145 research outputs found
Sort by
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIRPOWER TO COUNTER NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY THREATS
Full text linkThe early theorists had conceived airpower to break the adversary\u27s will and achieve decisive impact; however, technological deficiencies and weak strategies prevented airpower from doing so. Later, especially in the second half of the 20th century, advancements in technology and the advent of new concepts developed airpower as a military tool of the first choice to achieve strategic advantages. Traditionally, states remained the referent objects and a prime focus for national security, but post-cold war developments witnessed the emergence of a non-traditional security paradigm, increasingly making individuals referent objects of security. This security dimension primarily affected individuals and ideational aspects and led to the developing of a new identity-based construct with increasing political, economic, military, environmental, and societal influences. This paper highlights that despite the remarkable advancements in airpower technology and its ever-increasing role as a critical military instrument, its effectiveness in dealing with security threats and achieving a decisive victory in situations complexed by non-traditional threats remains ambiguous. Considering terrorism as a social construction allows investigation into unthinkable policies to counter it. Nevertheless, the main objective of the policy perhaps can be the deconstruction of the undesirable construct whereby airpower, enabled with modern technology, can act as a leading military component.
Bibliography Entry
Bhatti, Amjad Mahmood. 2022. "Conceptual Framework for Airpower to Counter Non-traditional Security Threats." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 47-60
CHINA\u27S FOREIGN POLICY SHIFT FROM BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE TO GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: IMPACTS ON MARITIME GEOPOLITICS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION
Full text linkChina\u27s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the foreign policy strategy that has changed world politics. It has compelled states to revisit their foreign policies either in favour of BRI or countering it. BRI has created a difficult situation for international power structure and status quo states due to transitioning power from west to east and emerging geopolitical reconfiguration. However, in September 2021, President Xi Jinping announced China\u27s Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the opening session of the UN General Assembly, which renewed debate about the impacts of China\u27s strategy. As China has a strong foothold in the Indian Ocean region through BRI, the undertaken research is an endeavour to study the effect of shifting China\u27s foreign policy from BRI to GDI over the maritime geopolitics of the region. This research aims at determining GDI\u27s role in supporting UN Agenda 2030 through focused efforts on sustainable development goals in the maritime domain. It is an exploratory and qualitative research conducted through deductive reasoning to seek an explanation of the core proposition. This research has used secondary sources for determining these upshots with potential changes in the maritime geopolitics of the Indian Ocean region.
Bibliography Entry
Khan, Maliha Zeba, and Zohaib Altaf. 2022. "China\u27s Foreign Policy Shift from Belt and Road Initiative to Global Development Initiative: Impacts on Maritime Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Region." Margalla Papers 26 (2): 14-27
INDIAN MILITARY DOCTRINE AND ITS IMPACT ON SOUTH ASIA’S STRATEGIC STABILITY
Full text linkIndia’s aggressive military doctrine exploits the questionable space for a limited war under a nuclear overhang. This doctrine is designed to dilute, if not fully compromise, the notion of nuclear deterrence. Indian military high command has often boasted about waging a conventional war against Pakistan. India’s unilateral decision to repeal Kashmir’s special constitutional status has further exacerbated the volatility of the hitherto conflict-prone environment in South Asia. India’s doctrine manifests in the offensive deployment of S-400 missile systems along Pakistan’s border, further supplemented by the positioning of Dassault Rafale fighter jets. While it might temporarily alter the region’s strategic stability equation, Pakistan must rebalance this shift in its strategic stability. There is a need to review the notion of strategic stability as it applies to the region’s nuclear balance of power. This paper analyses India’s aggressive military doctrine fuelling its desire to wage a limited conventional war against Pakistan, examines the effects of growing military asymmetry, evaluates the impact of the short but swift military action in February 2019, and finally endeavours to determine the stabilizing impact of the nuclear deterrent on South Asia’s strategic stability.
Bibliography Entry
Ali, Muhammad, and Syed Mussawar Hussain Bukhari. 2022. "Indian Military Doctrine and Its Impact on South Asia’s Strategic Stability." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 74-84
MEDIA REPORTING OF TERRORISM: A CASE STUDY OF ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA (ISIS)
Full text linkTerrorist organizations have long realized the invaluable benefits of various media platforms, particularly social media, in achieving their tactical, operational and strategic goals. They have figured out how to make an impact through social media. Researchers have found that media plays a significant role in disseminating messages supporting terrorism. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, terrorism has attracted much media attention. ISIS, in particular, has produced the most technologically sophisticated propaganda compared to other terrorist groups. Since terrorism has received so much media attention, it is vital to understand how it is presented in international news. This study, therefore, examines terrorists\u27 use of media while focusing on ISIS as a case study. Research findings suggest that employing media as a weapon in combat is vital to ISIS\u27s strategy to establish a hypothetical Islamic caliphate. ISIS uses media for three central goals: promoting its propaganda, recruiting new fighters, and inciting violence. The article employs framing theory, a study of comparative journalism and global media coverage of terrorism. This paper also explores the idea that media coverage may very well encourage acts of terrorism.
Bibliography Entry
Sunawar, Lubna. 2022. "Media Reporting of Terrorism: A Case Study of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)." Margalla Papers 26 (2): 62-71
INDIAN ENGAGEMENT WITH TALIBAN-LED AFGHANISTAN AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN
Full text linkEstablishing a liberal government in post-Taliban Afghanistan allowed India to fulfil its foreign policy goal, i.e., investment in Afghanistan to acquire leverage for its anti-Pakistan agenda. However, the twenty-year war ended with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, resulting in the Taliban’s rise to power, diminishing Indian influence and reversion of its interests. India halted its investment and diplomatic engagement with the Taliban government due to its previous position, which led India to compromise on its strategic interests outlined in the presence of US forces. To safeguard its strategic interests, India has resumed its diplomatic and economic engagement with the Taliban government at a critical time when other regional states are analysing the US’ future course of action towards the war-torn country. Therefore, this paper examines how India evaluates the newly structured regional environment while finding a new role in Afghanistan. It also analyses the implications of India-Afghanistan re-engagement for Pakistan.
