Hafeez Khan<\/p>\n
The offshoot of this form of \u201cCamp Politics\u201d transformed our psyche into an insecure nation<\/p>\n
I was quite young when Ayub Khan\u2019s martial law was imposed. However, some memories get etched in your mind. In Abbottabad, we had to walk to school through a bazaar famous for its food shops. Chappal Kebab, tea stalls with pakoras, meat, bakery shops and others. All of them were dirty and perfect breeding grounds for flies and insects. Within days of the new regime miraculously floors were spotlessly clean, walls whitewashed, and nettings installed. It was soul cleansing.
\nWhat brought the change? It was the fear of getting caught and being punished. Unfortunately, our national psyche has become directionless; a herd seeking short term gains governed poorly. This trend has gotten worse over time. With population doubling, mostly uneducated, weak law and order, no clear national direction and a sharp decline in the civic sense we are a horde, not a nation.
\nWill that ever change? Each passing day the prospects get dimmer. It is in this environment that we had the announcement of the National Security Policy. Having reviewed the document made public, I find it a bold move to recognize the real issues. A reality check of where we stand and where we need to go. However, we tend to get bogged when it comes to implementation. That is my concern.
\nThe main building block of this Policy is stepping away from Geo-Political Security to Geo Economic Security. It is a quantum jump and a paradigm shift. Since independence, we have been lumbered by an antagonistic neighbour, many times our size. That laid basis of a sense of insecurity and fear. To overcome it we sought alliances that would give us protection.
\nWe entered SEATO and CENTO in the early \u201950s when the USA underwrote our security. We joined \u201cCamp Politics\u201d. We became a frontline state for the Western Alliance against USSR during the Cold War. The powerful don\u2019t offer protection without extracting their pound of flesh. As an unequal partner at some points in history, we were treated like doormats. To maintain our viability they started to dole out aid and loans for the sustenance of Pakistan coupled with making us reliant on their military hardware.
\nThe offshoot of this form of \u201cCamp Politics\u201d transformed our psyche into an insecure nation, dependent on the largesse of our benefactors. USA\u2019s penetration of our power structure kept increasing over time. The elite\u2019s awe and love for all things Western further enhanced this influence.
\nAny ruler who attempted to buck their chokehold was removed. Ayub Khan\u2019s \u201cFriends, not Masters\u201d paved the way for his exit. Unfortunately, we always have an abundance of \u201cMir Jaffers\u201d amongst us. Bhutto, a prodigy of Ayub Khan, spearheaded the move against him. Later, he became their victim when he did not back off from our nuclear program and attempted to become a front runner in Islamic and Third World alliances.
\nThe process continued. We all witnessed the ascent of General Zia and his unceremonious exit. The two political contenders, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto\/ Zardari learnt their lessons early. Their gateway to political power in Pakistan was GHQ and Washington. They pledged their allegiance and stayed subservient.
\nI delved into the past to highlight the importance of this new policy shift. Geo Economic Security is a step to break away from the past. An assessment has been made of our strengths and weaknesses. It is an effort to quantify the impact of various factors at play in determining our way forward. The facts are that we are amongst the ten most indebted nations in the world. The population growth is explosive. Unemployment is reaching new heights. 40% of our population is teetering on the poverty line. The resource pie is far smaller than our needs, and we do not have the luxury of time.
\nBased on the above facts, our choices are severely limited. We have to come to terms with the reality. Unless we think outside the box, the country will continue on a downward trajectory. The essence is to overcome our fears and insecurity. We need to find our feet, believe in ourselves and take pride in being Pakistani. That will not be easy after spending over half a century in a wheelchair! The day of reckoning is here.
\nPM IK, at great peril to himself, with the co-operation of the defence establishment has chosen an arduous path. If they can pull it off, it will serve us and the future generations to exist as a self-respecting nation. This Policy\u2019s emphasis is on economic independence using our strategic location and the connectivity we offer. I will write about the salient features in Part 2 of this series.
\nHow is this Policy statement being received? The warring media segment, blinded by self-interest, continues to serve their paymasters. They are calling it all kinds of names. They claim it is a sellout to the defence establishment; an effort to appease India; an announcement without consulting the opposition, and so on. The Policy document shows differently.
\nThe opposition while trying to find faults, are hung on their message like a broken record: PM is going; PM has failed; PM is incompetent; Nawaz is coming. It is tragic that constructive criticism, a norm in democracies, is entirely missing. Completely understandable in their case. Their priority is to safeguard their looted wealth and grab power by hook or by crook; people be damned.
\nTo Be Continued<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hafeez Khan The offshoot of this form of \u201cCamp Politics\u201d transformed our psyche into an insecure nation I was quite young when Ayub Khan\u2019s martial law was imposed. However, some memories get etched in your mind. In Abbottabad, we had to walk to school through a bazaar famous for its food shops. Chappal Kebab, tea […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3436,1195,2226],"class_list":{"0":"post-241129","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-first-reality-check","8":"tag-hafeez-khan","9":"tag-national-security-policy"},"yoast_head":"\n