Friends Near Home: Pakistan's Strategic Security Options

Pakistan has been subjected to numerous pulls an pressures since its independence. Despite being part of the US-led alliances, Pakistan was dismembered in 1971. With the end of the Cold War, the situation has gone from bad to worse and even after a long period of existence Pakistan's security remains threatened by the adversary. Consequently Pakistan has to spend much more on defence than her resources permitting. The only plausible way out for Pakistan is to look for Friends near Home who could act as the relief zones to off-set the potential threat and provide all possible assistance to safeguard her strategic security interests. Friends Near Home presents the realistic perspective, analysis and aspirations by someone from the soil which should interest the civilians as well as those in uniform. Focussing on Pakistan's strategic security options, the thesis succinctly examines the politico-strategic and maritime environment of the region which includes South Asia, South-West Asia and Central Asia with special reference to the North-West Indian Ocean Region milieu. The author has made a positive effort to analyse the viability and efficacy of the regional states i.e. Friends near Home, with a view to enhance Pakistan's security parameters. All this reflects author's vision of Pakistan into 21st Century and beyond. This book also presents the guiding principles for the regional as well as extra regional countries. Some bold thoughts and recommendations suggested in this book could serve as the stabilizing factors for the region and ultimately contributing towards the world peace and stability. Expansion of the Gulf Cooperation Council leading to the establishment of the Enlarged Economic Cooperation Organisation is one such realistic but challenging proposition. Pakistan's envisaged maritime orientation should conveniently help attainment of this difficult but achievable objective. Those in power should carry this vision to the testing grounds for the sake of a prom

Dr. Muhammad Anwar was born in 1948 in Pakistan. He graduated from the Pakistan Naval Academy Karachi in December 1971 and has more than 29 years commissioned service to his credit. He has a rich sea experience of two Ships' Commands, the Command of an Establishment, Desk jobs at the Headquarters including Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and finally the Command of a Destroyer Squadron. He has also served as the Defence Attache in Sri Lanka with concurrent accreditation to Maldives during his military career. After an early retirement from the Navy in the rank of Commodore, he settled in London where he used his operational background and his diplomatic experience towards his board level duties with different companies in a diverse range of Industries, from bio-medical to defence consultancy. He is also a graduate of National Defence College Islamabad (Pakistan) and Royal Naval Staff College Greenwich (United Kingdom). His accomplishments as a professional are backed by his extensive educational background, having a Doctorate of Philosophy in International Relations, a Masters in International Relations and a Masters of Science in War Studies. He has previously published a book titled Role of Smaller Navies, ISBN: 969-8318-01-1, which looks at the maritime interests of Pakistan in the Northwest Indian Ocean Region milieu. He has also recently written his Autobiography titled Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals, ISBN 1-4259-0020-8 (sc). He is married and has four children.