Hafiz Muhammad Irfan
Finally government brought the much awaited national security policy, the National Internal Security Policy (NISP) 2014-2018. Time and again, different policies have been made during different regimes in the past. Did they remain fruitful? And the answer is NO. A few remained fruitful and others failed to produce results due to poor implementation.
Now when this new security policy (NISP) has been approved, newly established National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) will be raised in order to remove the menace of terrorism and establish peace in the country.
If you go through the document, especially NACTA Act, it needs amendments. No autonomy has been given to the counter-terrorism body (NACTA). All powers lie with the “federal government”, and then the question arises, what is the purpose of NACTA when the Board of Governors include 10 out of 18 “political people”?
To bring peace and create deterrence in our beloved homeland, good governance and rule of law is must. We need to bring certain reforms in anti-terrorism laws and strict implementation of these laws should be ensured. Government should bring all stakeholders on board while making reforms in these laws.
While bringing reforms, first, government should negotiate with all stakeholders including terrorists who in order to meet their political gains and for making money, are causing huge financial loss to the country as well as killing innocent people. As per NISP concept paper, “the country suffered a loss of more than US $ 78 billion in the last ten years only. More than 50,000 Pakistanis, including civilian, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies’ (LEAS) personnel, have been affected.” 
Secondly, reforms in anti-terrorism laws are must. By bringing reforms terrorists who are caught/arrested will not get relief from courts as it is said that presently they are getting relief from the courts due to poor laws. Third, emphasis should be on speedy dispensation of justice.
In the current situation, government should first go for dialogue and if negotiations remain ineffective then it should go for surgical strikes. If that is also useless then a full-fledged operation is must. If this happens, there will be some losers, for example, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the people who will lose their property and businesses. They should be compensated and government should assure “opinion leaders” of the area that they will be taken care of.
Government wants to put into operation 57-point NISP Implementation Plan in the next five years. However, interestingly, executive summary of its concept paper reveals, “The Implementation of NISP will require an estimated cost of 32 billion rupees and it will be implemented till December 21, 2014. Provincial component of this estimated cost is Rs. 22 billion and Rs. 10 billion is the estimated cost of federal components though it will also be supporting the provinces.”
If one reviews this policy document, by and large it is a commendable effort of the government but what about implementation? Government vowing that it has started to put NISP into practice, one can hope for its timely implementation in letter and spirit. If, timely implemented, it can minimise scourge of terrorism in the country and law and order situation can be improved.
This policy could also influence foreign policy of Pakistan especially in the wake of Afghan end game as NATO forces are scheduled to leave Afghanistan this year. Internal politics always influences foreign policy of a state.
All states actually serve their own interests based on their domestic environment and choices of the individuals which finally becomes the choice of state. But our foreign policy and choices of our leaders are quite complex in nature. The recent loan taking from Saudi Arabia is an example. Reuters reported a Pakistani official’s quote, “Saudi Arabia loaned $1.5 billion to Pakistan last month to help Islamabad shore up its foreign exchange reserves, meet debt-service obligations and undertake large energy and infrastructure projects.”
However, experts are of the opinion that there is a long list of compromises behind this loan. Putting Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline deal into doldrums is one of them. Nation states follow almost similar patterns of foreign policies, and that is their self-interest. It is quite disturbing what our leaders keep in mind while formulating foreign policies. If United States can go for a nuclear deal with Iran after a long standstill of 34 years, why cannot Pakistan go ahead on IP gas pipeline deal?
The writer is pursuing an M. Phil in International Relations from IQRA University Islamabad. He tweets @irfanchaudhri and can be reached at irfanchaudhri@gmail.com
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