USI organised scholar’s presentation by Col Shaman Chodha, Senior Research Fellow, USI on the topic “Pakistan’s Internal Security Challenges and the Army’s Ability to Overcome Them” on 26 February 2019. Welcome remarks were made by Lt Gen Ghanshyam Singh Katoch, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) Distinguished Fellow, USI of India, which was followed by Chairman’s remark by Maj Gen RPS Bhadauria, VSM (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, USI.
Col Shaman Chodha in his presentation highlighted the multiple faultlines in Pakistan’s internal security such as founding ideology, islamisation/radicalisation, civil-military relations and poor education system and discussed the basic and contributing factors of the fautlines and how they are a major security challenge to the Pakistan Army. He also recommended certain policies for Pakistan. External discussant Dr Ashok Behuria, Senior Research Fellow, IDSA gave his recommendations and suggestions to further enrich his research work, including suggestion to emphasize more of Seraiki movement, Hazars and TTP, study of the Fragile State Index-2018 to get a picture of state of Pakistan.
The presentation was well received and generated a lot of discussion among the participants. Lt Gen Ghanshyam Singh Katoch, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) Distinguished Fellow, USI gave the concluding remarks. The event was attended by various officers from service headquarters and researchers from various think tanks.