Introduction

Last month, in the presence of NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a summit, President Biden announced a historic increase in military assistance along Europe’s eastern flank. As NATO agreed to the largest reinforcement of its deterrents since the Cold War in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States pledged additional American soldiers, bombers, and cruisers for Europe. Biden said that the bold military announcements are meant to send a clear message that NATO is united against Russia’s increasing hostilities. Biden welcomed Finland and Sweden as soon-to-be members and promised to defend every inch of NATO territory. It happened after Turkey removed its veto against the two countries agreement. Because of Turkey’s allegations that the two nations supported a Kurdish force in northern Syria, Turkish President Endogen has vowed to veto their bids. Sweden and Finland consented to refrain from supporting militant Kurdish organizations as part of the agreement. Amid of the Ukraine war, Turkey’s inclination towards Russia, its refusal to join sanctions against Russia and to veto Sweden and Finland over its alignment with NATO fueled the debate whether Turkey is moving away from the West. But somehow the agreement managed to reach by Turkey, Sweden and Finland to open the door for the Nordic nations to join NATO. The deal was interpreted as Turkey’s alignment with its Western allies in response to Russian aggression. However, recently the Turkish President met the Russian President Putin which depicts the opposite scenario. Also, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to halt the process of Sweden and Finland membership as a response of not deporting the accused militant organization (PKK).

Monitoring Committee

After the decision was made, a monitoring committee under NATO was formulated. The three countries i.e. Turkey, Finland and Sweden will meet to check the progress of the agreement that took place last month. Turkey which is a 70 years old NATO member has made it clear to block the membership bids of both Finland and Sweden if the requirements of the deal are not fulfilled. Turkey has remained of the opinion that both the countries have actively participated with the militant organization i.e. Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against the country. As a part of the deal, Finland and Sweden has pledged to not only consider PKK as a terrorist organization as already listed by the United States and European Union. But they will also ensure the prevention of PKK’s activities, all other terrorist groups and their offshoots, as well as of those individuals who are a part of associated networks or groups that are connected to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in any way. According to experts, when it comes to the definition of terrorism, Sweden, Finland and Turkey are not in agreement, Turkey may face resistance to its request for the extradition of those it considers as terrorists Sweden and Finland may not view certain individuals as terrorists. The Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated in an interview that Turkey will not approve the accession agreement if these nations do not implement the issues outlined in the memorandum signed earlier.

Turkey Urges Support of NATO Allies

The rising threat has been underlined by skyrocketing summer temperatures, with 100 million Americans currently under extreme heat warnings and devastatingly hot circumstances affecting anguish across the Europe has resulted in Joe Biden’s revival of Climate Agenda. On 20th July, while announcing a total of $2.3 billion to assist develop US infrastructure that can resist global disasters, Mr. Joe Biden said “the health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake, our national security is at stake and our economy is at risk. So we have to act”. He added “Climate change is literally, not figuratively, a clear and present danger”.

Introduction

Europe is witnessing extreme heat waves for the very first time which has clutched the whole region by an intense increased temperature. The record breaking temperature has triggered wildfires that have spread over a vast area of nearly 27,000 acres due to which authorities are struggling to control the situation. Almost 19 European countries are still in extreme danger of forest or wildfires forecasted by European Forest Fire Information System. The railway and the transit systems have been destroyed badly in most parts of the region. The heat waves are increasing significantly more than ever in Europe and the negative trend is said to be continued by 2060 as per stated by the United Nations. Recently, in June, major countries of Europe like France and Portugal experienced drought and now the region is in severe crisis again. More than 31,000 people have been evacuated in France and 659 deaths have been reported in Portugal within a week, and alone in Spain, more than 500 people have died as a consequence of existing calamity. The rapidly changing global weather patterns in the form of current heat waves have not only affected Europe but also the United States and parts of China. The United States referred heat waves as the deadliest disaster and almost 600 people died as a result per year from 1999 to 2009. This year China observed highest temperature over 42 degrees Celsius causing death causalities. The spurring death toll is alarming and demands effective measures for the safety and protection of the people.

