Mirza Abdul Aleem Baig

“If it creates instability, chaos, conflict and war, that has national security implications.” – Samuel R. Berger Conventionally, national security has been defined as the safeguarding the state from physical threats. The last two or three decades have seen sharp rise in other non-traditional threats, such as drugs, and diseases. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and their pandemic potential, pose a challenge to national security in the 21 st century that cannot be overlooked. The historical threat to national security by epidemic diseases is not new; however the threat has increased in recent past and is growing rapidly in developing countries like Pakistan. There are many lines of attack that infectious diseases can intimidate national security i.e. increased rates of morbidity and mortality, massive damage on public health and health infrastructure, political instability, and economic volatility. The world has changed noticeably ever since World Health Organiza...

S cience and technology (S&T) are at the same time symbol and engine of modernization. They are therefore subjects of importance and controversy for developing countries. Science is valued for its close relationship to technology and shorthand phrase “Science & Technology” has become so embedded in the vernacular of international relations that it is almost impossible to avoid. As said by Alfred Thayer Mahan, “In a globalized world economy, whoever has the technological edge will dominate the world.” In international relations, S&T, economics and diplomacy are the most important tools for any nation. Historically, S&T has been one of the main currencies for exchange and dialogue among human societies and sovereign nations. In modern times, it is emerging as an important instrument of techno-economic power that will shape the changing dynamics of international relations. For every sovereign nation both S&T and diplomacy are essential tools for managing internat...