Resolution of J&K Dispute Vital Security Interest: Pakistan’s NSP Document

“A just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a vital national security interest for Pakistan,” the National Security Policy document unveiled by the country’s premier, Imran Khan, reads.

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SRINAGAR — Pakistan on Friday said that a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UNSC resolutions is a vital security interest for his country, Geo News reported.

“A just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a vital national security interest for Pakistan,” the National Security Policy document unveiled by the country’s premier, Imran Khan, said.

“… In addition, India continues to create false propaganda around the Kashmiri resistance to hide its illegal actions. Pakistan remains steadfast in its moral, diplomatic, political, and legal support to the people of Kashmir until they achieve their right to self-determination guaranteed by the international community as per united nations security council resolutions.”

Khan, Friday, launched the public version of the country’s first-ever National Security Policy 2022-2026, saying the nation is now headed in the right direction.

The national security document would provide for pursuing youth-focused policies, guaranteeing food security, improving preventive healthcare, and mainstreaming climate adaptation, Geo News reported.

“The original version of the policy will remain classified, but a public version of the document will be released,” according to Radio Pakistan.

The Pakistan premier, addressing the launch ceremony of the policy, said national security was defined “in the right manner” in the new policy, as Pakistan had a one-dimensional thought: “We only need military security”.

The prime minister said the one-dimensional mindset prevailed in Pakistan as we had “insecurities” due to wars against India in 1948 and 1965.

He also paid tribute to the armed forces and said that despite a persistent threat of terror to the country, the way that Pakistan’s security forces fought against terrorism, was commendable.

PM Imran Khan noted that the biggest security of a state is its people. “When the people become stakeholders of the country, it becomes the greatest national security.”

For his part, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf said that the NSP has taken a broad view of national security as both traditional and non-traditional issues impacted our security.

“While the National Security Policy is centered around economic security, the geo-strategic and geo-political imperatives also feature prominently to strengthen Pakistan security and standing in the world.”

He highlighted that this was a document finalised after complete civil-military consensus.

“Our national security thinking seeks to identify means of expanding economic resources such that Pakistan can simultaneously strengthen its traditional and non-traditional security,” Dr. Yusuf, said.

The main themes of the NSP are national cohesion, securing an economic future, defence, and territorial integrity, internal security, foreign policy in a changing world.

The policy is aimed at addressing three critical economic challenges, external imbalance, socio-economic inequalities, and geographic disparities between developed and under-developed regions of Pakistan.

The document emphasises the non-negotiable focus on defence and territorial integrity of Pakistan, strengthening space-based technology and its application, and combating hybrid warfare through enhancing information and cyber security.

Regarding internal security, the policy seeks to ensure writ of the state across the country, zero-tolerance towards terrorism, extremism, and violent sub-nationalisms and fighting the menace of organized crimes.