ISLAMABAD
\nDuring a lecture at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, former caretaker Prime Minister and Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar called for an independent, pragmatic, and development focused foreign policy as Pakistan navigates an increasingly multipolar international order.
\nHe emphasized that strategic autonomy, balanced partnerships, and constructive regional engagement should remain central to Pakistan\u2019s external relations.
\nSenator Kakar placed Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy within its broader historical and civilizational context, noting that the country\u2019s collective memory reflects diverse cultural, linguistic, political, and religious influences.
\nHe stressed that understanding this heritage is essential to developing a confident and nuanced national identity and defining Pakistan\u2019s role in the international system. He also underscored the importance of presenting Pakistan\u2019s history and contemporary experience through informed, credible, and balanced narratives.
\nSpeaking on the evolving global order, Senator Kakar observed that the international system is becoming increasingly multipolar, with Asia assuming greater strategic significance. He highlighted the growing role of technology\u2014including artificial intelligence, data, and advanced military technologies\u2014in shaping national power, security, strategic competition, and international relations.
\nHe urged Pakistan to adapt its strategic thinking and institutional capabilities to these emerging realities. Senator Kakar described Pakistan as a middle power with considerable potential to strengthen its international standing through strategic autonomy and balanced engagement.
\nWhile underscoring the importance of Pakistan-China relations, he called for deeper and more meaningful engagement with Iran, Afghanistan, and the Gulf states. He stressed that regional partnerships should not be viewed as exclusive alignments and that foreign policy choices must ultimately be guided by national interests and the welfare of the Pakistani people.
\nHe further emphasized that regional growth, connectivity, and economic integration require an environment in which states can pursue national development without hegemonic pressure. In this context, he advocated a realistic and responsible approach towards Afghanistan, with particular attention to sovereignty, reciprocal security concerns, and the use of Afghan territory by non-state actors against Pakistan. Addressing Pakistan\u2019s relations with Iran and the Gulf region, Senator Kakar highlighted Islamabad\u2019s capacity to maintain meaningful partnerships while preserving its strategic independence.
\nHe observed that Pakistan could contribute to dialogue and mediation in regional conflicts where appropriate, provided such initiatives remained consistent with national interests and Pakistan\u2019s assessment of regional dynamics.
\nAmbassador Jauhar Saleem, President IRS, in his remarks, welcomed Senator Kakar\u2019s assessment of the evolving international environment and highlighted Pakistan\u2019s recent diplomatic achievements in navigating the Iran-US conflict and broader tensions in the Middle East. He noted that Pakistan\u2019s constructive diplomatic engagement, including its role in facilitating dialogue and de-escalation, demonstrated the value of a balanced, credible, and interest-driven foreign policy.
\nAmbassador Saleem also highlighted the significance of the Makkah Agreement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and T\u00fcrkiye as an important expression of regional solidarity, cooperation, and collective commitment to peace and stability. He stressed that these diplomatic gains must be consolidated through a persistent, consistent, and forward-looking approach.
\nConcluding his remarks, he underscored the role of think tanks in facilitating informed debate and contributing policy perspectives on Pakistan\u2019s evolving regional and global choices. An extensive question-and-answer session followed, providing participants an opportunity to engage Senator Kakar on Afghanistan, Iran, regional mediation, technological transformation, emerging security challenges, and Pakistan\u2019s strategic choices in a changing international environment.
\nThe session concluded with an emphasis on forward-looking strategic thinking, independent foreign policy decisions, and stronger regional engagement. The event reaffirmed the Institute of Regional Studies\u2019 commitment to fostering informed and substantive dialogue on Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy, regional security, technological transformation, and the evolving international order.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD During a lecture at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, former caretaker Prime Minister and Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar called for an independent, pragmatic, and development focused foreign policy as Pakistan navigates an increasingly multipolar international order. He emphasized that strategic autonomy, balanced partnerships, and constructive regional engagement should remain central to Pakistan\u2019s external […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":563643,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-563616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n