Consolidating Security
Publishing date: 17 November 2025
Published in: The Nation
Pakistanis have always looked towards the Pakistan Army in cases of emergencies, natural disasters, and all forms of threats to the state. This expectation was flawed too, and the same is evident now as it is just one institution and cannot handle all forms of threats and disasters. Due to overreliance on the Army, most resources were allocated towards defence for handling the external threat, but much lesser effort and resources were allocated towards the internal threat, which today is clearly recognised as the leading threat to the state. Intellectuals have been saying this for long, particularly since the late 1980s. Today, the efficiency of law-enforcement agencies is at rock bottom, the judiciary has lost the confidence of the common man, and the economy is in such a poor state that it has created a deep divide between the haves and the have-nots. The education system, particularly at the primary and secondary levels, is continuously sliding down. All this is manifesting in poor law and order, extremism, and terrorism.
Therefore, unlike the US creating Homeland Security to put an effective check on its borders, Pakistan needs much deeper reform to stem the slide in governance, law and order, and efficiency of military and paramilitary forces to face the leading internal threat, emergencies, and natural disasters. The US experience of establishing the Homeland Security Department after 9/11 is very instructive because it was a major step to handle the threat to the US mainland. Americans always had the comfort of being protected by two oceans. This assumption proved flawed with changing environments and technology. As soon as the mainland was violated, the US Government reacted swiftly to harmonise all agencies and departments by placing them under one authority to handle this threat.
Homeland Security refers to the organisational framework established by the United States Government to ensure the safety and security of its citizens from threats both domestically and abroad. After 9/11 it was important to coordinate all the services protecting within the US mainland. Eleven days after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge was appointed as the first Director of the Office of Homeland Security in the White House. The office oversaw and coordinated a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard the country against terrorism and respond to any future threats. With the passage of the Homeland Security Act by Congress in November 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally came into being as a stand-alone, Cabinet-level department to further coordinate and unify national homeland security efforts, opening its doors on 1 March 2003.
“Since the Department’s creation, the goal became simple: one DHS, one enterprise, a shared vision, with integrated results-based operations.”
(1) DHS is the primary agency responsible for securing the homeland. It was established in 2002 and has over 240,000 employees. The DHS oversees various agencies and departments responsible for a wide range of security functions, including border security, transportation security, emergency management, cybersecurity, and
counterterrorism.
(2) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for coordinating the government’s response to disasters and emergencies. It provides assistance to communities affected by natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and coordinates the response to terrorist attacks and other security threats.
(3) The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is responsible for maritime security, including protecting US ports, waterways, and coastal regions. It also enforces laws related to drug trafficking, immigration, and fisheries.
(4) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for securing the nation’s transportation systems, including airports, highways, railroads, and public transit systems. Its primary role is to prevent terrorist attacks on these systems.
(5) The United States Secret Service (USSS) is responsible for protecting the president and other high-ranking government officials. It also investigates financial crimes and other types of fraud.
(6) The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for securing the nation’s borders and enforcing immigration laws. It also works to prevent the entry of terrorists, weapons, and other dangerous items into the country.
(7) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and investigating criminal activities related to immigration and customs. It works to prevent the entry of terrorists, human traffickers, and other criminals into the country.
In addition, the homeland security enterprise in the United States includes other key components such as: 1. The National Protection and Programmes Directorate (NPPD), responsible for protecting critical infrastructure like power grids, communication networks, and water systems, and promoting cybersecurity. 2. The Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), which provides intelligence support and assesses potential security threats. 3. The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), which supports new technology development for border security, cybersecurity, and first responders. 4. The Office of Policy, which develops and coordinates homeland security policies and strategies. 5. The Office of Operations Coordination (OPS), providing 24/7 operational coordination and situational awareness. 6. The Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), ensuring that DHS activities protect civil rights and liberties.
The structure of Homeland Security in the United States is complex and constantly evolving to meet emerging threats. We need an integrated Homeland Security structure on similar lines but adapted to our requirements. At the moment, we have a large number of Civil Armed Forces institutions, each operating within narrow scopes with overlapping tasks (maritime security agencies and coastguards are a case in point). Besides, the quality of manpower in these departments and in the executive is at best poor and needs improvement.
Curtailment of expenditure to improve the economy, efficiency of the executive and the judiciary will bring peace and prosperity to the common man, essential to check the menace of extremism and terrorism. Given its organisation and weight, the Pakistan Military has to take a leading role in improving the present logjam in which the country is caught today. Efforts by the military to curtail its budget, improve efficiency and take measures to improve law and order will generate immense confidence in the common man — essential to face the internal threat to Pakistan’s security.