ISLAMABAD, MAY 6 /DNA/ – The May 2025 conflict fundamentally altered the regional balance of power in South Asia by reasserting Pakistan’s credible conventional and strategic deterrence against India. This provided Pakistan with an opportunity to capitalize on this strategic momentum through economic resilience and proactive diplomacy in an increasingly polarized global order, in which two trends are emerging among nations: building national strength and collaborating with like-minded countries.
This was discussed during a session titled “Reassessing Global Order Post-May 2025 Pakistan-India War” at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), which brought together diplomats, strategic experts, security analysts, and academics to deliberate on the regional and global implications of the conflict. The speakers included Amb (r) Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former foreign secretary; Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS; Amb (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice-chairman IPS; Farzana Yaqoob, former minister, AJK; Dr. Khuram Iqbal, associate professor, QAU; Brig (r) Said Nazir, security analyst; Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, executive director, CISS AJK; Dr. Waleed Rasool; executive director, IDDDS; and Zohaib Altaf, researcher at CISS AJK.
In his keynote address, Amb (r) Aizaz Ahmad observed that the events of May 2025 significantly reshaped the regional strategic calculus and enhanced Pakistan’s diplomatic and military confidence. He noted that the conflict demonstrated Pakistan’s ability to effectively employ a combination of conventional deterrence, diplomatic outreach, cyber capabilities, and information warfare in response to Indian aggression.
He highlighted that India attempted to establish a “new normal” by linking any terrorist incident in India or Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to Pakistan. However, Pakistan’s calibrated response during Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos challenged this doctrine and reinforced the credibility of Pakistan’s deterrence posture. Nevertheless, he warned that chances of future misadventures by the Indian government for domestic political consumption should not be ruled out.
Amb Aizaz also pointed out four key arenas of competition where geopolitical rivalries are intensifying and shaping the global order. These include the US-China strategic competition, emerging Middle Eastern alliances amid US-Iran tensions, South Asian security dynamics, and growing divergence between Europe and the US.
Furthermore, the discussants emphasized that the region had increasingly moved toward a unipolar regional order dominated by India; however, developments following the conflict indicated the emergence of a more balanced and competitive regional environment. Thus, India’s long-standing aspiration to project itself as an uncontested regional power had encountered significant resistance.
Several speakers warned that despite the current pause in hostilities, tensions between Pakistan and India remain fragile. They cautioned that political considerations within India could lead to future provocations or escalatory behavior. They also stressed that Pakistan should continue to maintain preparedness against conventional, cyber, and hybrid threats.
Furthermore, speakers reiterated that the Kashmir conflict had once again brought international attention to the unresolved dispute. They expressed concerns regarding restrictions on freedom of expression, demographic changes, digital surveillance, and cultural marginalization in IIOJK. Similarly, the Middle East situation also received attention during the deliberations, with speakers pointing toward increasing instability and changing alignments in the region.
In light of these, participants underlined that Pakistan must capitalize on the strategic opportunities emerging from the changing global order by strengthening its economy, pursuing structural reforms, diversifying trade partnerships, and deepening regional connectivity. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of economic resilience, technological advancement, and diplomatic engagement as essential pillars of national power. Likewise, experts stressed the need for Pakistan to strategically utilize critical minerals and artificial intelligence by strengthening cooperation with strategic partners in these sectors.
Concluding the session, Khalid Rahman noted that Pakistan’s May 2025 achievement has created a feel-good factor among the public, underscoring the need to sustain this positive momentum. He added that the world is a chessboard, and every move carries broader implications, requiring policymakers to adopt an interdependent and comprehensive approach.