Climate Change and Heat Waves

Climate change is being contemplated as the root cause of the crisis and is a major driving force behind record-breaking and extreme heat waves. Heat waves are becoming more frequent and hotter due to climate change. The United Nations international panel i.e. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that this is the case for the majority of the regions. Experts have also attributed raged heat waves in Europe to uncheck human activities, since the start of industrialization, greenhouse gas emissions have increased global temperatures by around 1.2 degrees Celsius. It means that the average temperature of the Earth is increasing with the passing time which can create more worsening circumstances in the future in comparison with what all the regions are going through now. Since the base is getting warmer, extreme heat events can reach further higher temperatures and exacerbating dry conditions. Heat waves can have impacts on the livelihoods of people specifically marginalized sectors of society. Also, it will increase poverty, political instability and social tensions as well as food security will also be threatened as it have witnessed from South-Asian countries including Pakistan and India. But unfortunately, it is a dilemma that heat waves are not getting due attention of the concerned and responsible stakeholders to deal with the issue.

President Joe Biden’s Plan for Climate Change

The rising threat has been underlined by skyrocketing summer temperatures, with 100 million Americans currently under extreme heat warnings and devastatingly hot circumstances affecting anguish across the Europe has resulted in Joe Biden’s revival of Climate Agenda. On 20th July, while announcing a total of $2.3 billion to assist develop US infrastructure that can resist global disasters, Mr. Joe Biden said “the health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake, our national security is at stake and our economy is at risk. So we have to act”. He added “Climate change is literally, not figuratively, a clear and present danger”.

Conclusion

Climate change is such an important issue that it should be identified as a concern of national security. The statement by President Biden shows the importance of climate change which is posing serious threats to a country’s traditional and non-traditional security. The climate has changed and will continue to change; there is a need of taking serious steps to deal with the concerned issue. It can be done by creating innovation in the existing course of action for adaptation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle with the issues of global warming in an efficient manner at local, national, and international levels. Here the role of developed nations and the international community is crucial in terms of developing countries, as they are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, policies must be designed in a way that proves a source of relief for them. The current situation of Europe should be considered as a wake-up call by all the countries and stakeholders to make an effort not only to safeguard planet Earth but the people of planet Earth as humanity comes first and should be the top priority.

Tourism is vital to the success of many economies around the world, especially in the country like Pakistan. There are several advantages of tourism in host destinations. Tourism increases the income of the economy, creates thousands of jobs, develops the country’s infrastructure and creates a sense of cultural exchange between foreigners and citizens. The number of jobs created by tourism in many different areas is significant. These jobs are not only part of the tourism sector, but can also include the agriculture sector, the transport sector, the health sector and the education sector. Tourism is a great opportunity for foreigners to learn about a new culture, but it also creates many opportunities for local citizens. It enables young entrepreneurs to introduce new products and services that would not be sustainable for local residents alone. In addition, residents feel the benefits of tourism in their own country.Along with tourist spending, businesses and people frequently contribute to the local economy by investing their travel earnings. Therefore, the tourism sector helps the local economy by generating additional revenue that is then spent there. Because a significant chunk of every cent made from tourism is continually reintroduced into the economy, it is for this reason that tourist income is frequently referred to as the multiplier impact. The multiplier effect is evident here.

Assuming there is understanding and policy on the part of stakeholders to develop the tourism culture, tourism can be a multibillion dollar sector in Pakistan. A nation’s image and reputation are assessed based on its ability to offer tourists, particularly foreign travelers, basic amenities.Why can’t Pakistan, a nation endowed with stunning natural beauty, earn more from tourism than India and China, which both generate more than $20 billion year, and numerous European nations like Switzerland, France, the UK, Italy, and Greece, which generate several hundred billions annually. Country is endowed with attractive tourists as well as historical and religious monuments that draw big numbers of foreign visitors. Peaks, glaciers, lakes, and forests in the north of Pakistan are well-known for attracting both domestic and foreign tourists in their millions. The historical buildings of Texila and Mohenjo Daro can also be very popular with visitors from abroad. The deserts of Sindh’s Tharparkar and Punjab’s Cholistan, as well as Pakistan’s seashore, particularly in Balochistan, have the potential to draw both domestic and international visitors in considerable numbers. Apart from the natural beauty of Pakistan, there are a lot of architectural sites and jewels in Pakistan, which, if maintained, will attract and leave many tourists amazed.

