Pakistan must recalibrate geopolitical strategy to navigate multipolar world: Experts
Islamabad: As the global order transitions toward multipolarity amid growing regional rivalries and non-traditional security threats, Pakistan must adopt a unified, clear-headed national approach to leverage its enduring geopolitical relevance.
According to Kashmir Media Service, these views were expressed during a seminar, “Pakistan in a New Age of Geopolitics,” held at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad.
The event had a keynote address by Ambassador (Retd) Sardar Masood Khan, former president of AJK, who was joined by Ambassador (Retd) Naghmana Hashmi, Dr Nazir Hussain, former dean social sciences, University of Wah, Dr Khurram Iqbal, associate professor, National Defence University, Dr Adam Saud, dean humanities and social sciences, Bahria University, Brig. (Retd) Said Nazir, defense analyst, Brig. (r) Dr. Tughral Yamin, IPS associate, Khalid Rahman, Chairman of IPS, Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice chairman IPS, and Aneela Shahzad.
Ambassador (Retd) Masood Khan underscored Pakistan’s historical security dependence on the US while noting the country’s growing strategic reliance on China.
While acknowledging the perception that Pakistan seeks balance between these two powers, he argued that true equilibrium is difficult without developing proportional ties with the US.
He described Pakistan’s conflict with India as civilizational, rooted in the ideological stance of the BJP and RSS, and called for strengthening military and economic capabilities and forging a unified national identity.
Building on this perspective, Ambassador (Retd) Naghmana Hashmi reinforced the importance of sincere, unwavering ties with China while maintaining multi-tiered engagement with the US. She emphasized that Pakistan’s deepening partnership with China would come under increasing pressure and must be managed carefully.
Dr Khurram Iqbal questioned Pakistan’s binary worldview centered on the US-China rivalry and called for policy adjustments that reflect a truly multipolar reality. He noted that alternative global alignments are already taking shape and must be acknowledged in Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Turning attention to the regional dimension, Aneela Shahzad elaborated on her concept of the AfPakKash subregion, comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir, arguing that its trajectory would shape the future of South Asia. She cited China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a key factor transforming the region’s economic landscape.
Dr Nazir Hussain highlighted the dominance of Western paradigms in South Asian academic discourse and called for decolonizing knowledge systems and re-evaluating theories through indigenous frameworks. He asserted that Pakistan’s geopolitical relevance is enduring, which explains sustained attempts by global powers to influence its direction through international institutions.
Ambassador (Retd) Abrar Hussain highlighted Pakistan’s geographic advantage for cross-regional connectivity. He said managing the growing US-China rivalry through a delicate strategic balance is crucial for Pakistan’s long-term geopolitical relevance.
Khalid Rahman concluded the session by noting that while the constants of geopolitics remain, the variables are rapidly changing. He warned against narrow strategic thinking and urged bridging the growing divide between public sentiment and elite decision-making.
Participants lauded Aneela Shahzad’s book for its intellectual depth, clarity, and bold challenge to Western-dominated perspectives on global affairs. It equips readers, particularly in Pakistan, with the conceptual tools needed to critically interrogate power, territory, identity, and influence, not as dictated by external forces but as shaped by local realities.
