Diplomacy, new war technology vital to deter India, say experts

ISLAMABAD: Academicians, diplomats, military and war experts at a gathering emphasised importance of diplomacy and adoption of new war technologies to deter security threats posed by increasingly belligerent and aggressive India. The conference ‘Strategic Stability, Emerging Threats and Role of Diplomacy’ was organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in connection with Youm-i-Takbeer falling on May 28. The meeting was attended by Quaid-e-Azam University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Numl professor Dr Rizwana Abbasi. While discussing the role of diplomacy, Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal highlighted that diplomatic engagement remains essential for maintaining strategic stability in South Asia. He noted that Pakistan has played a significant diplomatic role in managing regional crises, including efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire, but stressed that sustained dialogue between India and Pakistan is even more important for regional peace. He observed that the deadlock in bilateral engagement has prevented confidence-building measures from maturing and has created a serious gap in arms control and strategic stability. He further noted that we are witnessing a transformation in India’s military doctrine, with a growing focus on escalation dominance. Chairman Board of Governors, ISSI Khalid Mahmood, in his welcome remarks, stated that Pakistan’s nuclear capability was shaped by its security imperatives and the need to restore strategic balance in South Asia. He emphasised that Pakistan had adopted the nuclear course reluctantly, only after India’s nuclear tests created an existential challenge and pushed the region toward overt nuclearisation. Pakistan’s response, he noted, was guided by legitimate security concerns in the face of an increasingly belligerent and aggressive India. Dr Rizwana Abbasi, Professor at the Department of International Relations, NUML highlighted that strategic stability in South Asia is becoming increasingly frag