The Faculty of Aerospace Sciences and Strategic Studies (FASSS) at Air University,
Islamabad held a one-day international conference on the topic ‘The Evolving Concept
of National Security in the 21st Century and Emerging Challenges’ on Tuesday, 30th
November. The event was attended by senior representatives of the academia, government,
diplomatic corps and media. Also in attendance were over 100 students from major
universities in Islamabad and other cities. The Vice Chancellor of Air University
Air Marshal (R) Javaid Ahmed gave the Keynote Address and spoke on the evolving
dimension of national security over the last few decades. Acting Dean of FASSS Dr.
Adil Sultan spoke on [please insert 1-2 lines].
Four panels were convened on different themes, discussing the evolving concept of
national security, the impact of geopolitics, the role emerging technologies, and
national security policy making. Speakers included prominent issue experts from
Pakistan, including DG ISSI Amb. (R) Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary, Director CASS Amb. (R)
Jalil Abbas Jilani, Dr. Rifaat Hussain of NUST, Dr. Salma Malik of QAU, as well
as Dr. Ali Sarosh and Dr. Mehreen Afzal of Air University. International speakers
included Dr. Andrey Kortunov of the RIAC, Moscow, Dr. Wyn Bowen of KCl, London,
Antoine Levesque of IISS, London, and Dr. Jochen Hippler, FES Country Director for
Pakistan. A panel was also organized featuring presentations by MS and MPhil scholars
from Air University, National Defence University and Bahria University.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Adil Sultan discussed the perspectives of different
speakers on the topic and reiterated the need for academia to familiarize students
with fundamentals concepts in national security and policy making. He shared with
the audience that a key objective of convening the conference had been to cater
to students in the fields of International Relations and Strategic Studies; this
was reflected not only in the majority of the invited audience but also demonstrated
by the student panel, giving young scholars an opportunity to participate along
with established experts. Giving them this opportunity, he highlighted, was part
of an ongoing and concerted effort by FASSS to provide students with platforms to
share and debate their views.
The conference is the latest in a series of events organized by FASSS faculty to
encourage debate on issues of national and international concern, and aimed at acclimatizing
students in the social sciences to key concepts and issues.