The governing bodies must ensure that sufficient facilities are provided if they are interested in promoting the tourism industry and domestic tourism. As tourism helps in growing economy of the host state it also does promote cultural diplomacy. Tourism also helps is promoting the positive image of any host country if it’s being taken seriously. The government should take all appropriate steps to strengthen the law and order situation. The government should then offer a variety of facilities in hotels and rental properties. It should be comfortable and simple to travel. There will be a boom in tourism as a result of all of this. The country’s tourism industry ought to meet the highest standards internationally. With this, Pakistan would become a highly hospitable nation for tourists.Many tourists travel to experience the host destination’s culture, various traditions and gastronomy. It is very convenient for local restaurants, shopping centers and shops. Governments that rely on tourism for a large percentage of their income invest heavily in the country’s infrastructure.They want more and more tourists to visit their country, which means safe and modern facilities are essential. This leads to new roads and highways, built parks, improved public spaces, new airports, and perhaps even better schools and hospitals. Secure and innovative infrastructures enable the smooth flow of goods and services. In addition, local people experience the opportunity for economic and educational growth. Tourism creates a cultural exchange between tourists and local citizens. Exhibitions, conferences and events usually attract foreigners. Organizers typically earn profits from registration fees, gift sales, exhibit space, and media copyright sales. In addition, foreign tourists bring diversity and cultural enrichment to the host country

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most significant global issues which are being faced by almost each country in the world. It is clearer than ever that the Earth’s climate is changing quickly. As per evidence based on various reports, the changes in climatic patterns can result into catastrophic effects on individuals all around the world. Whether a country is developed or underdeveloped, the impacts of climate change are already being seen in practically all the countries. It has posed a challenge as the sea levels are rising as a consequence of glaciers melt. Extreme weather events and rainfall are growing more common, while extreme heat waves and droughts are also becoming more regular. Developing countries are more at risk because of climate change and these effects are projected to worsen in the coming years. South-Asian countries and particularly Pakistan and India are facing major issues due to climate change. In 2015, due to heat waves, 2500 deaths were reported in the subcontinent out of which 1300 people died in Pakistan. Among the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change, Pakistan stands at 8th whereas India is at 7th number. Both the countries experienced deadly heat waves this year associated which reduced overall food production, particularly wheat yield at the national and regional levels while affecting food security.

Implications of Climate Change in Pakistan

Pakistan’s geographical location makes it more prone to the adverse effects of the climate change phenomenon. It has brought social, environmental, and economic implications for the country. Climate-related natural hazards have become recurrent in the form of heat waves, droughts, land sliding, and floods which is anticipated to intensify with passing time. Pakistan has endured an economic loss of $4 billion and more than 10,000 lives due to climatic hazards. According to a study, Pakistan has some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world and is ranked 18 out of 191 countries by the 2020 Inform Risk Index. Also, Pakistan’s average temperature will be significantly higher than the global average with a potential rise by the year 2090. On the other hand, 20 million people lost their houses, suffered injuries, or went missing as a result of the 2010 floods, according to statistics, which show the devastation they caused. In 2012, there was yet another similar flood situation that created havoc in Pakistan.

Urban Flooding in Major Cities

Since the last ten years, flooding has been a problem in many areas of Pakistan. It is because climate change has resulted in extreme weather conditions, and monsoon rains have devastated the major cities of the country. In August 2020, Karachi had record-breaking rainfalls in a century that resulted in urban flooding which stopped the normal functioning of activities in the city. In addition to that, it caused heavy property and human life loss as 40 people died as a result of particular event. In 2021, Islamabad received heavy monsoon rains which triggered urban flooding in the city and caused 2 deaths; this situation has never been experienced before by the capital. But in the current ongoing year, a similar situation is happening again i.e. urban flooding in both prominent cities of the country and at least 26 people died in Karachi till now. This depicts the sorry state of human security, which is basically the form of non-traditional security, in country. The basic unit of non-traditional security is an “individual being”. It also means to make sure human security and safeguard people from threats that challenge their survival on planet Earth. The human security is correlated with climate change as it has a direct impact on people’s well-being due to the physical effects of climatic extremes. These extremes can be defined by an increase in surface temperatures also by frequent floods, droughts and changes in natural ecosystems.

Conclusion

Apart from climate change, there is incompetency at the end of concerned Governments at federal as well as provincial level. It is because issues like uncontrolled growth, poor urban development method, solid waste management and lack of adequate flood protection infrastructure are not receiving due attention by the responsible authorities. Urban areas have significantly changed their dynamics and moving towards more complexities because of increased population density. It is the duty of the responsible stakeholders to deal with both the aspects vigilantly. For climate change mitigation and adaptation, it entails taking steps to prepare for and adjust to both current and expected future effects of climate change by assisting provincial and municipal governments as well as corporate sector for adapting climate change. There is a shift in security paradigm from traditional to non-traditional security; the primary component of non-traditional security is “human being”. A country will be called safe and developed, if its individuals are secure. Therefore, effective policies are the necessity of the time levels for the sake people’s security. It can be achieved through implementing policies efficiently and collaboration among different stakeholders at all levels in order to deal with the severe effects of climate change as well as management and governance issues.

