaucratic-military elite displace the divided
political leaders and established their hold over state affairs, (b) right from the
beginning Pakistan assigned the highest priority to external security, neglecting
societal development. Consequently, it failed to address massive problems like
rampant poverty, illiteracy, corruption and poor government, which negated the
essence of establishment of Pakistan.
Furthermore, the extend delays in the framing of constitution for the new state
were got another reason for the failure of construction of any viable institution; nor
were any solid traditions were established for managing the country. And long
dictatorial rule in the history of Pakistan abrogated the constitution several times;
derailed Democratic process, weakened the civil institutions, eventually resulting
in instability in the country.
Historical perspective
History reveals that those countries which fails to meet the demands and
aspirations of its people and to construct strong political and socio-economic
structure are more prone to domestic instability. At times, such weak states are
exploited and becomes source for external for elements for easy interruption and
interventions. Among these states, Pakistan is a classical case where military
frequently intervened, inflicting serious change on the development of political
institutions. This fostered a widespread disenchament among the people of East
Pakistan, leading in 1971 to separate sovereign state of Bangladesh.
By the beginning of the 1970s, domestic insurgencies and upheavals gained
ground in Pakistan. The prime focus of national security shifted from external
security threats to internal strife. At that time certain militant and extremist minds
found opportunity in wavering society to cultivate their bases with intention of
accomplishing objectives elsewhere. Taliban regime in Afghanistan provide definite
example where Osama bin laden organized Al-Qaeda and exploited prevailing
situation.

How did extremism, sectarianism and militancy take roots in our

wavering society?
Until the beginning of 1980s, Pakistani society was reasonably tolerate. In Ayub
Khan era, a huge mass movement was noticed against his regime. However it was
free from any manifestation of violence and aggression. In fact, people came on
street for the want of justice, freedom, democracy and rule of law. Another mass
movement was on front in 1977 general election. It followed the same violent free
pattern.

Zia-ul-Haq policy of Islamization and Afghan war on terror

General Zia-ul-Haq military regime played havoc with the social fabric of the
country, badly disturbing it’s equilibrium, underlining Pakistan’s global image as
world began to see us as a terror sponsor state. Its decades long military rule
created a way of life where real Pakistani values were undermined, which
ultimately eroded for the worse. Oppression, intolerance, and disregard for law
was practiced by the ruling elite as an accepted model. The violence-laden
sectarianism, extremism and militancy in society became visible and gained
strength largely due to Zia’s policies. General Zia-u-Haq encouraged certanic
interpretation of Islam and took advantage of Soviet invasion over Afghanistan,
inculcating a culture of violence with his deceitful rule. While Afghan resistance
went on, hid inept military administrative silently adjusted to the culture of
violence and militancy within Pakistani society. Military regime backed regional
secular parties to protect the narrow objectives of the juntra, as a result, it
undermined nationally acknowledged political entities. These military backed
groups based on hatred and suspicion became tool in disturbing the peace and
tranquil balance of Pakistani society.
General Zia-ul-Haq made Pakistan a staging ground for the war against Soviet
Union, which was characterized as Jihad. In this effort, the Pakistani military
leveraged the proxy Islamic groups it had backed since 1970s, providing them with
arms and financing in coordination with the US and Saudi Arabia.
In pursuing strategic goals the Zia regime with international aid systematically
cultivated a virulent strain of Islamist ideology in Pakistan. The intelligence agencies
made right wing Islamic parities as kay partners in recruiting among the millions of
Afghan refugees in Pakistan and students of religious schools or madrashas-
lionising those who volunteered as mujahideen fighting in the name of God. These
religious parties were allowed to widen their network across the Muslim world and
General Zia opened doors to volunteers from all over the world who participated
in the Jihad in Afghanistan ( Maleeha Lodhi, editor: Pakistan Beyond The Crisis State).
Alongside this jihadi culture, Pakistan under Zia regime witnessed an
unprecedented rise in sectarianism-once again triggered by both external and
internal factors-which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Pakistan.
The cumulative effect General Zia years in Pakistan was not just a wholesale
Islamization of the Pakistani state to varying degree but also the explosive of a
jihadi and sectarian culture in response to external forces that were nurtured for
political and ideological reasons it was in the throes of this period that Pakistan’s
drift into extremism began.
Socio-economic factors
Even as a contributing factor, the socio-economic conditions of of Pakistan’s
society cannot be undermined. In fact, apart from the ideological and
malfunctioning of the constitutional institutions, lack of functional socio-economic
structures remain a significant driving force behind the increasingly militant
mindset in the country. Socio-economic issues such as the wide and ever increasing
gap between rich and poor, the failure of the state to provide adequate educational
facilities, the lack of health amenities, social justice, unemployment and serious
concerns of human security, including a deteriorating law and order situation, also
have significant bearing upon the social fabric of the country.
As a result of widening resources gap and increasing despair accompanied by
poor governmental policies, extremism, sectarianism, ethnic, violent and militant
tendencies were provided plenty of impetus among the underprivileged to grow.
“This poverty if opportunity” results in helplessness, despair and depression in
society in most cases, eventually becomes violent as the ultimate option for the
survival of the weakest.
This widening resource and income gap also encouraged locals to join anti-
government elements. For instance, Baluchistan has been the ignored region in
terms of resource distribution and socio-economic development for decades. This
weakness used as primary agenda and propaganda too by anti-government groups
to gain support and legitimacy. It resulted in series of uprising and encouraged
insurgent movements in the region. A similar trend, although with its own features
has been witnessed in the areas of FATA and Southern Punjab .
The environment also creates a relationship of dependency between the recruits
and the organizations as it provide food, shelter and generous amount of money.
In this way, the new members are compelled to fulfill the aims and objective of
these organizations. Recruits are trained and brain-washed in order to accomplish
their task for the organization. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton was correct in
stating that, “We cannot stop terrorism or defeat the ideologies of violent
extremism when hundreds of millions of young people see a future with no jobs,
no hope and no way ever to catch up to the developed world”.
 Yet another factor that promotes despair and frustration is corruption. For many
in Pakistan, corruption has been institutionalized. The chairman of Transparency
International Pakistan, Syed Adil Gillani said that terrorism was the direct result of
poverty, which had resulted due to corruption.

