Former federal minister Senator Javed Jabbar stated on Wednesday that Pakistan must utilize its historical resilience, national identity, and past achievements to tackle increasing non-traditional security challenges. Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue 2026 during a keynote address for Forum D, titled “National Resilience and Non-Traditional Security,” Jabbar divided national resilience into two dimensions: organic resilience, which he said arises from shared experiences and collective determination, and institutional resilience, which is built through societal management structures.
Jabbar noted that Pakistan has shown strong organic resilience since its creation in 1947, overcoming financial constraints, resource shortages, and an unfavorable regional environment. He pointed to the first 18 years of the country, specifically the 1960s, as a period of remarkable progress where economic growth surpassed that of neighboring India, a success he attributed to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He also cited the country's survival following the 1971 separation of East Pakistan as a reflection of resilience, noting that the remaining country retained its identity and rebuilt itself despite losing a majority of its population. Furthermore, Jabbar described Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities as a significant achievement, stating that the importance of nuclear technology extends beyond military deterrence.
Identifying the primary non-traditional security threats, Jabbar listed poverty, widening inequality, rapid population growth, low productivity, lack of education, and economic dependence. He warned that while poverty and inequality are serious concerns, the reduction of population growth is moving slower than required. Jabbar cited an estimated 26 million out-of-school children and warned that this figure could rise to 40 million over the next 15 to 20 years if population growth is not controlled. He cautioned that millions of children lacking education and skills would lead to serious social and economic consequences, and he called for improved productivity in agriculture, industry, and services to reduce reliance on external financial support.
Member of the National Assembly Mahtab Akbar Rashdi added that national resilience includes the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and recover from disruptions. She suggested Pakistan assess its resilience by looking at both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, citing Japan, Germany, and Britain as examples of countries that rebuilt their economies and international positions after severe destruction following World War II. Rashdi noted that resilience requires preparing for future challenges and emerging stronger from experience. She pointed to the response to the October 8, 2005 earthquake, observed as National Resilience Day, as a demonstration of community support and collective action.
Rashdi distinguished between traditional security, linked to military defense and territorial integrity, and non-traditional security, which covers economic and human security such as access to food, clean water, healthcare, education, and employment. She identified climate change, floods, heat waves, droughts, glacier melting, water scarcity, food insecurity, unemployment, inflation, energy shortages, and public debt as major challenges. She warned that climate-related disasters could become national humanitarian and economic crises, referencing the 2022 floods. Rashdi stressed the need for disaster preparedness, early-warning systems, stronger public services, economic stability, and better coordination among federal, provincial, and local institutions.
The session was moderated by broadcast journalist Sidra Iqbal of Aaj TV. Other speakers included Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute; Lt. Gen. Nasser Khan Janjua (Retd), former National Security Advisor; Aisha Khan, Chief Executive of the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change; Dr Zafar Mirza, President of the Pakistan Association of Lifestyle Medicine; and Professor Dr Tayyaba Tamim, Dean and Chair of the Syeda Perwin Babar Ali School of Education at LUMS.
