Pakistan urged to adjust its geopolitical strategy in multipolar world

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, said experts during a seminar.

This, according to them, demands balanced strategic recalibrations in relations with established and emerging global powers, supported by a comprehensive vision rooted in economic and military resilience and internal cohesion.

The experts said key priorities included decolonising prevailing knowledge systems, crafting an inclusive national narrative and responding to ideological divides and the growing challenges of information warfare.

The seminar titled, “Pakistan in a New Age of Geopolitics,” was organised by the Institute of Policy Studies here. Also, Aneela Shahzad's book titled, “Geopolitics: Frameworks and Dynamics in a Multipolar World,” and published by IPS, was launched, offering insights into challenges and opportunities for fostering balanced ties between nations.

On the occasion, former AJK president and Ambassador 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.

Mr Khan 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, former envoy Naghmana Hashmi reinforced the importance of sincere, unwavering ties with China while maintaining multi-tiered engagement with the US. She emphasised that Pakistan’s deepening partnership with China would come under increasing pressure and must be managed carefully.

Dr Khurram Iqbal of the National Defence University questioned Pakistan’s binary worldview centered on the US-China rivalry and called for policy adjustments that reflected a truly multipolar reality. He noted that alternative global alignments were 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. Former ambassador Abrar Hussain highlighted Pakistan’s geographic advantage for cross-regional connectivity. He said managing the growing US-China rivalry through a delicate strategic balance was crucial for Pakistan’s long-term geopolitical relevance.

IPS chairman Khalid Rahman noted that while the constants of geopolitics remained, the variables were rapidly changing. He warned against narrow strategic thinking and urged bridging the growing divide between public sentiment and elite decision-making.

Dr Adam Saud of the Bahria University pointed to emerging global trends, including the rise of non-state actors, populism, information warfare and shifting economic tools like tariffs and sanctions. These, he said, mark the features of a world in flux that demands fresh analytical frameworks.

Echoing concerns about global realignments, IPS associate Dr Tughral Yamin observed that the West’s retreat from multilateralism and its aggressive policy shifts reflect an attempt to preserve dominance in a multipolar context. He emphasised the need for alternative narratives and alliances rooted in local experiences.