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INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SECURITY THREATS TO PAKISTANThe term
security is often observed in the narrow-minded context, rarely do
we go into the conceptual framework. Security is generalized in
military suggestion but with the rapid developments in the existing
world, different dimensions of it have come to the forefront.
Security is an overriding priority for all nations. It is also
fundamental for both disarmament and development. Security consists
of not only military, but also political, economic, social,
humanitarian and human rights and ecological aspects.
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INTERNAL THREATS: Internal threats are threats which a country
has to face within its territory. These threats are more common
rather than any other threats and have outrageous and destructive
effects. Destruction of a countrys economy is the minor effect of
these threats. These threats not only destabilize a country but
also present a bad image of that country in front of the world.
Most of the problems hurried interstate tensions and threats are
created from within, by its geopolitics, its location
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INTERNAL THREATS TO PAKISTAN: Pakistan has fallen a prey of
internal threats badly since coming into existence. The challenges
of threats faced are, old as well as new. Along with its religious
identity Pakistan is also a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and
multi-cultural state. These characteristics have created problems
for her. As a consequence, it has experienced all varieties of
internal conflicts, i.e. tribal insurgencies, ethnic and sectarian
struggles, civil war, border conflicts, and conventional war. Few
of the threats which confuse the internal security are from the
history of disputable boundaries, cross-border diffusion of
ethno-linguistic and religious groups, conflicting economic
interests, problems in nation building and economic development.
These internal threats lead to external interference in internal
affairs. Pakistan due to its location in the region has been
involved in major coalitions with big powers which create problems
for Pakistan for their personal motives.
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SECTARIAN/RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS: Pakistans internal security
problem has been spoiled by the religious/sectarian problem. The
sectarian threat poses a great danger, and could possibly be
devastating for the country. Pakistan has been regarded by some
observers as a weak and vulnerable state threatened by the force of
ethnicity and sectarianism.
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ETHNIC UNREST: Another danger is the problem of ethnic unrest.
Punjab, with almost 60 percent of the population, dominates almost
all aspects of national life. Smaller ethnic groups, all of who
have at one time been actively dissident, resent this fact. Sindh,
one of the most industrious provinces of Pakistan faces a divide
between urban prosperity and rural deprivation as no other province
in Pakistan. Sindh is the most ethnically diverse of four
provinces, due to both international transfers of peoples into the
province during and subsequent to partition in 1947 and to domestic
internal migration.
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REFUGEES: The problem of refugees in Pakistan is a complex issue
for Pakistan. It has further enhanced the already existing
problems. It poses a serious threat to the security at various
levels. The main invasion of refugees came from Afghanistan during
the Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan. All the people who ran
away for their lives entered Pakistan through the border at the
North West Frontier Province (NWFP). About 3.5 million Afghan
refugees entered into Pakistan over the last two decades. The
presence of these Afghan refugees poses threat to the security of
Pakistan at different levels. At the social level, the presence of
Afghan refugees led to disturbance in the law and order situation,
increasing violence and criminal activity, and aggravated ethnic
tension in the NWFP as well as the Balochistan. The Afghan refugees
do not form a group, as they belong to various tribes, with
different tribal and judicial system, which results in tensions and
conflict within groups and leads to bloodshed.
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Arms. The refugees they brought illegal arms, without any
license, which resulted in an abundance of small arms in Pakistan.
The guns and small arms that the refugees brought with them, they
sold it into the open market at very low prices. Drugs Another
cause for concern was the involvement of the refugees in drug
trafficking. They had free access to drugs like heroin that they
smuggled through the borders into Pakistan. This made all these
drugs easily accessible to the local society, which, resulted in
increase of drug addiction. Economy of Pakistan is deeply affected
by the refugees as well. In the early 80s the amount spent on these
refugees per day crossed well over one million dollars per day.
Though foreign donors funded half of this amount, some of the
burden fell on the Pakistani economy. The government had to provide
food, shelter for these refugees.
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TERRORISM: Terrorism, use of organized pressure, has been a
major threat to Pakistans internal security. Pakistan has faced the
threat of terrorism due to intolerance, suppression, and excessive
violence, and economic and political discrimination, religious and
ethnic division. Terrorism basically exists in two forms in
Pakistan. The religious extremist groups, which have been outlawed
and have been involved in sectarian killings or violence fall in
this category, whose prime target is not foreign commercial targets
but challenge the writ of government and the second one is
supported by external sponsorship. Pakistan has been hostage to
terrorist activities carried out by ethnic and religious groups.
