Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) launched “Pakistan Security Report 2009” in a ceremony organized at PIPS premises on 11 January 2010.  The event was attended by leading experts on security issues, representatives of civil society organizations and media persons. Renowned scholar and Chairman Centre for Research and Security Studies Mr. Imtiaz Gul chaired the session while a leading journalist and analyst Mr. Zahid Hussain delivered his keynote address. In his welcome remarks, Muhammad Amir Rana, director PIPS, said that the event is organized to share the findings of report with the audience and to seek their expert opinion on the security landscape of Pakistan.

PIPS researcher Mr. Abdul Basit presented the summary of the PIPS Annual Security Report. He observed that the militants were using "innovative tactics" such as targeted assassinations, kidnapping and the use of sophisticated bomb materials. This year militants have proved to be technologically savvy.

The presentation was followed by a lively discussion on the security situation in 2009 and the future outlook. The participants noted that Pakistan faces a new phase of militancy as the spate of terrorism and violence in the year 2009 has suggested.  A sort of new terrorist-nexus has evolved to hit Pakistani state and society that comprises of local and international militants. The militants have now their operational networks or at least facilities in major Pakistani cities and the FATA. This is an ideological battle for militants as well as game of safeguarding their interests.

Mr. Zahid Hussain said in his keynote address that 2007 was a turning point in militants’ strategic roadmap when they decided and started to hit the Pakistan adopting an anti-Pakistan agenda. Militants, including Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other groups have a wide network of recruitment that also includes internet. Pakistani state, nonetheless, lacks a coherent policy to counter militants. Without strong intelligence network the militants can’t be defeated.

Mr. Imtiaz Gul said in his concluding remarks that it is feared that violence will continue to hit Pakistan in future. “But there are some positive developments that give us hope and they include an increasing realization among Pakistani military and politicians that militants are a serious threat for country’s security and establishment of special counter-terrorist forces besides training the FC and police”, he commented.

Mr. Naveed Shinwari, Chairman CAMP, Ms. Safiya Aftab, Research Fellow Strategic and Economic Policy Research (SEPR), Ms. Arshi Saleem Hashmi, senior research analyst at the IRS, Dr. Babak Khalatbari, Resident Representative of Konard-Adenauer-Stiftung and Mr. Wajahat Ali, a journalist based in Islamabad also spoke on the occasion.