In the realm of South Asia’s strategic stability, diplomatic efforts are facing significant challenges, according to Lt Gen (retd) Mazhar Jamil, an adviser to the National Command Authority and former chief of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). During the seventh “Training of the Trainers” workshop, hosted by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) in Islamabad, he emphasized that the decline of traditional arms control frameworks and the increasing reliance on hard power and new technologies pose serious risks.
Gen Jamil pointed out that the regional strategic landscape is growing more complex due to ongoing threat perceptions, unresolved conflicts like the Kashmir dispute, and India’s military posturing. He noted that these factors are contributing to persistent security tensions within the region. “Strategic stability cannot exist independently of the political realities that underlie it,” he stated, warning that India’s aggressive military strategies in a nuclear context present unacceptable risks.
Concerns Over Nuclear Dynamics
Reflecting on the past, Gen Jamil referred to the events of May 2025, highlighting the critical fact that nuclear-armed nations have no room for warfare. He reiterated the importance of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent, its conventional military capabilities, and the nation’s resilience in ensuring that potential aggressors cannot achieve their military or political aims through force. He also mentioned the principle of Quid Pro Quo Plus as a key element of Pakistan’s strategic posture.
In a related discussion, Maj Gen (retd) Syed Shahab Shahid, who leads Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs at the SPD, raised concerns about the global arms control and disarmament framework facing mounting difficulties. He advocated for a balanced, fair, and non-discriminatory approach to address the legitimate security needs of all nations, emphasizing that ongoing modernization and diversification of nuclear arsenals in the region are reshaping strategic dynamics.
Strategies for Stability
Gen Shahid cautioned that selective enforcement of non-proliferation norms could erode confidence in existing international security structures. He highlighted the necessity of adopting a consistent and inclusive strategy aimed at enhancing strategic stability, mitigating risks, and promoting effective arms control and non-proliferation initiatives. The officials underscored that the rise of disruptive technologies and an increasing dependence on hard power are complicating efforts to avert conflict and reduce risks in South Asia.
The workshop gathered a diverse group of participants, including senior academics from various universities, think-tank professionals, foreign policy analysts, and diplomats. Its purpose was to bolster understanding of modern strategic issues while equipping trainers and scholars to engage in informed discussions about strategic stability, nuclear deterrence, arms control, and non-proliferation.
Pakistan’s Role on the Global Stage
In the opening remarks, CISS Executive Director Amb Ali Sarwar Naqvi reviewed Pakistan’s strategic environment, discussing the evolution of its regional significance and the challenges it faces. He emphasized the country’s commitment to regional stability and the need for effective strategic responses to the increasingly intricate security landscape.
In his keynote address, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed asserted that Pakistan is establishing itself as a credible middle power in the shifting international order. He noted that the nation’s capacity to mediate, engage with other states, and forge partnerships in a fragmented global context signifies its growing strategic importance.
