CSS 2018 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Non-State Actors as the Major Threat to Pakistan
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs 2018 is solved by Miss Iqra Ali, the best Pakistan Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
In this question, the examiner has asked you to argue in favor or against the provided stance. However, keeping in mind the sensitivity of the topic, avoid combat while raising the arguments. So, try to describe it in a general and subtle way. First, introduce your answer by adding all the leading points you will add to your answer. Then, decode the Jargon, if needed. Then, make a question that reflects your stance and split it into sub-parts. You must add evidence and case studies to increase the accuracy of your answer. As the second part contains critical analysis, there is no need to add it separately, but if you do, it can help you to describe the other side of the picture. Last, add a critical analysis and end with a conclusion.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-What is Meant by Non-State Actors?
3-How Non-State Actors are Posing More Threats to Pakistan’s National Security than Threats from External State Actors?
3.1- Political Threats Posed by Non-State Actors
- ✓Internal Security Issues
- ✓Political Fragmentation
- ✓Crisis of Governance
3.2- Social Threats Posed by Non-State Actors
- ✓Insurgencies and Terrorism
- ✓Radicalization and Extremism
- ✓Cyber Warfare
3.3- Economic Threats Posed by Non-State Actors
- ✓Destruction of Infrastructure
- ✓Trust Deficit and Lack of foreign direct investment (FDI)
- ✓Threat to CPEC and Increasing Cost of Military Operations
4-Critical Analysis
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The influence of Non-State Actors on a country’s politics, economy, and society is undeniable. However, they pose a greater threat to the national security of a state than the external actors by making a country hollow from the inside. The same is in the case of Pakistan as the Non-State Actors referred to the cross-border terrorist groups, domestic insurgents, and transnational criminal organizations that are challenging state sovereignty and internal security in an unprecedented way, such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS), the militant organizations like TTP, Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). To support the argument, the following points encapsulate the influence of non-state actors on the country’s political system, economy, and society. The terrorist and anti-state tendencies led to internal destabilization by directly challenging the government’s writ. They are making it more challenging for the state to maintain internal cohesion because they are increasingly contributing to religious extremism and sectarian divisions. In addition, the constant danger from terrorist groups is weakening law enforcement agencies because these Institutions are under-resourced to cope with the constant terrorist threats, which in turn leads to gaps in governance. Second, at the social level, insurgencies and terrorism portray the dark picture where fear, pain, loss of lives, and terror are embedded in society. They are exploiting the poor populations for their cause by radicalizing them in the name of religion. Their asymmetric tactic of using technology for recruitment, propaganda, and incitement makes it harder for the country to maintain control over its narrative and security. Third, economically, the destruction of infrastructure costs a hefty amount, whereas fixation costs drive out public resources. The international companies are reluctant to invest in the country due to the security issues. Hence, a pragmatic approach is inevitable to disgorge terrorists from their occult shelters and to make the country stable.
What is Meant by Non-State Actors (NSA)?
A Non-State Actor is an entity, individual, or organization that operates independently without being allied with any country or state. However, they have a significant political influence over a country’s security, politics, and economy. As an illustration, they may be military organizations, terrorist groups, rebel groups, non-governmental organizations, religious movements, and international corporations. In the case of Pakistan, the Non-State Actors referred to the terrorist groups, domestic insurgents, and transnational criminal organizations, challenging state sovereignty and internal security in an unprecedented way. As an illustration, the terrorist groups of Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS), the militant organizations like TTP, Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).
How do Non-State Actors Pose More Threats to Pakistan’s National Security than Threats from External State Actors?
Indubitably, these non-state actors pose a more significant threat to national security than threats from external state actors because no internally unstable country can afford a multi-border war. In an internally unstable country, the incumbents must pay attention primarily to domestic affairs. The following arguments support the stance mentioned earlier.
A- Political Threats Posed by Non-State Actors
The following points encapsulate the influence of non-state actors on the country’s political system, policy-making, and state capacity to combat the insurgents.
- ✓Internal Security Issues
First, the internal security issues are a looming threat to the country’s socio-economic and political stability and sovereignty. The terrorist and anti-state tendencies led to the internal destabilization of the country. Terrorist groups, sectarian groups, and militant organizations like the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch insurgents groups are directly challenging the country’s writ. For example, according to a report, the hours-long siege of the Taliban at the Army Public School and Degree College in Peshawar in 2014 ended early Tuesday evening, where at least 145 people – 132 children -10 school staff members, and three soldiers were dead. However, these militants are openly engaged in terrorist activities, such as bombings, armed insurgencies, and terrorism activities, making them the most immediate threat to national security.
- ✓Political Fragmentation
Second, in the already divided country among ethno-cultural lines but united by national cohesion, these terrorist and insurgent groups are making it more challenging for the state to maintain internal cohesion because they are increasingly contributing to religious extremism and sectarian divisions within the country. Historically, the issue of inequitable resource distribution and inequitable development in the provinces led to the erosion of state trust and long-standing grievances of the underdeveloped populations. Moreover, these groups are exploiting the grievances of the people for their cause by radicalizing them in the name of Islam. As a result, terrorist tendencies are increasingly embedded in the social fabric of the country, contributing to social and political fragmentation.
