Pakistan’s National Security Policy (NSP)

Pakistan’s National Security Policy and its Implications for India – Explained, pointwise [7PM – 19th Jan 22] 

– The policy seeks peace with India without any hostility for the next 100 years.

– Pakistan had downgraded ties with India and stalled trade after India had revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019. They have said that it would be impossible to normalize ties with India if it doesn’t reconsider its decision on Jammu and Kashmir special status. 

But the NSP offers India the opportunity to engage with Pakistan outside the straitjacket of the J&K paradigm, especially since the ceasefire of February 2021 seems to have held. Moreover, there is no demand for the reversal of August 5, 2019, changes made by India in the status of Jammu & Kashmir. 

– The policy leaves the door open for trade and business ties with India without a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute, provided there is progress in the talks. But the policy also states that India had “illegally occupied” J&K, and Hindutva-led politics as a threat to Pakistan’s security in terms of political exploitation.

– The NSP accords just one sentence to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, though it has offered to host the next summit.

“Pakistan gets serious” – Livemint – 15th Jan 22

– There is a clear emphasis on the economy as the main bedrock of national security. Pakistan’s economy is severely impacted by high inflation and Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis. Recently, Pakistan resorted to IMF for a bailout. Further, the threat from sectarian strife and internal separatist movements has forced Pakistan to look inwards.

– The policy document emphasises more on neighbouring countries (Afghanistan, China, India, Iran) with no specific reference to western countries is a significant policy shift.

– With respect to US, the frustration with them is evident. Pakistan says that it does not like the current reality where its ties with the US are purely located in counter-terrorism cooperation.

– With respect to India, the document expresses that the current “Hindutva politics” in India is a threat to its security.

“Can Pakistan put off change again?” – Indian Express – 18th Jan 22
Most of the problems which Pakistan is facing today are similar to which India faced in the 1990s. These are:

1) Economic model,

2) Political instability which leads to weak coalition governments,

3) Social conflicts like caste and religion,

4) External pressure to bring domestic changes.

“Can Pakistan put off change again?” – Indian Express – 18th Jan 22

Below policy has led Pakistan to bring changes in its National policy:

Cross border terrorism: With the end of the Cold War, Pakistan chose to opt for cross border terrorism to bring instability to Kashmir and turn Afghanistan into a protectorate. But all its initiatives did not yield any credible results. 

Economic modernization: Pakistan has done little to bring reforms to its economy. As a result, its economy in 2021 (GDP at $280 bn) is well behind that of Bangladesh ($350 bn). The Indian economy at $3.1 trillion is also more than 10 times larger than that of Pakistan.

Pakistan has gone to the IMF more than twenty times but has been unable to forge long-overdue structural changes in the economy. 

Foreign policy: In the past, Pakistan played a large role in the Middle East and more broadly the Muslim world. But today, its equities in the West have steadily diminished. The US President Joe Biden hasn’t called Pakistan’s PM even once despite persistent efforts by Pakistan’s foreign ministry even though he has been in the Office for more than a year now. 

Backfire of policies: Pakistan’s support for violent religious extremism has also started to backfire. Militant groups which were once seen as valuable instruments for Pakistan have now turned against the state. Also, severe financial penalties have been imposed on Pakistan by the international system for supporting terrorist activities.

Troubled relations: After USA intervention in Afghanistan, Pakistan had a chance to change its course. Instead, it has chosen to bring them back to power. This may lead to the wrath of the USA. And Taliban on the other hand is signalling it is not a proxy of China.

India has also changed its tactics of engagement with Islamabad. Now, India is not shy of using military power in response to terror attacks.

Challenges with China: Pakistan also has troubling ties with its evergreen ally China e.g., the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is caught between corruption, terrorism and an uprising in Balochistan, turning their attention more to Karachi than Gwadar. Pakistan is getting increasingly indebted to China and had to pay Rs. 26 billion as interest to China in 2021 for its failure to repay a maturing debt on time. 

Change in the stance of Pakistan’s military: The case for major reform to get Pakistan out of the multiple crises confronting it, has been articulated by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. 

The “Bajwa Doctrine” emphasises the importance of restoring peace within by putting down various internal insurgencies, reviving economic growth, reconciling with the neighbours, rebuilding ties with the US without abandoning the strategic partnership with China, and regaining its traditional political goodwill in the Gulf. 

Pakistan’s National Security Policy and its Implications for India – Explained, pointwise [7PM – 19th Jan 22] 

The NSP is a “policy”, not a “doctrine”, which basically translates into an aspirational document. Moreover almost 50% of the policy is classified and out of public reach. Only 48 pages of the 110-page document are available to the public.

Pakistan supported terrorist infiltration into J&K has seen a significant rise since the Taliban took back Afghanistan from the US in August 2021. There are more weapons being sent across the LoC. More civilians are being targeted in the valley. Hence, it is hard to conclude Pakistan has shed terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Pakistan has continued the support to the Khalistan movement and has upped the ante to revive the movement in Punjab when the elections are near.

Increasing ties with China: Pakistan has been acquiring Chinese weapon systems at scale. Further, Pakistan is becoming a staging ground/ port for Chinese power projection in the Arabian Sea/ western Indian Ocean, like a pincer against India.

Pakistan’s National Security Policy and its Implications for India – Explained, pointwise [7PM – 19th Jan 22] 

Enable a two-way flow of trade traffic: India and Pakistan can re-open the existing road and rail links and expand ready-made border customs infrastructure — the Wagah border.

Keep its expectations grounded: One reason development took a back seat to security in Pakistan is the political dominance of the army that cornered most of the economic resources, in the name of protecting the nation from the “Indian threat”. Hence, India should be cautious in its engagement with Pakistan because the army is still calling the shots in Pakistan’s internal politics.

If both Pakistan’s army and government together worked on “burying the past” with India, then India should be ready to extend a hand.

Pakistan has to explore options for more ties with India. This can be achieved by steps such as, a) Restoration of High Commissioners in each other’s capitals, b) Making valuable commitments on issues such as cross-border terrorism, etc. c) Granting Most Favoured Nation status to India. In return, India can also grant the MFN status which it revoked earlier.

Work on countermeasures of Pakistan and China: Between 2017-20, India-Afghan trade bypassed Pakistan, via Chabahar or an air corridor. If India concentrates more on Chabahar and uses the UAE as a trading hub to access Central Asia and western Asian markets, it can build up an effective counter move.

No one has a higher stake than India in the success of the Bajwa doctrine that calls for a Pakistan at peace with itself and the region. Pakistan’s NSP has provided some hope for India. Now it is the time for Pakistan to fulfil those hopes into action.