Bibliography Entry
Farooq, Muhammad. 2022. "Indian Engagement with Taliban-Led Afghanistan and Implications for Pakistan." Margalla Papers 26 (2): 87-95
INDIA’S GROWING CYBER PARTNERSHIPS AND CHALLENGES FOR PAKISTAN
Full text linkWith the emergence of new technologies, the potential of cyberspace is immense; however, the growing number of cyber-attacks on states’ critical infrastructure has highlighted the need for cyber security. Although it is challenging to achieve foolproof security, states can maximise safety in the cyber domain through cyber partnerships with technologically advanced countries. This study finds that India is maximising its cyber security while enhancing its offensive cyber capabilities by concluding agreements with most cyber-secure states. Furthermore, India’s cyber capabilities are more focused on Pakistan due to longstanding tensions between the two countries. On the other hand, Pakistan lacks focus on cyber security and has yet to take sufficient measures. Pakistan can maximise its cyber security through technological advancements and taking advantage of friendly countries\u27 expertise in the cyber security domain. Cyber security partnerships will strengthen Pakistan against threats emerging from state and non-state actors. Following a qualitative exploratory research design, this study provides a detailed understanding of India’s growing cyber security partnership and cyber posture, besides highlighting Pakistan’s approach towards cyber security.
Bibliography Entry
Farooq, Ammad and Ahmad Ali. 2022. "India’s Growing Cyber Partnerships and Challenges for Pakistan." Margalla Papers 26 (2): 49-61
CHANGING GLOBAL ORDER AND POWER REALIGNMENTS IN SOUTHWEST ASIA (ECO REGION)
Full text linkThe global political and economic system is undergoing radical transformations, which might not be as obvious, but they are fast changing the existing global order. The weakening of US global hegemony, the gain of Chinese economic might and its increasing influence, the establishment of right-wing populist governments across the world, the prolonged conflicts in the Middle East, the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the recent Ukraine crisis have caused governments to re-assess their foreign policy priorities and to realign themselves in the changing global order. For Russia and China, the emerging new global order should be based on multipolarity and allowed to be developed in different ways. The region of Southwest Asia, as a subset of the international system, is restructuring and realigning itself with the changing geopolitical realities to bring coherence and stability within and across the region. This paper argues that the region\u27s geostrategic importance is instrumental in facilitating the emergence of multipolar global order. Moreover, the new political arrangements also allow the regional states to look beyond western dominance and realign themselves for greater cooperation and stability. There have been predictions that the ECO region could become a centre of global power struggle and play a key role in transforming the global order from unipolar to multipolar.
Bibliography Entry
Khan, Ayesha. 2022. "Changing Global Order and Power Realignments in Southwest Asia (ECO Region)." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 61-73
EMPLOYING NATION BRANDING AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: STRATEGIES FOR PAKISTAN
Full text linkIn the 21st century, states use nation-branding techniques to safeguard their national interests. They employ public diplomacy strategies to maintain their international image. Through branding techniques and public diplomacy strategies, nations can build a positive image among the committee of nations. It is argued in this paper that the international image of Pakistan is required to be improved, and there is a need to shun the notion of negative characteristics associated with terrorism, religious extremism, Talibanization, and allegedly branding as a failed state. There is also a need to study the mindset for conducting various surveys about Pakistan’s image and its sponsors. The main argument of this research work is that Pakistan has all the variables required for nation branding and building positive public perception. To improve its international image, Pakistan has to adopt innovative nation-branding techniques and public diplomacy strategies.
Bibliography Entry
Kayani, Saima Ashraf, and Muhammad Saif ur Rehman. 2022. "Employing Nation Branding and Public Diplomacy: Strategies for Pakistan." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 34-46
STRATEGIC CULTURE AND INTER-STATE RELATIONS: A CASE OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA
Full text linkGeography, culture and history play a central role in shaping a nation\u27s perceptions, biases and images of adversaries. The combination of these factors constitutes strategic culture. Strategic communities tend to adopt diverse approaches to interpreting, analysing and reacting to a given situation. They may incline to pick peculiar strategic choices, such as using force or relying on external alliances, while not opting for a range of others. Decisions and choices are affected by patterns of thinking that evolved over the years. Strategic culture has evolved and generated significant discussion on theoretical frameworks and potential applications in a regional and international security context. Pakistan-India strategic equation is a complex phenomenon, fraught with hostility and mistrust, impregnated with conventional and non-conventional hazards. India views Pakistan as a stumbling block in realising her power ambition, while Pakistan considers India an existential threat. The article analyses the effect of strategic culture on inter-state relations with emphasis on Pakistan-India relations. Unique historical events, geography, the influence of dominant strategic strata and perception biases shape respective strategic cultures. It further analyses strategic culture based on Hofstede\u27s Model, besides pondering upon symbols and philosophical influences.
Bibliography Entry
Ali, Shehzad. 2022. "Strategic Culture and Inter-State Relations: A Case of Pakistan and India." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 121-131
BOOK REVIEW: THE FIFTH ESTATE: THINK TANKS, PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCE
No full textThe book is all-inclusive research on think tanks’ role in governance and public policy processes, specifically in the US. The author defines Fifth Estate as attributed to research institutes, scholarly networks, political parties and policy analysts. The comprehensive role of think tanks is due to their lasting impact on governance and the administration of global civil society. Their ever-increasing role and involvement in public policy discourse are unlikely to lessen in coming times