India, Israel, the US, and the UAE come together to strengthen their political and business connections while the whole world faces instability. The West Asia Quad is an aspect of the “diversification” strategy as nations search for renewed alliances in a world in transition. This partnership provides facilities for renewable energy and another of food corridor may be announced during the first summit of the chiefs of state and government of India, Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), known as the West Asian “Quad”, which is also known as ” I2U2″.

This strategic sustainability seems to take place because of rising political and economic concerns, high inflation, increasing food and fuel prices, and a pandemic that turned upside down long-standing business practices. The I2U2 is expected to promote cooperative investments in six collectively agreed categories, comprising water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. In order to help modernise the infrastructure, develop clean energy for industries, strengthen public health, and promote the development of essential emerging and green technologies, it plans to mobilise private sector investments. The Abraham Accords, which brought Israel and a group of Arab Gulf states led by the UAE into official partnership and recognition in 2020, certainly set the stage for the I2U2. The grouping’s goal is obviously to foster more effective collaboration in areas where both regions can support one another’s economic security. Israel now has the chance to market its technology-driven products, something the nation is known for, using the financial might of hubs like Gulf states. However, by designating food security as a top summit goal, I2U2 has expressed a desire to address the conflict’s negative global effects Since the Russia Ukraine conflict, which caused an increase in food prices worldwide, food security has become highly significant.

Gulf states too were the first to benefit from it, owing to Israeli defence advances. Although the corridor was first proposed three years ago with the intention of providing food security for the UAE, its importance has increased in light of contemporary global food crisis, which is in part being caused by grains that are being held at ports as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With a boost from the 2020 Abraham Accords, which led to normalisation agreements between Israel and numerous Arab neighbours, including the UAE, I2U2’s rise can be linked to the fast expanding cooperation among its member countries. I2U2 is being advanced by Washington for several reasons, including broadening the geographic scope of its most important partnerships, reviving alliances and partnerships that suffered under the administration of Donald Trump, and trying to redefine its relationship with the Middle East in a time when it wants a smaller existence there.Biden must strike a balance between maintaining to be a significant player in the region while also avoiding becoming involved in a conflict.

The recent, chaotic American pullout from Afghanistan has only increased Gulf concerns about what future American support without mutually agreed-upon guarantees might entail. Furthermore, they are ready to let countries like Russia and China space in the Middle East in order to broaden their strategic moves and protect their interests. India uses its positive relationships with Israel, the Gulf, and the US to the foundation for economic growth and business relationships. Geopolitics and geoeconomics cannot be separated, and the geopolitics of the Middle East remains unstable despite the Abraham Accords. This partnership is going to effect the Iran crisis and will have an equal effect on the Palestine issue. Not only this, but countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan would also have an equal impact. The I2U2 grouping offers a platform for all the member states to identify new areas of collaboration, which could be a game-changer in the region. I2U2 can also be taken as the I2U2 countries strategy to contain the economic giant China since it is already investing a lot in the projects like BRI. I2U2 lacks a compelling, cohesive cause. The Indo-Pacific Quad, in contrast, is motivated by a shared ambition to challenge Beijing. Given China’s expanding trade ties with both Israel and the UAE

Introduction

The Taliban have been attempting to reassure neighboring nations that Afghanistan is open for business and that they can protect investment ever since seizing control of Kabul last summer. The Taliban have retained power in Afghanistan for almost a year now. The nation is severely cut off from the West, but neighboring nations, particularly China, have welcomed the Taliban with great enthusiasm. A Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, spoke about the developments in Afghanistan in March 2022, praising “the Taliban’s enormous efforts to calm the situation and their attempts to offer public goods, some of which have been successful”. This early achievement displays definite Chinese influences. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) established a bilateral working group with the Taliban in December 2021 as part of the consolidation of its leadership. The discussions included humanitarian assistance and economic reconstruction, the export of Afghan goods to the PRC, the sharing of lessons learned from Chinese economic development with the Taliban, Beijing’s support for the restart of mining in Afghanistan, the realization of Afghanistan’s connectivity potential, and other topics. China is also utilizing its positive relationships with neighboring countries to forge a regional consensus and convince all of them to back the Taliban in Afghanistan. Chinese government representatives have participated actively in all regional discussions on Afghanistan since 2021 and actively participated in the cause of Afghanistan issue.

