ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government is all set to unveil the country’s first-ever National Security Policy on Friday with a shift in country’s approach from geo-strategic to geo-economics.
However, the longstanding Kashmir dispute with India has been identified as a ‘vital national policy issue’ in the National Security Policy to be launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The original 100-page policy document that would be kept classified leaves the door open for trade and business ties with India without final settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute provided there is progress in the talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, an official in a background briefing to journalists said on Tuesday.
Peace with immediate neighbours and economic diplomacy will be the central theme of the country’s foreign policy in the new National Security Policy.
The official said that under the new vision, Pakistan is not seeking hostility with India for the next 100 years.
“The new policy seeks peace with immediate neighbours,” the official said, adding if there was a dialogue and progress in it there would be a possibility of normalising trade and commercial ties with India as it had happened in the past.
Relations between Pakistan and India have been at virtually standstill since August 2019 when India revoked the special status of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan, in reaction to the Indian move, downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended bilateral trade with India.
In February last year there were some hopes of a breakthrough when the two sides agreed to restore the ceasefire understanding along the Line of Control (LoC) but the process could not make further headway.
Since the new national security policy seeks a shift in Pakistan’s approach from geo-strategic to geo-economics, there is renewed optimism of a possible thaw with India.
Economic security will be the central theme of the new national security policy, the official said, adding that there were no prospects of rapprochement with India under the current Modi government in New Delhi.
The new policy also deals with the issue of militant and dissident groups. The policy advocates dialogue with ‘reconcilable elements’. Similarly, the policy has identified “intellectual expression” as key for the progress and prosperity of the society.
On the internal front, the new policy identifies five key areas that include population/migration, health, climate and water, food security and gender mainstreaming.
“But geo-economics does not necessarily mean we overlook our geo-strategic and geo-political interests,” the official stressed.
According to the official, this would be the first-ever codified national security policy that would cover both internal security as well as foreign policy.
Only a part of the national security policy will be made public, the official clarified, saying such policies often remain classified in other countries too.
The official said though Pakistan did have defence, foreign and internal policies, the new policy would act as “umbrella document”, providing direction for the future. It took seven years to prepare this policy, which was started by then National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz in 2014.
“Inputs were taken from all the federal, provincial institutions as well as military and other departments,” the official maintained.
However, the official when asked said opposition was not taken on board since the policy making was the domain of the executive. Nevertheless, the official admitted that such a document would need a consensus.
“For this purpose we are ready to sit with opposition on this issue,” the official added.
It is pertinent to mention here that when the National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf briefed the parliamentary committee on national security a few weeks ago, the opposition had boycotted the session.
When asked to comment on the implementation of the policy, the official said the classified document lays out a complete implementation mechanism. The prime minister will review the progress on a monthly basis.
The policy will be reviewed every year and at the time of change of government, according to the official.
The official said the issue of political stability was also taken care of in the new national security policy.
Pakistan has a checkered history with no elected prime minister has ever been able to complete a stipulated five-year term.
