Cajoling a collective mode of security

As the world slides once again into bipolarity, the security conundrum is up for a review. Thus, the second edition of the Islamabad Security Dialogue (ISD) — held in Islamabad earlier this month — took a leap forward in fomenting a unanimity factor on the collectivity of geostrategic concerns. It is no mean achievement that synergies were pooled in, and divergent thoughts were assembled to pick the common concerns while mapping a path to serenity. This is what is called the pivotal shift from geopolitics to geo-economics. The strategic intention is to address some of the most complex political conflicts of the region and beyond.

The call for joint economic cooperation among modern nation-states of Asia was this year’s theme at ISD that hosted an unprecedented conclave of National Security Advisers from seven Asian countries — China, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — who shared their thoughts on the definition of security in the rapidly changing environment of Asia. Although each one of these countries subscribes to different political ideologies ranging from totalitarianism to liberal democracy, drive for development through cooperation is proving to be the common denominator amongst them. Through ISD, Pakistan offered a platform for expressing these ideas.

Security is not just limited to the protection of borders and territories anymore; it transcends to include every imaginable space of life. However, such a wide understanding of security also requires an overarching response towards every imaginable challenge. No single modern nation-state is adequately equipped to simultaneously deal with challenges in multiple domains, such as cyberspace, environmental changes, energy sector, depletion of natural resources, health, and terrorism/extremism. Nevertheless, with sustainable and robust cooperation among modern states, the goal of comprehensive and collective security may become attainable.

In Asia, some of the most pressing security challenges include the spillover effects of Afghan war, Covid-19, terrorism and extremist. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan could become the beginning of a new era of development through regional connectivity and trade. However, as pointed out by the Chinese NSA, sustainable development could only be yielded through sustainable security. The road to sustainable security goes through an effective national response to the menace of extremism and transnational terrorism.

Asia has a natural desire to realise the dream of mutual development through cooperator. NSAs from Qatar and Saudi Arabia also highlighted this aspect, but the contest between the great powers could push the world back into the cold war mentality of competing security alliances and bloc formations. Therefore, CBMs amongst the Asian countries need to reach a new level in order to introduce a degree of trust and certainty. Moreover, there is also a need for innovative regional and global mechanisms in order to tackle any global emergency such as Covid-19.

Pakistan has already made a choice: furthering geo-economics. That is its strength and way to go in regionalism. Such transformation necessitates a shift from contest to cooperation. Although contest still remains to be a defining feature of the South Asian strategic environment, Pakistan is all set to move in the direction of freeing itself from the detrimental cycle of competition. Pursuing geo-economics with sanctioned neighbours in the West and a hostile one in the East is a challenging task for Pakistan, however, the dividends of regional connectivity could bring these states together.

National Security Policy also indicates people’s welfare is the primary national security interest of the country. Thus, investment in the sectors of health, education, environment and social security is of paramount importance. However, making such large-scale investments is a colossal task and could only be achieved through mutual economic cooperation at a regional level. Therefore, inclusive dialogues, economic diplomacy and increased communications could help foster a better future for the entire region. Time to walk the new path.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2022.

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