China’s Relief Aid

After an earthquake brought to light the negative humanitarian effects of Western sanctions, China’s ambassador endorsed trade and investment plans for Afghanistan in a statement. Ambassador Wang Yu presented $8 million in aid for relief from the June 22 earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people during a press appearance alongside the acting minister for disaster management for the Taliban government. Wang Yu visited the Afghan Red Crescent Society in Kabul to deliver relief amid recent natural disasters that have exacerbated an ongoing humanitarian calamity in Afghanistan.

Trade and Investment

Officials within the Taliban government, including the group’s supreme leader, have stated that the nation needs to become less dependent on aid and promote the business as well as investment in a speech given in July 2022. In addition to immediate humanitarian relief, Wang Yu said “we also have long-term economic reconstruction plans after the earthquake and the political changes last year. Trade would be given first priority, followed by investment and agriculture”. This step can be seen as a responsive measure to the Taliban Government’s statement which is taken by China for trade and investment in Afghanistan. Two significant mining projects, notably Mes Aynak, a copper mine in southern Afghanistan that a Chinese state-owned corporation that was arranged with the previous Afghan government, are currently the focus of negotiations. Large concentrations of iron ore and copper can be found in Afghanistan’s mineral resources, which are virtually unexplored. In addition, Wang stated that China “always believes that money belongs to the Afghan people” when referring to Afghan reserves locked in Western banks. China has consistently requested that the cash be released from the international community; this money will provide aid to a country in order to improve the lives of the people of Afghanistan.

China which has a massive Belt and Road initiative program which also influences its neighbors has repeatedly urged for the lifting of sanctions even it has a remote border with Afghanistan. As Beijing is eager to push for the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan and welcomed Afghanistan’s active involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative. Nearly all of Afghanistan’s neighbors support the idea of Taliban rule over the long term. Isolating the Taliban leadership will not help to achieve those objectives in Afghanistan, even while it is critical to constantly draw attention to the issues with human rights and the threats posed by terrorism that are connected to the leadership. Instead, Western isolation of Afghanistan has driven the country’s leadership toward China and alienated neighboring nations who were hoping to use Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for Central Asia and South Asia connections.

Conclusion

Many people anticipated Beijing would immediately intervene in Afghanistan’s political system to recognize and legitimize the Taliban leadership in the wake of the U.S. pullout from the country. In addition, it was anticipated that China will start investing in Afghanistan’s undeveloped natural resources immediately, on contrast China’s strategy has remained deliberate and slow initially. But now China’s policy towards Afghanistan has changed and shifted to take on a reasonably active role in a regional crisis that might negatively impact its entrenched interests. China’s attitude and actions in the region have shifted as a result of the Taliban’s dominance over Afghanistan. It remains to be seen how China would safeguard CPEC, stop transnational terrorism and handle the new issues posed by Afghanistan outside of its boundaries.

Introduction

Pakistan’s relations with Iran are not only based on historic, geography, religious aspects but also on the basis of economic and cooperative linkages. Both the countries have positive relations largely, despite having good bilateral relations; the trade level between the two countries is below the full potential which trade ties can offer. However, now Pakistan and Iran are working together to enhance trade and improve the current trade status. It can be considered as the transformative phase which is undergoing as the efforts are being made by leadership of both the countries. The previous Government of PTI worked to re-engage and promote political relations, for that then Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi visited Iran multiple times. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also visited Iran at the invitation of then President Dr. Hasan Rouhani. This visit was successful in different areas of the political, economic, and security issues. The aftermath of the visit was a Declaration for Cooperation in Health Sector, commencement of releasing Pakistani prisoners, initiation of bilateral treaties, and new crossing points. Both side also appreciated continuing support for the Kashmir dispute and the issue of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Latest Developments

The current sitting Government is exploring new options to deepen the relations between Pakistan and Iran. Since the new Government came into power in April 2022, official visits have been made to Iran by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The meetings were held between the two counterparts, in May, Foreign Minister of Pakistan emphasized upon the necessity of formalizing cross-border trade by enabling new border crossings. The two parties in a meeting demonstrated their common commitment i.e. to offer prospects for improved economic and commercial operations by promoting trade through border marketplaces which will ultimately help to improve the livelihood of the people in the border region.

