In a recent podcast at NHS Media, Dr Qamar Cheema talked about the evolving landscape of global defense cooperation. He highlighted the pivotal absence of certain nations from critical multilateral platforms like ASEAN. His insights shed light on the imperative for strategic recalibration and active participation to shape regional defense alliances.
Key Points
- Pakistan’s absence from influential multilateral defense platforms like ASEAN contrasts with India’s active engagement across Central and Southeast Asia, raising concerns about Pakistan’s global relevance in shaping regional defense dialogues.
- Leveraging its formidable army and historical ties to the Indo-Pacific, Pakistan holds the potential to contribute significantly to cybersecurity, peacekeeping, and humanitarian aid, strategically positioned due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea.
- Pakistan’s limited engagement in international organizations necessitates a diplomatic overhaul. Initiating bilateral relations and learning from successful global diplomatic strategies are crucial for Pakistan to secure a meaningful position amidst the evolving dynamics of global defense cooperation.
In recent diplomatic dialogues between the US and India, India’s Foreign Minister Rajnath Singh attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Minister Conference in Indonesia. This prompts an exploration of Pakistan’s engagements in multilateral defense cooperation and its international involvement. While India’s extensive engagements, spanning from Central Asia to Southeast Asia, signify its deepening ties and strategic implications, Pakistan’s position in such global defense networks comes under scrutiny due to its absence in key platforms like ASEAN.
Dr. Cheema stated that the ASEAN region boasts an elaborate defense cooperation mechanism, encompassing almost every nation in the region, either as a member or dialogue partner. Pakistan’s absence in such influential multilateral forums raises questions about its participation and contributions to global defense initiatives.
He discussed that Pakistan has one of the world’s largest and most formidable armies. Pakistan possesses the potential to contribute significantly to cybersecurity, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian aid. Its historical connection to the Indo-Pacific region through past territorial associations and its proximity to the Arabian Sea could strategically position Pakistan in this evolving geopolitical sphere.
India’s emphasis on navigation rights and trade routes underscores the importance of international waters in global supply chains. The region’s anticipated future prominence intensifies the significance of strategic footholds in the Indo-Pacific for countries like India, raising questions about Pakistan’s potential role in such crucial global corridors.
Dr Cheema talked about India’s active defense exports and technology acquisitions from the Western world, coupled with collaborations with powerful nations like the US, indicating its intentions to play a significant role in regional conflicts. However, the pace and approach of India’s engagements in conflicts involving China pose challenges to its reliability as a security partner in such situations.
He showed concerns on Pakistan’s absence from international organizations and limited proactive engagement with the world highlighting the need for a strategic overhaul in its foreign policy. Initiating bilateral relations with other nations and learning from emerging countries’ diplomatic strategies could potentially strengthen Pakistan’s global footprint.
At the end he concluded the discussion saying that in the context of India’s expanding global engagements and alliances, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture requiring proactive and strategic interaction with the international community. Adopting lessons from successful diplomatic strategies and recalibrating its foreign policy approach becomes essential for Pakistan to secure a meaningful position in the evolving dynamics of global defense cooperation.
