NON-TRADITIONAL DIMENSIONS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF PAKISTAN: THE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

The territorial integrity of any sovereign state remains a vital interest for which it can go to war with any adversary. Historically, territorial disputes were the main source of wars and conflicts between nations until the Treaty of Westphalia was signed between the European powers of the time in 1648. However, there is a need to give equal importance to non-traditional security challenges to ensure that they are addressed with the same vigour and priority as territorial security, so that adversaries are unable to exploit fault lines, and the overall national security of the state is not compromised. Pakistan faces several challenges to its national security for a variety of reasons. While the Armed Forces of Pakistan have valiantly defended territorial integrity and sovereignty successfully over time, non-traditional security challenges are fast emerging as serious concerns to its overall security in the medium- to long term. Uncontrolled population growth, lack of national integration, increased intolerance in society giving rise to extremism and terrorism, lawlessness, corruption, air pollution, and cyber security also form part of the long list of serious security concerns for Pakistan. This paper is aimed at suggesting a way forward for Pakistan in the domain of non-traditional dimensions of national security.