Islamabad, January 29, 2026: The contemporary global order is undergoing a profound rupture marked by the erosion of rule-based multilateralism, the rise of unilateral power politics, and the fragmentation of international norms—developments that pose serious strategic, economic, and societal challenges for countries such as Pakistan.
These observations were shared during a session at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, titled “The Transitioning World: Implications and Options for Pakistan.” The discussion brought together former diplomats, academics, and experts in defense and economics to assess the shifting global landscape and its implications for Pakistan.
Participants noted that what was long described as a “rules-based order” often functioned as an instrument of powerful states against weaker ones. The selective application of international law, growing instability, and intensifying great-power rivalry were identified as defining features of the current global environment.
The session featured Khalid Rahman, Chairman IPS; Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former foreign secretary; Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi; Ambassador Moin ul Haque; Ambassador Masood Khalid; Lt Gen (r) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, former federal minister for national security; Maj Gen (r) Raza Muhammad, former high commissioner to Mauritius; Brig (r) Said Nazir, defense analyst; Prof Dr Shabana Fayyaz, head of the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies, QAU; Prof Dr Amna Mahmood, head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, IIUI; Dr Khuram Iqbal, associate professor, QAU; Dr Saira Nawaz Abbasi, senior assistant professor, Bahria University; and Dr Shehryar Khan, executive director, NDF.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said that the emergence of multiple centers of power has pushed the world from multilateralism toward multipolarity. He identified unilateralism and hyper-nationalism as key drivers of this transition, noting that the normalization of pre-emptive use of force outside multilateral frameworks and the rise of populist leadership have undermined global stability. This shift, he added, has resulted in growing insecurity, reflected in rising armed conflicts and accelerated arms accumulation worldwide.
Speakers highlighted several fault lines shaping the evolving global order, including intensifying major-power competition—particularly in the Asia-Pacific—making Asia the primary theater of strategic rivalry. Instability in transatlantic relations, evolving Russia-NATO dynamics, and escalating crises in the Middle East were also cited as factors contributing to systemic global instability. Participants further noted that the failure of the global legal framework to ensure equality and transparency represents a broader crisis of global governance, while traditional conflict patterns are increasingly supplemented by non-conventional tools of coercion.
In this context, speakers emphasized the need for Pakistan to reassess its strategic preparedness and continue diversifying its foreign policy options. While geopolitics remain important, they stressed that internal cohesion, governance capacity, and economic resilience are becoming critical components of national power. Political harmony, societal stability, and trust between the state and citizens were identified as essential foundations for effective diplomacy and long-term strategic autonomy.
The discussion also underscored the importance of maintaining steady and transparent relations with major powers, while expanding engagement with middle powers and emerging regions, particularly in Oceania, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia, to broaden Pakistan’s diplomatic and economic choices. Participants further emphasized that, alongside military strength, Pakistan must invest in technological advancement and innovation, empower its youth, and develop indigenous capabilities to adapt to the changing nature of power in the 21st century.
Concluding the session, participants agreed that Pakistan is entering a period of deep global instability that presents both risks and opportunities. They stressed that navigating this environment will require strategic clarity, prudence, and a careful balance between domestic reforms and external engagement. Strengthening governance and negotiation capacity, building economic consensus, and fostering national unity were identified as key steps to safeguarding Pakistan’s interests in an increasingly fragmented world.
