ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Former Chief of Army Staff General (Retd) Raheel Sharif has stressed that national security is rooted in public welfare and the rule of law, saying a nation’s strength depends not only on military capability but also on economic stability and the well-being of its citizens.
He was speaking at the launch ceremony of a book, “National Security Strategy: A Personal Chronicle of Pakistan,” authored by prominent defence and foreign affairs analyst Ikram Sehgal in Islamabad on Friday.
The book has been dedicated to the “Sharif family,” honouring two Nishan-e-Haider recipients, Major Aziz Bhatti and Major Shabbir Sharif, as well as General (R) Raheel Sharif.
General (Retd) Raheel Sharif described national security as a complex and multidimensional subject.
Reflecting on his tenure as Army Chief, he said Pakistan had fought a difficult war against terrorism.
He endorsed Ikram Sehgal’s view that national security extends beyond military matters and also encompasses economic and social dimensions. General Raheel also thanked the author for dedicating the book to his family.
Former prime minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on same stage for a book launch “National Security Strategy-a personal chronicle of Pakistan”
Dedicated to Sharif Family
Former Pakistan Army Chief General (retired) Raheel Sharif… pic.twitter.com/UNKYtF6jvz— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) July 17, 2026
Addressing the gathering, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Pakistan was facing difficult challenges and needed practical solutions.
He stressed that national security ultimately revolves around the welfare of the people, adding that addressing public problems is central to ensuring national security.
Abbasi said Pakistan’s challenges could not be resolved through miracles, insisting that the country’s only sustainable solution lies in the rule of law.
Paying tribute to General Raheel Sharif’s leadership, Abbasi said the former army chief had faced enormous security challenges during his tenure and successfully led the country through them, despite the sacrifices made by many soldiers in the fight against terrorism.
Referring to recent remarks by Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding Pakistan’s martyrs, Abbasi said people do not join the Army for salaries but out of a spirit of service and sacrifice. He expressed hope that the religious leader would clarify his comments.
He also said that all Pakistanis were concerned about the country’s future and emphasised that political differences should be resolved through dialogue.
