Pakistan to defeat terrorism,protect sovereignty: ex-secy defence

ISLAMABAD: Former Secretary Defence Lt. Gen (R) Asif Yasin Malik vowed that Pakistani nation will defeat terrorism and protect its freedom and sovereignty by displaying unity and resilience.

Addressing a ceremony organised by South Asia Strategic Stability Institute (Sassi) to celebrate 70th Independence Day of Pakistan, the former secretary defence said that on the 70th celebrations the question we need to ask the nation is not what Pakistan has done for us but what we have done for Pakistan.

Ambassador of Palestine while comending Sassi's efforts said ‘the Pakistani’, the new youth platform, is a sign of progress and development of Pakistan.  The Ambassador of Egypt also congratulated Sassi and the Pakistani nation for surviving and coming out as a victor, given all the challenges Pakistan faced.

Addressing the ceremony, Director General Sassi said, the participation of youth is vital for effective programmes and to develop influence coherence and acceptance and participation in the national security discourse which can be achieved through small pilot scale activities, says Dr. Maria Sultan. At this she congratulated the team leaders of the National Security Engagement Programmes, first fellowship programme for initiating Pakistan, a youth platform. She also congratulated the nation on the 70th celebrations of Independence Day.

She stated that National Security Engagement Programme is aimed to develop an outreach and leadership in the younger population. Essentially it is to recognise that youth participation is vital for effective programmes and to develop influence coherence and acceptance in national security discourse, she said.

She further elaborated that this programme is also aimed at providing one of the policy's two objectives that is to mainstream and integrate youth issues and engage young people across the country, initiatives and operations, secondly to create multiple access points for alternative leadership through an early harvest programme.

In order to identify effective approaches and recommendations to meaningfully engage youth in programmes, policies and operational practices, it is suggested that a small pilot scale activity is generated, she maintained.

Osama Babakhel, a Sassi intern while giving a presentation to the audience said, "An all-encompassing skill set is imperative for every Pakistani at any stage of his/her life. We tend to focus on certain credentials and overlook the skills required for their respective occupation, leading our youth in an endless cycle of intellectual ignorance. That is what we wish to change".

"Expressing our wish to enable the youth to rediscover their true Pakistani identity, and cherish their country therefore; benefit their country by realising their true capabilities and utilising them to the full", said Mr. Usama Khurshid Ahmed Khan, another Sassi intern in his presentation said.

Similarly Hashir Ahmed a Sassi intern gave his presentation about the importance of physical fitness that how important it is for the youth of this country and what are the possible mediums for the enhancement of their physical abilities''

''Pakistan was created on the basis of an ideology__, a country for the Muslims of the sub continent where they could live in a accordance to the Islamic values and norms, where they could promote and preserve their cultural and national identity. An ideology the compatibility of which is being challenged by westernisation. Pakistan aims to provide a counter narrative to this'', said M Hashim Zafar W, a Sassi intern in his presentation. The event was attended by the parents of the participants of National Security Engagement Programme, members of the military and diplomatic corps, academia, and the media.