ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has urged the National Defence University (NDU) to play an effective role as a think tank to develop a new strategic doctrine in view of future challenges the country could face as a part of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) plan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Speaking at the 16th convocation ceremony of the National Security and War Course at the NDU on Wednesday, he said: “The concept of One Belt, One Road has laid the foundation for far-reaching changes in the world after which a new strategic doctrine will be inevitable in the region and the NDU will play an important role as a defence think tank in this regard.”

National Security Advi­ser retired Lt Gen Nasser Janjua was present on the occasion, as well as several senior officers from the armed forces and state institutions, and 42 senior officers from 23 friendly countries who had participated in the course.

Addressing the audience, the president said the CPEC and the One Belt, One Road plan had laid the foundations for far-reaching changes in the world, which would also have significant impact on matters of defence.

“With progress on these projects, there will also be changes in the region’s strategic realities, thus a new strategic doctrine will be inevitable,” he said.

The president added that the emergence of new trends of extremism and terrorism in the last three decades had increased challenges for Pakistan, which would have to remain in a constant state of war in order to tackle them. “In difficult circumstances, the Pakistani nation and its state institutions have succeeded in this trial,” he added.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2017