DND Report
The year 2024 started in Pakistan with General Elections on February 8, therefore, one can say that this was the year of a journey from political instability to political steadiness and it could not be possible without the strong support of law enforcement agencies and the man leading the security of the country confirmed that he had not only managed security of the country rather played a pivotal role for the economic as well as diplomatic stabilization of Pakistan. Of course, this man is also COAS Gen Asim Munir who is the “Man of the Year 2024”. The review of the year 2024 shows that COAS Gen Asim Munir sailed the boat of the country from turbulent waters as the country was almost on the verge of financial collapse, international isolation, and political instability.
The year 2024 started with six terrorist attacks that rocked the country with fears of a possible bloody election campaigning as Pakistan was under the threat of increasing terrorism that was the result of the resettlement of TTP terrorists (officially known as Fitna al-Khawarij) in Pakistan from Afghanistan by the government of PTI.
October 1, 2021, while giving an interview to TRT, the then prime minister Imran Khan Niazi explained his plan to settle Fitna al-Khawarij in Pakistan, saying that he is (was) against operations against terrorists and wants (wanted) a solution through talks. On January 10, 2023, Imran Khan Niazi admitted to Newsline in an interview that according to his vision, money should be invested in the settlement of thirty to forty thousand Taliban (Fitna al-Khawarij) including seven to eight thousand fighter terrorists. Khan also believed that just as the Americans opened an office of the Afghan Taliban in Qatar, a ceasefire should be established with the TTP through dialogue and talks should be held and the TTP could open an office in Pakistan to join mainstream politics. The resettlement of terrorists in Pakistan by PTI played havoc since then and the major challenge Pakistan had to face was to mitigate terrorism in the year 2024 and hold bloodless general elections because TTP announced that it would execute terrorist actions during the election campaign. A befitting and multipronged strategy adopted by the Pakistan Army defeated TTP’s design and general elections were held peacefully.
The next important target was to pull Pakistan out of the economic meltdown that was linked with “economic terrorism” launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil and here also Pakistan Army played a pivotal role. The US Dollar was flying high due to the heavy smuggling of foreign currency to Afghanistan. Edibles market/production was also hit by smuggling as wheat, rice, sugar, cooking oil and meat had been smuggled to Afghanistan. A massive crackdown on illicit economic activity was launched, targeting to fix all loopholes being used for smuggling at the Pak-Iran as well as Pak-Afghan border. One of the sources of racking Pakistan’s economy is the Afghan Transit Trade (ATA). When things were viewed from a broader perspective, it was understood that this is the only smuggling for financial benefits rather it was a well-designed economic terrorism launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil. Financial Terrorism (also known as Economic Terrorism) is a secret manipulation of a nation’s economy by state or non-state actors. Terroristic attacks against ports and land borders (attacks in and around Gwadar Port, and Karachi Port,) cause extra measures to be implemented to ensure the safe arrival and departure of the products and these measures force the cost of exporting and importing goods to increase. Pakistan is the most affected by this kind of terrorism because the slowing of exports and imports has affected the country’s economy.
Detailed research exposed that Pakistan is facing a “Twin Crisis” because it has been going through the dangerous convergence of a collapsing economy and economic terrorism since 2021.
Contrary to “economic warfare” which is undertaken by states against other states, “economic terrorism” is undertaken by transnational or non-state actors that includes coordinated, and sophisticated or massive destabilizing actions in order to disrupt the economic and financial stability of a state, a society for ideological or religious motives.
Due to economic Terrorism coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan was losing Human and Nonhuman Capital, facing increased costs of security, adverse impact on supply chains, smuggling that was causing currency bleeding, pressure on food security, and attacks and harassment of local/foreign investors (reference attacks on Chinese experts and ransom threats to industrialists, businessmen, and traders in Pakistan).
The third major threat Pakistan was facing at the beginning of year 2024 was political instability and this threat is yet to manage. However, the Court Martial of Faiz Hameed broke a nexus of evil, and PTI which had been a beneficiary of conspiracies hatched and executed by Faiz Hameed became an orphan and lost its engross in public. There is no iota of doubt left that the ruling parties practically failed to bust the false narrative of PTI against the state even after spending billions of rupees in media and on hiring media experts, the impact of Faiz Hameed’s arrest had a far-reaching impact on crackdown PTI’s web of evil designs. The decision to try a Lt General who had been a spymaster of the country was critical and sensitive but the COAS Gen Asim Munir who believes in strike accountability took the decision and the trial of Faiz Hameed provided horrible information that how this man had been working against the country for his personal benefits.
At the military-diplomatic front, the Army Chief, Pakistan crossed important milestones relations with important countries improved and foreign investment increased. Pakistan emerged as an effective voice in the international community for the oppressed people of Gaza, Lebanon, and Kashmir. A significant diplomatic success was also achieved in 2024 and Pakistan hosted the important SCO conference. This huge event was impossible without the flawless security arrangements that were the responsibility of the Pakistan Army. The conference was attended by the Prime Ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, the Vice President of Iran, and the Foreign Minister of India, among other high-ranking officials. In addition, the heads of several important countries also visited Pakistan this year and signed several agreements.
On the economic front, his vision of challenges, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had proven a success and achieved reasonable realization of a vision, and trade relations with several international countries were strengthened. The measures taken under SIFC have shown clear prospects for improvement in the economy. With the support of SIFC, remittances increased inflation decreased and the stock exchange reached a historic high. A clear reduction in interest rates and the narrative of those who sang the tune of default were refuted.
At the connectivity and communication field, the National Logistics Cell (NLC) which is managed by the Pakistan Army crossed important milestones to promote trade activities in the region and increase trade with important countries. The NLC paved the way for the promotion of trade not only with Central Asian states but also with Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Army Chief is clear that freedom of expression without rules and regulations is leading to the decline of moral values in all societies. Legislation was also enacted this year to prevent the spread of misleading propaganda, fake news, and misinformation. All the functions of the government and military leadership efforts and achievements are the promise of a bright future for Pakistan. With the best strategy and efforts of the government and military leadership, the year 2025 will be a year of peace and stability.
There is a saying that individuals make and break nations and the qualities of those who make the nations comprise that they put their country ahead of their own interests or interests of their group; have a robust charter, explicit or implicit; want to create national core values (VABEs); negotiate, invite, and offer rather than force or coerce and they regulate and control those who would abuse the system and of course they do not tolerate crime and corruption. All these values can be found in COAS Gen Asim Munir and he is doing what is actually beyond the call of his duty because he believes in nationhood rather than merely his institution and he in his several speeches demands that every individual of the country the best for the country instead of thinking that ‘this is not my duty’.
Nigah Buland, Sukhan Dil Nawaz, Jaan Pursouz
High ambition, winsome speech, a passionate soul
Yehi Hai Rakht-e-Safar Mir-e-Karwan Ke Liye
This is all the luggage for the leader of the Caravan.
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