Last month, in June 2022, Foreign Minister went to Iran for two day official visit. In this visit, not only bilateral aspects were the major part of the talks but trade and economic determinants were also discussed. In a joint statement, the two Ministers announced that operationalizing the barter trade mechanism has brought the two countries closer to resolve one of the primary hurdles in the way of bilateral trade expansion. The need of holding the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) subsequent session in August 2022 was again highlighted by the foreign minister of Pakistan. The security challenges were reviewed in context of Afghanistan’s situation and Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The recent development is an announcement made on 6th July, 2022 by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail who said “Pakistan is taking measures to improve trade with Iran”. In order to significantly increase the volume of bilateral trade with Iran, Pakistan is dedicated to make every effort for addressing the obstacles. According to the press release by Finance Ministy, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini and Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail both underlined the desire to increase cooperation in multiple sectors of mutual interest. The Iranian ambassador appreciated Pakistan’s economic initiatives and asserted that trade and other areas of cooperation between the two nations have good prospects and collective efforts will be made to enhance the relations.

Conclusion

These developments are welcoming and there is a need to work on them at the earliest for the benefit of each side. As in past, the relations have been affected and have witnessed ups and downs due to different factors such as sectarian violence in the country and due to external factors in the form of American influence. America’s sanctions on Iran remained a prominent obstacle in maintaining relations with Iran not only for Pakistan but also for other countries. The implementation of “Free Trade Agreement” between Pakistan and Iran devised in 2017 got delayed after sanctions were imposed on Iran in 2018. But now the attitude of America has changed after Ukraine war and talks for JCPOA or nuclear deal has also been initiated.

Both Iran and Pakistan need to work on enabling an environment for economic and regional cooperation. With the help of trade ties, there will be the expansion in mutual benefits, improvement of living conditions, and promotion of economic relations between the two countries and other economies of the region too. It is important that the two sides maintain relations and recognize potential for the sake of their country’s interests and economic development which will prove a beneficial measure for Iran and Pakistan in future ventures.

The nuclear weapons play an important role in safeguarding the National Security. A policy tool for ensuring national security is the combination of nuclear weapons and elements of national power. National security is a broad idea that encompasses more than just military power. Other factors that contribute to the development of national security interests include geography, the geostrategic environment, the economy, diplomacy, demography, and, most crucially, the leadership. The protection of national interests cannot be guaranteed by any one aspect of national power but nuclear weapons are one of the powerful elements for the national security of a state. The ultimate deterrent capability that enhances national security remains to be nuclear weapons and forces. Rebuilding intra-war deterrence is a secondary goal. Also, states acquire nuclear weapons essentially to improve political prestige and diplomatic ties. It is up to the state’s leadership to develop a plan to take advantage of this opportunity.

There are a lot of cases where nuclear weapons have played an efficient role in deterrence. The biggest example is of Pakistan and India. Pakistan has the very important geostrategic location in South Asia and is bordered by the countries and one of which is it’s rival and enemy, India. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons make major wars less likely between the threatening states of Pakistan and pose a threating situation to India. Nuclear weapons are a vital part of Pakistan’s military strategy. They have not only assessed counteract the military disadvantage brought on by the growing conventional difference with India, but have also stopped a number of military operations from occurring and Not only evaluated military counterbalance disadvantage brought about by the rise in traditional inequality with respect to India, but have also stopped a number of conflicts in the area. Pakistan’s Military Policy seeks to uphold broad deterrence against conventional nuclear aggression, too. Therefore, Pakistan chose for Nuclear weapons are not actually intended for use to wage a war. Pakistan used the approach of minimum deterrence that is credible. The changes in the security environment and India’s reliance on additional security measures prompted Pakistan to sustain and improve its nuclear defenses doctrine. Despite having a qualitative and quantitative advantage in conventional military hardware, India was restrained from waging war in 1985–1986 (Brasstacks), 1990 (Kashmir uprising), 1999 (Kargil conflict), 2001–2002 (military standoff), and 2008 due to the general presence of an effective nuclear deterrence. From an economic standpoint, the money spent on developing and sustaining nuclear weapons capacity is greatly outweighed by the costs of the three wars. In the first 25 years after when Pakistan came into being, it fought three full-scale wars with India, which eventually led to its dismemberment in 1971. Since forty years of work on the nuclear weapons program began when Pakistan obtain nuclear capability, there have been no wars between the two neighboring countries, except for the 1999 Kargil crisis that does not fall under the category of a conventional war. Pakistan would have maintained its nuclear ambiguity policy, as it was known at the time, had India not carried out nuclear explosions on May 11 and 13, 1998. Any discussion of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons system’s prevention must take into account both the country’s limited nuclear weapons program and its larger security challenges in the region. The goal of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence is to prevent future conflicts with India.

