ISLAMABAD: The armed forces of Pakistan will play their “due part” in achieving the vision laid out in the National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026, the Pakistani military spokesman said on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) endorsed the policy in a high-level huddle on Monday, aiming to ensure safety, security and dignity of its citizens.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan's cabinet approved the new strategy, with the national security adviser saying it was “citizen-centric” and had “economic security” at its core.
"NSP is an important milestone in strengthening national security of Pakistan. The comprehensive framework recognizes interlinkages between various strands of national security, imperative to meet emerging challenges in evolving global environment through a whole-of-government effort," said Major General Babar Iftikhar, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
"Pakistan’s armed forces will play their due part in achieving the vision laid out in the policy," he added.
Pakistan's National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf earlier said the approval of the NSP by the cabinet was a “historic achievement.”
"A citizen-centric comprehensive National Security Policy with economic security at the core will now be pursued in earnest," Pakistani NSA Moeed Yusuf said on Twitter.
“This umbrella document will, over time, help guide sectoral policies for the fulfilment of our national security objectives.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan (center) chairs cabinet meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, on December 28, 2021. (PM Office)
He thanked the civil and military leadership for all their support and input, saying the policy would not have seen the light of day without the prime minister’s constant leadership and encouragement.
“The success of the policy will lie in its implementation for which a plan has been developed,” Yusuf said, adding a public version of the document would be released in due course.
On Monday, PM Khan directed that the policy must guide all organs of the government to ensure their efforts were synchronized with the overall direction of the strategy.
“The security of Pakistan rests in the security of its citizens,” he emphasized during the NSC meeting, while reposing confidence that Pakistan was well prepared to thwart any internal and external threats.
Pakistan’s National Security Division has devised a detailed framework to review the implementation of the policy in collaboration with relevant ministries and departments.
