Pakistan

Pakistan is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. These

social features make this society diverse but, at the same time, pose severe

threats to its internal security and serious challenges to its governance.

Since its inception, Pakistan has been suffering due to lack of political

stability and incompetent governance, which has created serious challenges

such as sectarianism, terrorism, religious extremism, intolerance, food, water

and power shortages, and top of all economic instability. Underdevelopment,

poverty, and inaccessibility of due share in the country's wealth are the root

causes of separatism in Baluchistan and various ethnic and sectarian

conflicts among various groups. (Sahir & Qureshi, 2007)

War on terror in Afghanistan is another factor that has affected Pakistan’s

internal security. America initiated it after the 9/11 attacks on America by

the members of the terrorist group Al Qaeda. In return for this terrorist

activity, the US attacked Afghanistan, and Pakistan joined the U.S’s war

against global terrorism. As former President General Musharraf quoted on

several occasions that when he was asked by US leadership that are you

with us or against us, he was left with no other choice but to choose to be an

ally of the US. This decision, which was made by the Pakistani government to

join the US in this war, has destabilized Pakistan severely.

Pakistan deployed its military troops in Federally Administrated

Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administrated Tribal Areas (PATA) to

invasion in Afghanistan, Taliban and their supporters were pushed to leave

Afghanistan and find out safe places to hide in nearby places and carry out

their terrorist activities, so they moved to adjacent tribal areas of Pakistan

and carried out deadly attacks from Pakistan's soil. Due to the presence of

Pakistan's military in those areas, the Taliban and other terrorist groups

started attacking Pakistani security forces and civilians. In response,

Pakistan’s military launched several operations on a massive scale to curb

the menace of terrorism. Unfiltered mobility at Pak-Afghan border was the

biggest challenge as there were direct terrorist attacks from Afghan soil on

Pakistani civilians at public places and security personnel. Resultantly, it

severely affected the overall socio-economic development of Pakistan.

According to the official reports, the economic loss is estimated around US$

120 billion and Pakistan has lost almost 70,000 civilians and security forces

personnel in suicide bombings and terrorist attacks (H. Khan, 2013). Pakistan

launched several military operations across the country to curb terrorism.

When Army Public School in Peshawar was attacked by militants where they

brutally killed innocent children and staff members, Government of Pakistan

developed a National Action Plan in 2015 to crack down on terrorism (Saffee,

2015).

After the successful military operations of Zarb-e-Azb, Khyber I-IV, and

Rad-ul Fasad, which were launched as a measure to counter terrorism under

country's overall security. There is a significant decline in suicide attacks,

bombings, and causalities.

A Sydney based research institute for Economics and Peace issued

terrorism index report in 2017. According to the report, Pakistan has

achieved significant success in combating terrorism, and there is a

significant decline in terrorist incidents and causalities." ("Impact of War in

Afghanistan and Ensuing Terrorism on Pakistan’s Economy,") Despite all

these efforts, Pakistan continues to be the victim of state-sponsor terrorism

from its neighbors. In March 2016Pakistan's’s law enforcement agencies

arrested one Indian spy named Kulbhushan Jhadav while entering into

Pakistan at the Pak-Iran border. Later on, he confessed that he is a serving

Indian naval officer and his objective was to create instability and unrest in

Baluchistan and Karachi. In December 2010, Ahmed Shuja Pasha; former

Director General Military Operations Pakistan presented a report to the

member of National Assembly. According to the report, Baloch separatists

are getting funding from Russia, UAE and India to create insurgency in the

province (P. Today, 2015). The unrest and conflict in Afghanistan are one of

the significant hurdles in regional peace, security, and development.

Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees, which has not only burdened

Pakistan’s economy but also created internal security threats as Pakistan is

still facing terrorist attacks from militants hide-outs present in Afghanistan.

take serious actions against all terrorist groups and organizations operating

from Pakistani soil and damaging Pakistan’s image globally. In the wake of

the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir 2019Pakistan's’s law

enforcement agencies arrested 44 members of different banned

organizations, including son and brother of Masood Azhar, Chief of Jaish-e-

Muhammad (T. W. Post, 2019 ). According to authorities, this crackdown is a

part of the National Action Plan, and it will continue against banned outfits to

curb terrorism and violence across the country. Current insurgency and

conflict in Baluchistan and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) against

extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and abductions in Baluchistan

and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pose serious threats to the internal security of

Pakistan (D. I. Ahmed, 2018). Internal political and economic instability has

hugely affected the overall development of the country.

Inter-Regional and Global Security Dynamics

In the current geostrategic setting of South Asia, India gets extensive

support from the US as the US wants to limit China’s growing influence. (Gul,

Personal Communication October 29, 2018). On the other hand, China and

Pakistan have transformed their relationship into a comprehensive strategic

partnership and cooperating at many levels mainly in economic and defense

spheres. Pakistan is vital for China as it is giving trouble-free access to the

Arabian Sea through deep Sea Gwadar port, which would be connected with
China’s western province Xinjiang (Gul, Personal Communication October

29, 2018).

The US strategy to support India’s hegemonic designs to limit China’s

growth is not in favor of regional peace as it has disturbed the existing

balance of power. US policy towards South Asia region based upon the

balance of power approach. In 2005, India and America signed the 123

Agreement (See Appendix D), which is a civil nuclear deal to enhance

bilateral civil nuclear relations. The Indian government, under Narendra

Modi, decided to modernize it’s military and enhances defense capabilities,

and it provided more opportunities to the United States to enhance its

military cooperation with India. Other than this, China’s rise and its growing

assertiveness in the South China Sea compel the US to expand its

partnership with India.

In 2016 United States signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum

of Agreement (LEMOA) with India to provide the militaries of both countries

access to each other‘s facilities for defense supplies and maintenance. (A.

Panda, 2016) India also signed S-400 deal with Russia and believes that

acquiring the S-400 anti-aircraft defense system will help them to keep

balance against China as previously China signed S-400 deal with Russia

without any fear of sanctions from the US under Countering America’s

Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). US-supported India’s stance by

(T. E. Times, October 5, 2018). It also shows that India is successfully

influencing America’s policies towards South Asia and has leverage over the

US. After signing LEMOA, India and United States have gone one step ahead

in consolidating strategic ties by signing communications, Compatibility, and

Security agreements in 2018 (COMCASA), which will provide India access to

secure intelligence and data sharing equipment about combat situation (J.

Smith, 2018). After LEMOA, COMCASA is the second defense agreement out

of four foundational defense agreements that the United States signs with

close partners to enhance defense capabilities (J. Smith, 2018). These

developments in Indo-US relations are complicating the regional security scenario of South Asia

as the USA is supporting India in its conventional and nuclear build-up, which is compelling

Pakistan to enhance its capabilities.