However, having nuclear weapons gives the nation an inherent advantage and ensures that it cannot be treated like some other nations that lack the capabilities to defend themselves militarily. Every time a state perceives a threat to their territory or sovereignty, they choose to use nuclear weapons to defend their territory, which motivates them to take the most safety precautions possible. However, the belief is that having a nuclear weapon is enough in and of itself to provide deterrence in order to maintain a deterrent posture. The “Deterrence” theory will be used to discuss this area of study. According to this idea, the purpose of nuclear weapons is to dissuade other states from using them to launch nuclear attacks by threatening reprisal. The Neo-Realism theory is another theory that is strongly similar to this one. By stating that nations function in an anarchical international system and must thus rely on self-help to safeguard their national sovereignty and security, it supports the security model. Nuclear weapons have established themselves as the ultimate source of security due to their immense destructive potential. Also the security of the nuclear weapons is also important as they are very explosive. They should be protected from the nuclear terror and should be safe and secured. For instance if there is any natural disaster occurred Nuclear weapons should be protected in a way that they don’t explode because of that. Also it should be protected and hidden by the enemies.

It is known that International Security is one of the grand strategies of the foreign policy of every state. The role of intelligence in the policy-making of the state is quite significant. By the role of intelligence in policy-making, it means, the importance of intelligence agencies in shaping up the country’s foreign policies. In order to enhance the decision making, along with the strategic intelligence which is needed to enhance the decision-making process, states’ intelligence institutes are equally important for shaping the long-term plan of the states. Policy making is the process of developing and identifying the ideas, options, and long-term policies in order to achieve the objectives and national interests of the state. State’s individuals like leaders, policymakers, and state’s institutions like political, military, and economic plays role in foreign policy. So, similarly, intelligence also has its role too. It has been analyzed that if the intelligence of the states works effectively, then it will help the policymakers to shape the state’s strategies which will support the security and survival. The data and information which is collected by the intelligence are very important because the country’s strategy is based on that, and even sometimes, decision-makers blame their wrong decisions on the intelligence that correct information was not given to them due to which there was an error in the strategy. One of the examples of this is when United States waged ‘’War on Terror’’ in Iraq and justified it by telling the whole world that there are weapons of mass destruction, which later on, were not found. Intelligence was blamed for not giving the correct information. In the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, intelligence services were questioned as well.

Sun Tzu, a Chinese strategist in his book ‘’The Art of War’’ emphasized on the importance of information. It has 13 chapters that address the general definition of a strategy, up to the usage of tactics such as spies. According to him, all warfare, on the strategic and the tactical level, is based on deception and surprise, and therefore on intelligence as well. So, Sun Tzu relied on intelligence as in his sight, continuous use of information about the enemy’s strategy and tactical capacities is the only effective way to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses and gain your national interests. He focused on ‘’know yourself and know your enemy’’ which is not possible without having information through intelligence. Hence, the importance of intelligence is apparent in national security and every strategist considers the idea of Sun Tzu about intelligence important. Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions is important to obtain and this can only be done by intelligence. The relationship between strategy and intelligence is that whenever the strategies are made for example if we take the example of Pakistan, its top strategy would be security and survival since it has India, an immediate neighbor as an enemy. So there would be India-centric strategies and for that, it is important to know your enemy. Intelligence helps in revealing the secret information of the adversaries. Intelligence has also played a role in shaping the counter-terrorism strategies in Pakistan along with the other state institutes. Strategies of the states are not limited to achieving the political goals of the states, or for the military purpose and for winning the wars, but it includes the long-term planning, training, exercising, public awareness, risk analysis, and preparedness. Intelligence and information also have special importance in formulating the defense strategy.

Intelligence does not only play role in shaping the country’s policies but also helps to implement those policies as well. Intelligence can play a role in building narratives in people’s minds to accept the policy of the state and make people accept the long-term plans of their country. Ordinary people and their interests must also be treated as citizens rather than subjects, so this can cause complexity to formulate and implement strategies so for this, intelligence is also required. Intelligence cannot make real-world easy, but it can give awareness and intuition with respect to the objectives or strategies, resources, leadership, and priorities. Intelligence can keep an eye on that who can ruin the policy of the states. Covert actions can be used to influence political, military, or economic conditions or situations abroad, here the role of intelligence is equally important. Policymakers should not only solely rely on intelligence because sometimes there can be false information or sometimes, but the information also could not be found. For example, the intelligence of U.S failed to detect the 9/11 attack. Though, intelligence-free strategy is surely less possible in this century. Strategies can become more successful if they incorporate information from intelligence. This is even more vital for the process of implementation. Intelligence aims for analyzing the information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, and foreign policy objectives. Intelligence is not supposed to have its own policy agenda or strategies but the duty of intelligence is to inform and improve policy decisions made by the appointed officials.

