Pakistan faces serious internal security
challenges in form of communal, sectarian, political, ethno-nationalist,
lslamist divide and violence as well as ever increasing terrorist and insurgent
attacks. Most of these internal security challenges stem from ideology of
Pakistan and the state's failure to develop an inclusive form of nationalism.
Moreover, Pakistan’s insistence of using lslamist groups as levers of its
foreign and security policy has further complicated the security environment of
the nation. The policy of nurturing some militant groups as assets and
eliminate those who fight the state has failed. Over the years it has created a society where
these militant groups have spread their tentacles and are now well entrenched.
Rise of ethno-nationalist movements in Balochistan,
KPK, Punjab, FATA and POK along with religious radicalization of the society
and an ever increasing religious divide between Shia and Sunni, Ahmedis,
Barelvis pose grave internal security challenges to Pakistan. Ironically the
problem and possible solution to most of these challenges is the strongest
institution of Pakistan state, The Pakistan Army. Pakistan Armed forces have directly
ruled the nation for more than three decades and indirectly over the remaining
periods since partition. The Army itself faces many internal challenges such as
binary stretch due to its deployment in internal security and its impact on
conventional war capability, increasing lslamisation of its personnel,
deteriorating security situation, skirmishes on its borders with Iran, India
and Afghanistan and security of “China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)” to
name a few. The response to these challenges will determine Pakistan’s army
success/failure in overcoming the nation's security challenges. How far will
the Armed forces be able to overcome the Internal Security Challenges will
depend upon a great deal on its intention, capability and method adopted. This
book is an attempt to understand the various security challenges being faced by
Pakistan and the ability of its Army to overcome them.