ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP):Speakers at a seminar on Saturday emphasized the need for Pakistan to pursue a prudent and balanced strategy in the face of rapidly changing global and regional dynamics marked by shifting power equations and realignment of international alliances. The interactive roundtable seminar, titled ‘Evolving global & regional scenario and challenges for Pakistan’, was organized by the Forum for Information Group of Secretaries (FIGS). The forum brought together …
Experts urge balanced strategy for Pakistan amid changing geopolitical landscape
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (APP):Speakers at a seminar on Saturday emphasized the need for Pakistan to pursue a prudent and balanced strategy in the face of rapidly changing global and regional dynamics marked by shifting power equations and realignment of international alliances.
The interactive roundtable seminar, titled ‘Evolving global & regional scenario and challenges for Pakistan’, was organized by the Forum for Information Group of Secretaries (FIGS). The forum brought together policy experts, politicians, former civil servants and diplomats to discuss emerging geopolitical trends, regional security concerns and their implications for Pakistan.
Former National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasir Khan Janjua said the recent US-Iran conflict witnessed an ongoing shift in the international system, transitioning from unipolarity towards multipolarity. The changing balance of power among major states, he said, was reshaping global politics while presenting both opportunities and challenges for Pakistan.
Referring to Pakistan’s strategic location, he said the country was well placed to benefit from the emerging geopolitical environment. Pakistan and Iran, he added, could together play a pivotal role in promoting regional stability and economic cooperation.
He stressed that Pakistan should pursue its relations with emerging powers, particularly China and Russia, with balance and foresight while avoiding becoming entangled in major power rivalries. He also highlighted the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan, describing it essential for Pakistan’s security interests.
Calling for greater economic self-reliance, Gen Janjua said Pakistan needed to undertake sustainable economic reforms to come out of debt trap and strengthen its strategic autonomy.
Former Senator Farhatullah Babar said recent regional developments carried important lessons for all countries in the region and underscored the need for policies grounded in long-term national interests rather than short-term considerations.
He identified three major challenges facing Pakistan, particularly the rivalry between the United States and Iran, the situation in Afghanistan, and the attempts by Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use water as a strategic weapon. Such developments, he warned, could set a troubling precedent in regional politics.
Babar stressed that dealing with these challenges required coherence in policymaking, close civil-military coordination and a unified national approach to protecting Pakistan’s strategic and economic interests.
Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, Director General of the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Sciences and Technology, said economics and politics had become increasingly intertwined, with geopolitical considerations putting a significant influence on economic decision-making worldwide.
Describing energy as the lifeblood of modern economies, he said disruptions in energy supplies had direct consequences for inflation and overall stability. The recent US-Iran tensions generated uncertainty in international markets and heightened inflationary pressures across the globe. The countries dependent on imported energy, including Pakistan, were particularly vulnerable to such shocks, he added.
Dr Khan also drew attention to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it had effectively become a geopolitical pressure point because of its central role in global energy transportation. He expressed optimism that Iran was gradually returning to normalcy and could emerge economically stronger if regional stability was maintained.
He said the recent Memorandum of Understanding among the United States and Iran helped ease tension, provided Iran with much-needed breathing space and enhanced Pakistan’s standing by highlighting its constructive role in promoting regional stability.
Acting Vice Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal said the world was witnessing a “rupture of the existing world order”, reflected in the weakening of established norms and the emergence of new centres of power.
Discussing developments in the Middle East, he said a new regional security architecture was taking shape amid shifting alliances and changing strategic calculations. He also noted that geoeconomic tools, including sanctions, were increasingly being used to exert pressure on states.
These developments, he said, were contributing to the emergence of new bloc politics and compelling countries such as Pakistan to navigate competing interests carefully while safeguarding its strategic autonomy and economic interests.
Earlier, former Information Secretary and FIGS Chairman Syed Anwar Mahmood, in his welcome remarks, said the forum had been established in 2022 and regularly organized discussions on issues of national and international significance. Distinguished experts, he added, were invited to share their insights on contemporary challenges facing the country and the region.
The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which participants exchanged views on regional security, economic stability and Pakistan’s role in an evolving global order.
