DESPITE the criticism and intelligentsia putting effort to fathom suggestions for the National Security Policy (NSP), many are unaware of one principle aspect of it. The NSP is in its early stage and may evolve with time and trial; it may not be free from errors yet. It is experimental and gradually will mature.

Concomitantly, international law, too, is a system of rules in its evolutionary stage. It will be an omission of major facts and neglect of international settings if one stresses that the law of nations is a fiasco, unable to ensure absolute peace. With consistent effort by numerous international actors, international law promotes practicality and a fitting regulatory system that governs nation states.

The NSP and its approach to understanding and accentuating a myriad of security threats to Pakistan while also making it citizen-centric holds great potential. The NSP’s success lies in its acceptance and consideration of its nature. A vision of future governance and the current sphere of powers require profound unity in its implementation.

Nations cooperate with innumerable international actors under the relevant conventions. Thereby, considering NSP’s evolutionary nature and its embryonic stage, a fitting yet consistent effort is required to metamorphise it into what the critics are suggesting. A proper understanding of the NSP and suggestions for its implementation will be a public service by the intelligentsia of the country.

One must scrutinise the policy not to dig out loopholes within the institutions, but to create a safe environment for the security policy to help it evolve with time.

Sikander Zafar
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2022