A militant culture and sectarian violence

A vast majority of the Pakistan population are followers of one of the four school
of Islamic interpretation:
1. Braveli or 2. Ahle-hadith 3. Deobandi 4. Shia
sufi
Sunni,close to shia in Sunni Sunni, music to them Shia
belief and rituals unislamic, have
,belief in sufism; narrow
regaed music as interpretation of
source of spiritual religious texts
inspiration

• Accordind to an estimation, 80 per cent of the sunni population are believer

of Sufi traditions
• 10 per cent are Deobandi, mostly located in the Pakhtune belt.
Way forward
Pakistan can by no means leave the task of countering terrorism
unaccomplished. For that it will have to adopt a policy mechanism to control all
shades of militant groups. In retrospect, Pakistan has already taken some measures
that have put pressure on militant and their supporters. This pressure should
remain sustained and be expanded across the board. Reflecting the states resolve
that no militant group will be allowed to operate here and these groups should not
have any space in the political and strategic calculus of the state ( Mohammad Amir
Rana: A militant free Pakistan, Dawn 24th February).
Workable practical process with widespread participations by all ethnic
components can manage tensions and conflict. Freely elected legislature bodies
provide a forum for dialogue and discussion between stakeholders. In the
dictatorial era of Pakistan’s history, difference of opinion were suppressed and
opinion were threatened. This result in the eruption of violence and the tendencies
of separateness became more chronic in smaller provinces.
The strength of constitution in its relation to solve ethnic issues cannot be
measured unless document is applied in letter and spirit. National integration,
which is integra part of the national security, can only be achieved if various ethnic
groups are provided with an equal opportunity to participate in the political process
of the country.
Refrences
➢ Syed Farooq Hasnat: Global Security Watch Pakistan.
➢ Maleeha Lodhi: Pakistan Beyond The Crisis State’ ( Oxford) p. 120, 120.
➢ Zulifqar Ali Khan, Air Chief Marshal: Pakistan’s Security-The Challenges and The
Response.
➢ Adnan Nawaz(IRS): contemporary Essays, (JWT Publication), Lahore.
➢ www.habib.edu.pk/event/cultural-pluralisim-politics
➢ www.opp.com.pk
➢ www.dawn.com
➢ www.thenation.com