Senate Standing Committee on Defence vows to promote civil-military relations

Islamabad:  “The Senate Standing Committee on Defence, under the chairmanship of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, has taken a number of significant initiatives to promote civil-military relations; such as preparing work plan, holding public hearings, publishing committee reports, visiting security institutes headquarters, printing media manuals and briefings on important issues related to national security.” This was discussed at the PILDAT Public Forum to review the performance of Parliamentary Standing Committees on Defence, held here in Islamabad.

Speaking at the Forum, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, the Chairman of Senate Defence Commitee also briefed the participants regarding the Parliamentary Security Dialogue initiated with different countries, including Afghanistan, China, Saudi Arabia and the NATO as well.

“The Committee has made important interventions in asking that the National Security Policy should be redefined and there must be active participation by the Parliament, Political Parties and Press.” He said, adding threats to national security are no longer just India-centric but the new threats are non-military and non-conventional including cyber security, climate change and Anti-Pakistan propaganda.

The keynote analysis was presented by renowned Defence Analyst Dr. Hasan Askari Rizvi, while leading Parliamentarians, media representatives and defence experts also joined in the discussion.