ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday appreciated the launch of the National Security Policy (NSP) and called it a “great step”.
The Army chief expressed his views during an informal conversation with journalists at the launch ceremony of the country’s first-ever National Security Policy 2022-2026.
In response to a question, COAS Bajwa acknowledged the steps taken by the state to ensure the national security of the country and called the policy a “great step”.
Talking about the policy, he further said that military security is one aspect of the National Security Policy. The COAS also said that the document will help ensure the national security of the country.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan unveiled a public version of the country’s first-ever National Security Policy (NSP), saying the country was in dire need of a multi-pronged strategy for the future to ensure the protection of its citizens and guard economic interests.
The policy defines the direction the country should take in the coming years. Its makers are said to have taken a citizen-centric approach to national security and placed a special emphasis on economic security.
“The original version of the policy will remain classified, but a public version of the document will be released,” the premier said, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.
The PM, 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 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.”
