In his speech on "Security Outlook 2025: National Security and Defence Transformation" at the South Asian Strategic Stability Institution on Thursday, CoAS General Raheel Sharif reflected a refreshing new thinking on different aspects of defence in a changing world. Security, he noted, does not only refer to external threats but is a concern in terms of politics, human rights, economy, water security, terrorism and insurgency. That pretty much sums up the issues underlying the challenges Pakistan confronts today. Talking about Pakistan's 'current enemy' who "lives within us and looks like us" General Sharif said the definition of security has changed with the passage of time. Security could not be achieved by securing borders alone, but also by protecting ways of life, culture, ideas and sensitivities. The formulation encourages optimism about a better future. For no nation has achieved progress without political stability and social harmony; and military power without sustained economic growth and improvement in the living standards of ordinary people. The CoAS also pointed to the new dangers that have altered the nature of conflict with 'supra-individuals' taking over the battles with states from non-state actors. In a clear reference to IS' capture of large swathes of Iraq and Syria, he said, "these 'supra-individuals' have the capacity to manipulate networks, organisations, and state institutions... to create discord at the centre of sate institutions." His grim conclusion: "while explosions are still a viable tool of war, implosions are the new defeat mechanisms." In other words, traditional weapons of war are not enough to avert collapse from within. A couple of days earlier, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Rashad Mehmood had expressed similar views in his keynote speech at a seminar hosted by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation, saying the traditional paradigm of strategic stability has been consigned to the past by new realities in the world affairs, and changing domains of military and political powers. Defence and security operations are no longer restricted to the realm of physical space, he said, because in the current environment the primary objectives of any state's security institutions are to achieve domestic peace, maintain harmony, and ensure defence of the country against internal and external challenges. The two top military leaders' assertions are assuring, indeed.
They have to walk the talk, too. As regards the ongoing military offensive against militants in the tribal areas, there is much to be satisfied about. The soldiers have made impressive gains. Contrary to previous suspicions, they have not been discriminating between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban. As a matter of fact, a senior US commander, Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, acknowledged last month that the Haqqanis - whom Pakistan was accused of sheltering earlier - have also been "fractured like the Taliban is. That's based pretty much on the Pakistan [operations] in North Waziristan this entire summer-fall." Equally important is the need to eliminate other violent extremist groups from the rest of the country. The fact that the dreaded backlash from the Fata operations did not happen is indicative of the effectiveness of preparations the Army was said to have made before going into N Waziristan. However, some of the militants, especially sectarian terrorist groups, seem to be lying low for now. They remain a clear and present threat. Then there are those with jehadi agendas for the region who continue to function openly as charitable organisations, raising concerns about cherry-picking. The new security paradigm urges a zero tolerance policy towards extremists of all hues. There is enough in this country's own experience to show that once people learn to rely on the power of the gun to achieve a seemingly legitimate security goal, they can easily get out of control and hurt rather than help. Hopefully, from now on the civilian and military leaderships will work together to bring about political stability and internal peace, focusing on economic development, poverty eradication, quality education, jobs generation, and promotion of religious tolerance.
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