Dr Zia Ul Haque Shamsi

The recently released National Security Policy of Pakistan lays great emphasis on ensuring non-traditional aspects of security, commonly referred to as “human security,” besides the adequate emphasis on traditional security due to the peculiar geostrategic environment. The essential elements of human security include personal, community, political, food, health, economic, and environmental security. While each element […]

The theory of classical realism insists on the significance of power and security for the state in the prevalent international system. However, its precepts have made the developed states very selfish and cruel. The relatively stronger states have disregarded the basic needs of the smaller states and in the garb of their security, have ruined […]

The changing nature and character of modern warfare have forced belligerents to alter their course of action to achieve their political objectives without spending too much on war machines. However, 21st-century wars have been equally expensive for the attackers as well as the defenders: attackers for employing extremely costly weapon systems, and defenders for suffering […]

The academic literature on the significance of hybrid warfare continues to catch the attention of researchers and practitioners alike across the globe. Pakistan is no exception, perhaps because it is a victim and has faced various elements of hybrid warfare for more than two decades now. From economic coercion at the hands of International Financial […]

Sometime back Dr Usman W. Chohan asserted that Pakistanis are a very sober society. He was referring to the role of the people of Pakistan during crises like earthquakes, floods, and pandemics. I agreed with him and quoted him at various forums. However, now I realise that our society may be able to put up […]

The word “Teamwork” reflects the collaborative effort and the collective wisdom of a group of people to accomplish a common goal. It provides an equal opportunity for all members to contribute significantly towards the achievement of the assigned tasks. The question arises of the need and significance of this topic in the prevalent environment. My […]

The title of this article might raise a few eyebrows because the term “deterrence” is considered the exclusive domain of the strategic community, at least in Pakistan. However, I do not intend to challenge any authority on the subject, and only look at whether the term “deterrence” or any of its variants can be deployed […]

In a recently published book by the National University of Sciences & Technology, my chapter on “Domestic Politics in Hybrid War” asserts that domestic politics of any state dominates the crafting of nearly all other public policies, including foreign and defence. However, relatively weaker states, particularly in the developing world at times end up compromising […]

The title of this short article might create the perception that it is intended to discuss traditional security matters related to the state and society. However, it is intended to raise certain questions on the execution of security imperatives of the state and society. Traditionally, state security meant the defence of the homeland from external […]

The International Conference on Global Security Threat and Response (GSTAR-2022) was organised by Islamabad’s leading think-tank, the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) on 19-20 October 2022. One of the primary purposes of the Conference was to review aerospace security at global as well as regional levels, for which subject experts from across the […]