Pakistan faces grave strategic, economic, and societal challenges as the contemporary global order undergoes a significant rupture, marked by the erosion of multilateralism and a pivot towards unilateral power politics, a panel of experts has warned.
According to a report today, the consensus emerged during a session at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) titled ‘The Transitioning World: Implications and Options for Pakistan,’ which gathered prominent former diplomats, academics, and defence specialists. Key contributors included IPS Chairman Khalid Rahman and former foreign secretary Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Chaudhry explained that the world is transitioning from multilateralism to multipolarity, a shift driven by the rise of unilateralism and hyper-nationalism. He noted that the normalisation of pre-emptive military force and the emergence of populist leadership have collectively undermined global stability, leading to widespread insecurity, escalating armed conflicts, and a new arms race.
Participants identified several fault lines shaping the new international landscape, including intensifying great-power competition in the Asia-Pacific, strains in transatlantic relations, evolving Russia-NATO dynamics, and escalating crises in the Middle East. They also highlighted the failure of the global legal framework to ensure equality, alongside the rise of non-conventional tools of coercion, which necessitate a reassessment of Pakistan”s strategic preparedness.
To navigate this volatile environment, the analysts stressed that internal cohesion, governance capacity, and economic resilience are now defining components of national power. They identified political harmony and state-citizen trust as essential prerequisites for effective diplomacy and achieving long-term strategic autonomy for the nation.
On the foreign policy front, speakers recommended that Pakistan continue to diversify its diplomatic options. This includes maintaining steady and transparent relationships with major powers while simultaneously increasing engagement with middle powers and emerging regions such as Oceania, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia to expand its economic and diplomatic footprint.
Acknowledging the changing nature of power, the panel advised that in addition to military strength, Pakistan must vigorously pursue technological advancement and innovation. Empowering the youth and developing indigenous capabilities were cited as crucial for this objective.
Concluding the session, the participants agreed that this period of deep global instability presents both risks and opportunities for Pakistan. Safeguarding the country”s interests will require prudence, strategic clarity, and a careful balance between domestic reforms and external engagement, with strengthened governance, economic consensus, and national unity being paramount.