Muslim Nato

Brigadier Abdul Rahman Bilal, Sitara-e-Jurat (Retired) acquired his education in Pakistan, the United States and Jordan. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Army Institute of Military. Assistance, a graduate from the Mauta University, Jordan, and he acquired his Master’s degree from the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. He is a war hero who evicted elements of the Indian Army from a record altitude of 22,158 feet above sea level on 30th April, 1989.

The author has been associated with the apex strategic planning process. He has also been an Arabic interpreter and part of international diplomatic negotiations process. After retirement from military service, he performed duties of Rector of Foundation University, Islamabad.

Presently, he is an analyst for diplomacy, development and security.

Over a period of time, serious concerns have emerged regarding external and internal threats confronting the Islamic World that have generated a destabilising effect. A review of Muslim history, unfolding global reset and vast Muslim potential has led to a growing consensus that Muslim majority countries must proactively seek the role of net global stability contributors. This strategic stability gambit, as in the case of other alliances, may encounter initial glitches which can gradually be overcome.

This initiative necessitates analysis of various shades of security cooperation in a flexible framework. In the quest, NATO stands out prominently as a time-tested organisation. Useful conclusions can be drawn from its case study.

A flexible stabilising security architecture concept is the need of the hour. It may incorporate alliance, human resource and infrastructure development processes. It must also incorporate joint defence production ventures, all-domain interoperability training, intelligence-sharing and joint logistics. It must include establishment of a defence university for capacity-building. Its pioneering human resource pool can operationalise its headquarters and set its course for a development continuum.