Shifting National Security Paradigm of Pakistan from Geo Politics to a Geo Economics Era

Abstract

Pakistan being one of the most populous Muslim states, is characterized by unique features. It is home to the seventh-largest army in the world, but strangely enough, it stands in 2018 (slightly better than previous rankings )as one of the 20th most fragile nations of the world. Pakistan bears a key geopolitical position in South Asia, linking it with the Middle East, surrounded by Russia, China, India, and Iran as well. Traditionally, Pakistan national security has been analyzed through geopolitical and geostrategic perspectives, but with the primacy of economic factors, the geo-economic approach has taken the lead in analyzing the national security of Pakistan. Most underdeveloped and developing countries heavily depend upon external resources and regional connectivity for economic development, but both can jeopardize their security in one way or the other. So Pakistan is no exception in this regard. That's why the article is going to analyze the hazards to Pakistan's national security by focusing upon the growing Pakistan China economic connectivity and Indian fears and apprehensions and Afghanistan's instability, and its prospective looming effect on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).