The religious groups used religion as a tool and expressed that due
to control of not being free to actively practice religion, a
reaction has occurred. The continued criticism of the pro-western
policies. In reaction and to discourage the governments to go all
out for those policies they create trouble by working into
terrorist activities
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POVERTY / POPULATION: Poverty and population interlinked, pose
another threat to Pakistans internal security. There could be
problems, which facilitate the growth of the other. The present
rate at which Pakistan is developing in terms of its population
growth rate it is estimated that in the year 2025, the population
of Pakistan will be 263 million. This growth will lead to other
problems for the country. With the proposed growth rate, the
problems of meeting the basic needs of the citizens will be
difficult. The average person living well below the poverty line
will be further drawn into the turbulence of economic deprivation
and embedded further deep into poverty. It will be difficult for
the state to provide the basic services, which will require
expansions.
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EXTERNAL THREATS TO PAKISTAN External threats are those threats
which a country has to be faced by other countries. As discussed in
internal security threats that Pakistan has to face so many
internal security threats. So, to control these internal threats
Pakistan may be needed a lot of money and to obtain the money she
may have to beg for the foreign aid in front the foreign country.
The beggar country may be compiled by the foreign country who use
to aid. So, as the foreign country wants, it would do.THREATS OF
UNITED STATES TO PAKISTAN: In terms of Pakistan's external
security, the US using Jundullah through Balochistan to destabilize
Iran undermines the socio-historical, cultural and political
Pakistan-Iran relationship and creates its own destabilizing
dynamics within Pakistani society. Perhaps the silliness of the US
ignorance is reflected most clearly now in the statements coming
from Obama's Special Envoy for this region, Richard Holbrooke. He
showed it after his visit to Pakistan when he talked about people
not being able to walk independently in Peshawar.
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INDIAN FOREIGN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTERS STATEMENT:13th
February, 2009 I rise to inform the House of developments since
this House last considered the result of the dishonorable terrorist
attack on Mumbai. On December 12, 2008 this House resolved, in a
serious Resolution that: "India shall not cease in her efforts
until the terrorists and those who have trained, funded and
supported them are exposed and brought to justice".
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RECOMMENDATIONS for remedies: According to all of the above
scenario, there are many things which have to be change. But I like
to suggest a few things in order to help remove these threats from
the country. These recommendations are as follows: 1. EDUCATION:
The first effort should be on the educational front. Pakistan has
made significant improvement in its literacy rate in the last ten
years. There is a popular national consensus about the importance
of education. It is important to develop the curricula and syllabi
of the first twelve years of education and to rewrite books on
Islamic studies, social studies, history, Urdu, and English for all
school levels to strengthen the elements which deal with, the
rights of others, tolerance, justice and love
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GOVERNANCE: The quality of governance needs to be improved. The
weak political institutions need to be developed, in a manner that
the evolutionary process of democracy takes a smooth walk. Bold and
decisive leadership that can make the hard choices between
consumption and investment, education, defense spending, economic
and human development needs to be there. Leadership that shows
integrity in its personal and public dealings, and that make
policies, which are free of all misconducts and corruption. Civil
and military relations needs to be addressed, a harmony between
them needs to be created to create a pleasant political
environment. Social, diplomatic, military and economic policies
should be formulated between the two which guard the national
interest of the state and which in the long-term perspective does
not pose a threat.
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SECTARIANISM: An ongoing dialogue between the leaders of the two
groups at a national as well as at the city level is important.
Many times, culprits of the violence between the two groups have
been unknown gunmen who have killed at either Sunni or Shia Masjids
with no one claiming any responsibility. Most leaders from both
sides are not involved in the violence. Most Masjids do not preach
violence against any group. Then who starts these fights?
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ETHNICITY / MINORTIES: Civil leadership should facilitate
dialogue between the ethnic groups in Sindh to create a balance and
harmony. Contact should be established between the ethnic groups so
that they can talk out their grievances and redress the situation.
A common cause for the betterment of the society should be
established between the two. The minorities should be treated
appropriately. Positive relationship should be worked out between
the Muslims and the non-Muslims. A pleasant environment should be
created where the minorities do not feel neglected and contribute
in building Pakistan as a better state
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TERRORRISM: Internally Pakistan should deal with sectarianism as
that is posing a lot of terrorist threats to the security. With
emphasis on controlling internal threats of terrorism, external the
threats should also not be ignored as they act as feeders to the
internal threats. The Iranian connection to supporting the danger
of terrorism could not be ruled out. They are funding the sectarian
groups who are following their agenda.
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IMMIGRATION/BORDER: Whether its the border with India,
Afghanistan, Iran, or the seashores, with the exception of the
northeast, Pakistans borders are by and large only monitored on
road crossings. This leads to the general problem of a growing
illegal population and penetration. Smuggling also flourishes in
Pakistan due to the border situation. There are well-known bazaars
throughout the country, which sell smuggled goods. Last year in
Zhob, which borders Afghanistan, I found pickup trucks, which were
ten percent of the cost of these vehicles in Karachi. You can find
cheaper and better cows closer to the borders of India in Sindh,
where people smuggle grain and oils to India in exchange for cows,
which Hindus dont want to slaughter themselves