NSP for freeing nation from IMF: Moeed Yusuf

National security adviser says policy when implemented in letter and spirit will bear fruit

The first-ever landmark document in the history of Pakistan, as claimed by the government, thoroughly discusses not only security-related issues like internal and external threats, but also matters relating to food, education, and economy.

The National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Moeed Yusuf, who played a key role in making the policy, has asserted that the newly devised National Security Policy (NSP) would free us from the clutches of international monetary organizations as it ensured economic sustainability as well. The policy meant for a five-year period (2022-26) was the only thing that must be above any politics and there should be a consensus narrative on it, he said.

While talking to the media about the public version of the NSP at the Governor House on Saturday, Dr Yusuf said that he completed this policy after a hectic struggle of two and half years. He said that it was a complete policy as compared to the earlier one given by Sartaj Aziz back in 2014. That policy, he asserted, didn’t cover national security. That policy was about nation safekeeping only but didn’t discuss the issues relating to education, food and economy etc.

Talking further on its key points he asserted that the executive formed such policies in almost all the countries and later implements it. He said that PM Imran Khan wanted it to be made public but later he realized it would not be true.

Talking about its key ingredients, Dr Yusuf highlighted two things that made the NSP special. One, it would be subject to mandatory annual review and the second one is that every coming government could also review it. But, the key direction of the policy, he cleared, would not be reversed. However, he reiterated that the coming governments either adopted this policy or changed it as it had a consensus.

Talking about dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other such loan agencies, he said that without bringing economic security we wouldn’t get rid of them, adding that we faced a shortage of resources and cannot counter financial issues. He said that when you borrow, you compromise certain things and after implementation of the NSP we would be an economically independent state. Loans put the national security at risk, he said, adding that the policy was citizen-centric and sought a secure and economically strong Pakistan.

He said that there was no friend or foe in the comity of nations, but all watched their economic interests and ensured that the policy would guard the economic interests of the country.

Commenting further, he said that since the inception of the country, the policymakers only focused on military security and never thought beyond it.

He said that the policy was duly discussed in the committee on national security. It was also passed by the federal cabinet.

Later, it was also discussed in Senate Defense Committee, with Mushahid Hussain Syed in the chair. Dr Yusuf said that the opposition was invited to discuss issues, but it didn’t appear, which was sad, adding that there was an unhealthy debate by the opposition and some others who lashed out all for nothing. He said that bad arguments like saying that the word Kashmir was used 11 times while India 16 times in the document, gave rise to useless debate.

Responding to a query, Dr Yusuf said that the purpose of the policy was to ensure the protection of the individual, society, and the state from internal as well as external terrorism. He said that issues with belligerent neighboring countries including Afghanistan were being resolved amicably. As peace in the region was Pakistan’s top priority the NSP emphasized political and economic diplomacy, he said.

He also elaborated on a query about Afghan refugees getting national identity cards and said that they would be dealt as per the law of the land.

Talking about China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) he refuted any impression that the mega project was put on the back burner. He said that rather the pace on CPEC was accelerated, while denying the allegation that the US was forcing Pakistan to slow CPEC. He said that we should welcome foreign investment in the country to enhance exports.

He concluded that the policy when implemented in letter and spirit would bear fruits. He reiterated that the full NSP document would remain classified, however, a short version was being made public as was common practice in the world.