- ✓Crisis of Governance
Third, the constant danger from terrorist groups is weakening the country’s law enforcement agencies, such as the police, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies, because these Institutions are under-resourced to cope with the constant terrorist threats, which in turn leads to gaps in governance. Furthermore, the flagrant violation of the law by the militants is adding fuel to the shouldering fire because the officials are not only bribed to delay the punishment but often to get rid of the punishment. On the other hand, police stations were targeted by the Taliban by bombing without hesitation or fear of the repercussions.
B- Social Threats Posed by Non-State Actors
The following points describe the role of non-state actors in affecting the society of the country.
- ✓Insurgencies and Terrorism
At the social level, insurgencies and terrorism portray the dark picture where fear, pain, loss of lives, and terror are embedded and known to every child since childhood because the country is increasingly becoming used to it as it has failed to eradicate terrorism effectively. The bombings in mosques, police stations, schools, marketplaces, and even in government places marked the rise in the foothold of the insurgents. Operating within the state borders, terrorist groups, such as the TTP, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), and others continue to carry out terrorist attacks, destabilizing key regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, and Karachi.
- ✓Radicalization and Extremism
As I discussed before, terrorist groups are exploiting the poor populations for their cause by radicalizing them in the name of religion. The robust illustration is a misinterpretation of the meaning of Jihad as it is more offensive than defensive in Pakistan. In addition, the rise of sectarianism is not only an attribute of religious division but also a tool used to spread extremist tendencies among the population because, for terrorists and militants, more extremism means a more favorable environment and people for conducting terrorist operations.
- ✓Cyber Warfare
Adding more, the asymmetric tactic of using technology, such as social media platforms, for recruitment, propaganda, and incitement makes it harder for the country to maintain control over its narrative and security. As an illustration, the fallacies spread everywhere about the possible downfall of the state or economy, obstructing people from trusting the political and economic successes of the state. However, this incitement is not limited to the creation of fallacies or false stories. These groups are inciting people against each other in different ways, such as supporters of one party against the other political party or by utilizing the intense situation between two parties.
C- Economic Threats Posed by Non-State Actors
The economic impact of the activities of the insurgents and militant groups is a truism on the already faltering economy. The following points describe the economic impacts of the activities of the terrorist and militant groups on the country of the militant activities of these non-state actors.
- ✓Destruction of Infrastructure
First, the non-state actors are attacking the critical infrastructure, state buildings, military bases, airports, and energy installations. As an illustration, the TTP attacked Jinnah International Airport in Karachi in 2014 and destroyed its vital infrastructure. The temerity with which they attacked national infrastructure demonstrated the capacity of these groups to undermine national security. This destruction costs a hefty amount, whereas fixation costs drive out the public resources.
- ✓Trust Deficit and Lack of foreign direct investment (FDI)
Second, the intense security conditions in the country have contributed to the erosion of trust in the eyes of foreign investors. Usually, international companies are reluctant to invest in the country due to the dismal security conditions. Due to these issues, the government invests large amounts for the security of the foreign workforce. Hence, it is a two-pronged struggle, costing the government side by side to maintain security and the loss of foreign direct investment. Generally, to attract Foreign Direct Investment, a fiduciary relationship is required between the government and Investors.
- ✓Threat to CPEC and Increasing Cost of Military Operations
Third, the intense security conditions are disrupting the economy in an unprecedented way, not only in the present but also in the future. As an illustration, the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor, the game changer project for the economy of Pakistan, faced several disruptions due to the dismal state of security conditions. Recently, according to a report, Two Chinese nationals have been killed in a suicide attack near Karachi International Airport. However, the reason for targeting the foreign workforce by militants is to disrupt the progress of the projects associated with the CPEC to pressure the government for the achievement of their interests.
Critical Analysis
Since its inception, Pakistan has faced myriad challenges, but the menace of terrorism has shocked the entire structure of its socio-economic and political structure to the depth of its roots. The unabated issue has halted its soft image at the global level. Since 9/11, because of the unconditional support of Pakistani leadership to the US mission, the terrorist groups have been using Afghan soil as a Launchpad for anti-Pakistan activities and repercussions. It has appeared in the form of a weakened International standing. Their wanton cruelties and murderous assault on innocent lives is a flagrant violation of law and order. In the presence of ethnic clashes, the threat of regional conflagration is looming with the increasing presence of TTP, as the distorting security conditions could be used as a weapon by other separatist groups to facilitate their actions, such as BLA. Hence, a pragmatic approach is inevitable to disgorge terrorists from their occult shelters. The temerity with which TTP has been unleashing violent attacks, especially against military and law enforcers, shows the state’s capacity as it is not at the level where it should be. Hence, the state is becoming hollow from the inside. It proved that internal insecurity conditions are more threatening than the external actors to the country’s sovereignty.
Conclusion
A Non-State Actor is an entity, individual, or organization that operates independently without being allied with any country or state. . In the case of Pakistan, the Non-State Actors referred to the terrorist groups, domestic insurgents, and transnational criminal organizations, challenging state sovereignty and internal security in an unprecedented way, such as the terrorist groups of Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS), the militant organizations like TTP, Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). Indubitably, these non-state actors pose a more significant threat to national security than threats from external state actors because no internally unstable country can afford a multi-border war.
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