ISLAMABAD: The National Security Advisers (NSAs) of regional and middle eastern countries called for an inclusive security focusing on a shared future for all.
Seven NSAs from China, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated by video link and presented their suggestions during the two-day Islamabad Security Dialogue (ISD 2022).
Opening the Forum, National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf said the world was moving in a direction where Pakistan was looking at for cooperation not contestation. He said the purpose of the ISD 2022 forum was to find the missing link between policy makers and intellectuals for informed decision and policymaking.
“The NSAs always thought there was room for out of the box solutions to move forward and we are working to make it such forum where NSAs can meet and share their ideas for joint and shared endeavours to achieve comprehensive cooperation”, the NSA said.
Dr Moeed said Asia as a continent had emerged as a state for contestation between Asian and non-Asian countries and therefore, the way forward was multilateralism.
Ukraine crisis brought turmoil
The Chinese NSA congratulated Pakistan for successfully convening the session and added that the title of the forum “Asian security in a fluid world” was highly relevant in the prevailing situation.
He said The Ukraine crisis has brought turmoil in the world and impacted the regional security, adding, “We have seen profound changes and no state alone can achieve all inclusive security”.
The Chinese NSA said President Xi Jinping had a great vision to promote sustainable security and under the prevailing circumstances Chinese side was ready to play role for comprehensive, sustainable and inclusive security for Asia region.
He said Asia was the greater attention of the emerging world and its affairs had to be run by the Asian countries. “Asia is open for all for mutual cooperation and security for all”, he added.
:China’s peaceful development relies and starts from Asia and benefits Asia. Strength is not of muscles rather solidarity and the Asian countries have to be united for a better and peaceful future,” he concluded.
Control of Asia
NSA Qatar Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned said many countries had capitalised in the structures of development leading to security where Asia had transformed with the rapidly changing world order.
“The economic growth becomes the next major aspect of security where the future’s massive growth as projected will come from Asia that leads to the competition of world powers to achieve massive control of the region”, he said.
The Qatari NSA said the demand for natural gas would increase significantly post COVID-19 recovery. “The Asia and Middle East regions enjoy one of the oldest trade links on the earth where the Belt and Road Initiative will revive that history”, he added. He informed that most of Qatar’s LNG volume goes to Asia whereas the most of its electric vehicles and food commodities were imported from Asia.
New security framework
Responding to queries of NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf, referring to Ukraine-Russia crisis leading to energy supply issues said energy should not be used as a weapon rather should help all nations in need. “The Ukraine Russia war will have huge impact on energy. Qatar is trying to make up the world needs but unfortunately it will not reach that level of demand”, he said.
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Bin Saeed Al-Malki read out statement of the Kingdom’s NSA. The NSA of Turkey Dr. Ibrahim Kalin said there was need to have opportunity for multiple voices to discourse as the Asian countries were still in a US and Euro centric world.
“After the end of Ukrainian crisis there needed to have a new security framework that would have long-term consequences,” he said. “The new security architecture needs to be based on sense of belonging not exclusion. It should be free from ethnocentric and euro-centric prejudices”, he proposed.
“Our human, economic and security interests are intertwined as no one is safe unless we all are safe. Issues of security, terrorism, poverty and equality are shared issues”, he ended.
Pakistan’s challenges
During the third session titled “Pakistan in a changing World Order” former NSAs Lieutenant General (R) Nasser Khan Janjua, Lieutenant General (R) Khalid Naeem Lodhi and NSA Dr Moeed discussed the multifaceted issues and challenges faced by the country.
Former NSA Nasser Janjua lauded NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf’s efforts for successfully conducting ISD 2022. “This time peace takes dictating the world order whereas Pakistan is differently located and its challenges are different”, he added.
Stressing the changing or fluid world order, he emphasized that Pakistan had become a pivotal country and would face crucial challenges due to its position. “The leading trend of this global world order is containment of China and Indo-Pacific strategy is on the play where this change is our challenge”, he mentioned.
He underlined that the change was still far and it was not round the corner so that Pakistan could shift a side, adding, “till then Pakistan should stay at its own course and seek at least 20 years of peace and stability and charter its own course”.
Commenting on the significance of NSA office, he said this office was very important and making its contribution in serving national interests. “This institution should and grow and continue to get mature. The National Security Policy is the step in right direction which was needed,” he said.
“We are a versatile nation and the world is ever changing then we should always amend, correct and approve the National Security Policy (NSP) with transitioning world scenario,” he suggested. He mentioned that the concept of security needed to be revisited and revived.
Policymaking
NSA Dr Moeed Yusuf said there could be no greater challenge in terms of policy making except thought process. “NSA has to be principle coordinator for the Chief Executive and hold national security dialogues with counterpart countries. We need to get the value of this office which has happened to a greater level in the current government”, the NSA explained.
He underlined that the National Security Committee (NSC) had become an irreplaceable model where civil-military leadership sit together. “Economic diplomacy is the key to future and without it no endeavour could succeed which have to be taken seriously”, he said.
