ICC - Intelligence Crisis 1972: Reforming Pakistan’s Future

Intelligence is an essential, but misunderstood component of statecraft, particularly in developing, post-colonial states. Pakistan currently has one of the most sophisticated intelligence services in the world. However, this was not always the case as the development of its intelligence prowess really took place after the 1971 War in which it lost its most populated province, East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. The loss of this war is due to intelligence failures, situational misjudgements, and poor decision making by political and military leaders. 

In the 1970s, Pakistan’s “national security state” and intelligence apparatus started to take shape. It also faced various crises like declining civil-military relations, the collapse of order and trust in state institutions, economic issues, growing separatism, and threats from foreign adversaries. Delegates must solve these internal issues, protect Pakistan from internal and external threats, and develop its intelligence capabilities. However, with massive divisions between institutional, personal, and societal interests and different groups wanting to gain power for themselves, the path to reconstruction is fractured and groups will be acting against each other. Thus, can Pakistan rebuild itself without facing more mishaps and manage these mismatched interests? Who will come out on top to dominate Pakistani politics?

Note: This ICC will have three committee rooms with one representing the civilian government, military establishment, and Pakistani civil society/regional groups in their quest to re-define Pakistani society after the war.