SHIFTING BLAME: THE NARRATIVE OF EXTERNAL FORCES IN PAK'S SECURITY CHALLENGES

In Pakistan, the tendency to hold external forces responsible for domestic challenges has become a longstanding approach, particularly within security agencies and the military.

- EHSANULLAH EHSAN

Rather than addressing internal issues and crafting sustainable solutions, these institutions often rely on promoting a narrative of foreign conspiracy, sidelining the real challenges Pakistan faces. This strategy overlooks fundamental internal weaknesses, allowing these entities to avoid accountability and shift focus outward.

Political and military institutions in Pakistan frequently attribute their setbacks to external factors, often implicating India and Afghanistan. When violence occurs or security fails, a narrative of a "foreign hand" is quickly presented. This story diverts public attention from local issues, providing an easy explanation that glosses over internal flaws. Security agencies and the military have become adept at steering public attention toward perceived external threats, shielding themselves from scrutiny over their own performance and avoiding responsibility for lapses in security.