The Faltering State: Pakistan's Internal Security Landscape

by Tariq Khosa

This book reviews the recent internal security challenges facing Pakistan. It is a timely and valuable addition to the literature on the subject of governance and the rule of law. It is based upon the author's approximately four decades (1973-2011) of creditable public service and provides special insights into how Pakistan, as a state, has been mismanaged at all levels. Bringing a practitioner's expertise, it will no doubt serve to inform the interested readership and stimulate debate on an issue that is of central importance to the survival of Pakistan as an effective state.

Genres: Pakistan

419 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Rehmat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former top cop, Tarqi Khosa, has meticulously discussed the security landscapes, security challenges and security faultlines facing Pakistan. The book gives credible insights into security governance, internal security challenges, sectarian menace, urban terrorism, criminal justice system, creation of terror monsters by deep state and their boomerang, counterterrorism confusion, role of civilian institutions in counterterrorism, police reforms, and criminal justice system. Being the first Baloch police chief of Balochistan police, the author remained at the helm of security affairs at the time when security challenges faced by the state in Balochistan emerged manifold after assassination of veteran Baloch politician Nawab Akbar Bugti, he gives bold analysis of security issues and their solution in the province.


However, the author's inclination towards his former police service group, his viewpoint on Balochistan levies force, centuries-old-community-based economical policing, is deeply biased being easily identifiable based on hypothesis and only presenting evidence of restoration of British era police act dating back to 19th century. The fact is that the public representatives through supreme house of the province ie Balochistan assembly passed the police act, 2010, having political legitimacy. His one-sided analysis towards the Balochistan levies force is due to his strong feelings of sympathy and attachment towards his police service group and the police's perspective of struggle for power in the province whom he remained part of the struggle to gain power over large swathes of the province. The author never mentioned that the policy of abolition of B area with merger of the levies into police was an unpopular decision without having political legitimacy initiated by military dictator, general Musharraf. It is universal fact that any policy moved by a dictator can never withstand the test of time after his departure. The abolition of B area in Balochistan was an authoritarian decision reversed later by political leadership of the province constitutional in the assembly. The community-based-policing of levies force is most suitable policing to the tribal norms and cultures of the province which is much greater economical force (I will write a separate article on this topic with comparative budgetary allocations of police and levies forces in Balochistan) and more efficient than police.


Anyhow, it is a great addition to the security literature on Pakistan and gives policymakers a direction on the security issues given the professional security and counterterrorism expertise of the writer. Anyone interested in the subject would find the book helpful...

[Haider Hussain · Rating 2 out of 5]

What author tells you is that it is his reflection on Pakistan’s security landscape post 2011. What he and the publisher fail to tell you at the outset is that The Faltering State is not an original work. This is [mostly] a hastily-edited refurbishment of Tariq Khosa’s newspaper articles written long before they appear in 2017 in the form of a book. While there might be a few original chapters out of 70 in total (I haven’t googled for every chapter), but most of them are old ones anyway.

Book is split into four parts, trying to give the impression that the discussion is divided into four broader themes. However, it is nothing more than a time-based subdivision of author’s various articles hastily stuffed together in quasi-thematic parts. Therefore, book lacks systematic flow.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in re-editing and publishing a collection of old articles. But failing to mention this fact creates utter confusion. Reader expects to read something fresh and then suddenly finds old events being discussed as if they are happening in the present, or predictions being made regarding events which have actually happened some time ago. This is sloppy authorship and equally bad editing.

What makes this book somewhat palatable (i.e. one and a half-star palatable), is author’s replay of some of his past experiences, insights regarding the inner working of Pakistan’s internal security machinery and his suggestions for improvements. Here are some key takeaways:

a. There is a serious disconnect between police and security establishment; and between police and political leadership. This disconnect is one of the main causes of security lapses in Pakistan.

b. Primary purpose of any police reform should be the independence of police from political influence. However, the mechanism of their accountability to elected officials should also be there.

c. Police Order 2002 was a good effort to free the police from the clutches of archaic British-era laws, and to give it more autonomy. However, vested interests and absence of coordination among different stakeholders saw the failure of this system.

d. Absence of clear jurisdiction among various law enforcement agencies and between federal and provincial governments, especially on matters pertaining to counter-terrorism, is a big hurdle. Duties and responsibilities should be clearly defined.

e. Suggestions pertaining to strengthening of National Action Plan and various aspects of effective policing, witness protection, improvement in the livelihood of policemen, improvement in prison system, etc.

[Aqeel Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Bookreview
#Nonfiction
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 by 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐪 𝐊𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐚
(Pakistan's internal security landscape)
A candid account by a former Security bureaucrat from the Police Cadre(PSP). He primarily covers the 2011-2016 era. At the time, terrorism in Pakistan was at its peak. He has a background in Police Cadre. He served as IG Balochistan in 2007 and DG FIA 2009. He retired in 2011. Having a career of four decades, he enlightened his readers about Policing in Pakistan. Pakistan police service is not ruthless but rather a victim of Political motives, zero accountability, lack of leadership and establishment influences.
He shared his experience in the police and FIA regarding political pressure and placing ineptive personnel in FIA under pressure by their patrons. He tacitly criticises the security establishment for pulling the strings—the strategy of appeasement militant organisations in the drape of strategic assets.
An interesting part was his recommendations regarding improving policing.... inculcating technological advancement... securing the tenure of IG to implement his policies and bringing his team for long-term effects.
#thanks
#Recommended

[Taloot S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its not the severity of punishment rather surity of punishment necessary for the rule of law. The one big reason of our countries problems is ineffective and half hearted implementation of law and incompetent corrupt judicial system.

[Muhammad Ibrabhim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Tariq Khosa is a very decorated officer who shares his account of his services in different forces he worked in. Reading and understanding the book explains how corruption, lack of public support, underfunding, bureaucratic hurdles and nepotism have destroyed the police force.

[Athar Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good book on how to transform the police group into an institution and challenges face by police officers.

[Affaf Inayat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best ever book.