Islamabad – The Centre for afghanistan, Center East and africa (CaMEa) on the institute of Strategic Research (iSSi), in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), hosted a one-day worldwide convention on “pakistan’s Strategic Frontiers: adapting to Evolving Global Trends.” Minister of State for International affairs, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khan, International Secretary of Pakistan, Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, Director Basic iSSi, ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Ms. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA and Dr. niels Hegewisch, Nation director FES spoke within the inaugural session.
The convention was divided into three working classes: Evolving dynamics in afghanistan; Evolving State of affairs within the Center East; and Rising non-Conventional Safety Threats in afghanistan, Central asia & the Center East. Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, in her keynote video deal with, said that pakistan, owing to its geographical location, is positioned it on the middle of evolving world energy dynamics and more and more advanced interaction between conventional and non-traditional overseas coverage actors. She went on to say that globalization, interdependencies of economies and challenges of local weather change and public well being, water, power and meals safety are compelling elements for win-win approaches. Geopolitics continues to affect interstate relations. She added that manipulation of interdependencies for geopolitics runs in opposition to the spirit of win-win cooperation that has been the hallmark of globalization for the final many many years and it’s in opposition to the backdrop of those parallel world traits that pakistan at this time has to outline its curiosity. International Secretary dr. asad Majeed Khan, in his keynote deal with, stated that the worldwide transformations necessitate newer approaches for pakistan. within the up to date worldwide politics, financial interdependencies, funding, commerce, power, connectivity are shapers and drivers of interstate relations. He went on to say that, in parallel, we’re witnessing new geopolitical contestations, competitors for affect, sources and dominance within the area of expertise. pakistan has to navigate comparable competing traits and pakistan’s location additionally retains it on the flashpoint of battle.
He additionally highlighted pakistan’s geo-economic pursuits and said that CpEC is a chance redefining regional connectivity. Polarization and energy projection have solely introduced disaster and the world wants cooperation, and never confrontation. Moreover, he stated that pakistan is dedicated to good relations with its neighbours. dG iSSi ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the flux and uncertainty within the world surroundings. Particularly, he pointed to intensifying great-power competitors, variations and disputes escalating into battle and wars, meals and gasoline crises engulfing states huge and small, a world pandemic manifesting itself in several variants, and a looming existential risk to mankind within the form of local weather change. ambassador Sohail Mahmood underlined {that a} world order marked by cooperative multilateralism, dedication to Un Constitution ideas and worldwide legislation, and strengthening of devices for collaborative motion was important. within the context of pakistan, he said that after lengthy and laborious reflection, it had come to the view that complete safety – that places a premium above all on human safety – was the paradigm that it should observe. it encompasses every thing from meals and well being safety to local weather resilience and water safety to inhabitants and migration in addition to gender safety. “in essence, in the face of emerging global trends as well as all challenges and opportunities, pakistan’s task is clearly cut out: i.e., to manage the complicated geo-politics and accentuate the pivot to geo-economics,” he concluded. Ms. Amina Khan stated that whereas these evolving world traits pose challenges on the identical time and extra importantly, they provide an array of alternatives, each financial and political, for pakistan in addition to the world at massive. Nonetheless, it will rely on how pakistan takes cost and shapes its personal future amidst these varied eventualities. dr. niels Hegewisch from FES said that dialogue is the easiest way to attain lasting peace.
The world since 2021 has witnessed basic and unprecedented adjustments and remains to be altering quickly and international locations have to adapt. He raised warning that there isn’t any remoted place which isn’t affected by the choices taken by international locations miles away.
The First Session titled, “The Evolving dynamics in afghanistan,” was moderated by Ms. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA and the audio system included dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Former afghan Finance Minister; Mr. Graeme Smith, Senior Advisor on afghanistan on the Disaster Group; Mr. Haiyun Ma, affiliate professor Frostburg State College, Maryland; dr. alexander Kornilov, Professor at Lobachevsky State College; and Mr. Rustum Khuramov, Head of Division on the ISRS Uzbekistan. Audio system had been of the view that drastic cuts in worldwide help to afghanistan can have opposed results and it is a essential subject which should be addressed by the worldwide neighborhood. all agreed that the interim authorities should make quick on its commitments, which embrace inclusive governance, guaranteeing the rights of ladies and minorities, and efficient counter terrorism motion, for a peaceable way forward for the nation.
The second session titled, “Evolving Situation in the Middle East” was moderated by ambassador riffat Masood, pakistan’s former ambassador to iran. Audio system of the session included, dr. ambassador ali awad asseri, rasanah Board Member and Former Ambassador of KSA to Pakistan; Dr. Foad Izadi, School of World Research, College of Tehran, iran; dr. Murat aslan, Senior researcher SETa Basis for political, Financial and Social analysis, Turkiye; dr. Flavius Caba Maria, president and director of the political division, Center East political and Financial institute (MEpEi), romania; and Mr. adam weinstein, analysis Fellow on the Quincy institute, washington, dC, US. Audio system stated that the results of the arab Spring have been critical and might nonetheless be seen within the type of dire humanitarian conditions which continues in Yemen, Syria and lebanon. The rising relationship of the Gulf international locations with China is motivated by financial wants, that are spurred by Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030 and different such nationwide rejuvenation plans within the Gulf area.
The motion of the worldwide order in the direction of a multi-polar world, portends many alternatives for pakistan. They agreed that many states within the area proceed to undergo from fragmentation, political weaknesses, along with issues of legitimacy, social and financial safety and warfare. On the position of the US, it was said that the present administration is extra targeted on creating financial ties and partnerships.
The Third session titled, “Emerging non-Traditional Security Threats in afghanistan, Central asia and the Middle East” was moderated by Dr. Ishtiaq ahmed, Member, improvement Communications, planning Fee of pakistan, Authorities of pakistan. Audio system of the session included, dr. daud abdullah, Director, Center East Monitor (UK); Mr. Tameem Bahiss, unbiased analyst specializing in Afghan and Pakistani affairs, dr. Christian wagner, asia Senior Fellow, Stiftung wissenschaft und politik, (Swp) Germany; dr. amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, assistant professor of Economics on the american College in washington, DC; and Dr. Almas Tussipzhanov, Senior knowledgeable of the general public Basis “Center for analysis and Forecasting “Open World”, Kazakhstan. Audio system said that having a tough neighborhood might be a problem for pakistan to deal with its non-traditional safety points.
There’s loads of unemployment throughout the asian area together with pakistan. inhabitants may be double-edged sword. if managed successfully, there are alternatives additionally that states must discover by themselves. inter-state settlement is important to resolve these points and there’s a dire want for steps to cut back tensions amongst states.
The concluding session was moderated by Mr. Hamayoun Khan, Programme advisor, FES pakistan, who was of the view that the convention was very well timed and coated a wide selection of nations that had been pivotal to pakistan. ambassador naela Chohan stated that the convention had a really properly thought-out agenda, analyzing the varied influences on Pakistan’s strategic frontiers and challenges, whereas adapting itself to evolving world traits the place the seek for safety, stability and progress continues to be hampered by battle, warfare, transnational terrorism, financial disaster, rising poverty, inhabitants development and the disastrous influence of local weather change. in his concluding remarks, Chairman of ISSI BoG, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood appreciated the organizers for taking this well timed initiative on an important topic which might undoubtedly help the pakistani policymakers.