Introduction

A high-level delegation of all the armed forces i.e. army, navy, and air force of Pakistan visited China for a three-day meeting of the Pakistan China Joint Military Cooperation Committee (PCJMCC) from 9th-12th June 2022. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also joined the meeting along with tri-service delegation and Chinese Generals followed by an apex committee which is the highest military cooperation body. The committee is comprised of two sub-committees, including Joint Cooperation Military Affairs (JCMA) and Joint Cooperation Military Equipment and training (JCMET). In a statement released by Innter Services Public Relations (ISPR), it is said that the tri-service delegation had discussions with the Chinese military and other governmental departments on various topics. By maintaining their “strategic partnership in difficult times, both the countries China and Pakistan have decided to increase their defense cooperation. In apex committee, as per the statement “Both countries discussed their perspectives on the international and regional security situation and expressed satisfaction on defense cooperation between the two countries”. The two sides also committed to improve tri-service level training, technology, and counter-terrorism cooperation.

Flashback

In April 2022, three Chinese were targeted and killed in Karachi because of a bombing attack, an ethnic separatist organization claimed the responsibility of this attack who is operating in Baluchistan. The aim of the militant group is to eliminate the economic and diplomatic footprints from the region. Not only that, the insurgent group also targeted CPEC infrastructure projects, such as gas pipelines and electricity towers. Since the start of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2015, there is an increase in attacks on Chinese nationals which concerns the China’s Government. Therefore, demands are being made to intensify strict regulations and security standard operating procedures for Chinese nationals. On Chinese requests, Islamabad Police established a foreign security cell at the Central Police Office (CPO).

CPEC and Pak-China Relations despite Challenges

India and other western sponsors did negative propaganda regarding CPEC using media outlets to create unrest between the relations of two countries. But all these rumors were rejected as the new Government has announced the budget for fiscal year 2022-2023, Rs 800 billion has been allocated to Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) with a focus on CPEC. The reactivation of CPEC and related projects for interprovincial and regional connectivity as well as special economic zones (SEZs) to encourage commerce, industrialization and job creation are key features that are mentioned in the PSDP. Concessional finance deal for a multi-billion dollar ML-1 project under CPEC is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of the fiscal year, according to the annual plan 2022-23. Following that, arrangement will be made for the implementation of other projects under CPEC. Six energy projects with a total installed capacity of roughly 3,284MW are now under construction, in the fourth quarter of FY2021-22 it is expected that 11050MW will be completed. In addition, in 2022-23, the following projects are anticipated to begin:

1.  Construction of Breakwater.
2.  Dredging of Breathing areas and Channels.
3.  Gwadar Smart Environment Sanitation System and Landfill project for Gwadar.
4.  Construction of Boat making industry on Gwadar West Bay.
5.  MGD Desalination Plant in Gwadar.

Regardless of the challenging times, last month after the attack on three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited China at the invitation of his counterpart Wang Yi. The two sides condemned the incident and pledged to strengthen counterterrorism and security cooperation, also they urged other regional countries and the international community to collaborate and fight together against terrorism in all its forms and shapes. Meanwhile, the tensions between China and the West are deepening. West is pressurizing Pakistan for its stance on the Russia-Ukraine war but Pakistan has maintained a balanced approach till now. Both China and Pakistan are of the view to remain alert during the ongoing crisis and emphasized the use of diplomacy and dialogue to overcome differences and disputes.

The importance of China-Pakistan strategic relations has assumed even greater significance” due to recent “profound regional and international changes. Pakistan must take special measures for CPEC projects through the integrated mechanisms, approval and allocation of funds, and better “security arrangements” for the smooth functioning of public-private partnerships in the country. There is a need to improve governance, rule of law and security arrangements not only to ensure the security of Chinese nationals and to complete CPEC projects but also to maintain good relations and friendly ties with China. It is important for Pakistan’s economic and political stability, and “strategic partnership” between the two countries. Regular exchange of perspectives on issues of mutual interests is a true example of Pak-China friendship which is also evident from the current apex meeting where China and Pakistan vowed to support each other’s core interests.