ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Adviser to the National Command Authority and former director general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) Lt Gen (retd) Mazhar Jamil has warned that the erosion of traditional arms-control frameworks, shrinking space for diplomacy and growing reliance on hard power and emerging technologies are creating new challenges to strategic stability in South Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at the seventh edition of the \u201cTraining of the Trainers\u201d workshop on strategic matters organised by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad, Gen Jamil said the global and regional strategic environment was becoming increasingly complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said persistent threat perceptions, unresolved disputes such as Kashmir and India\u2019s military posturing had contributed to continuing security tensions in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStrategic stability cannot be separated from the underlying political realities,\u201d he said, cautioning that Indian military adventurism and hegemonic approaches in a nuclearised South Asia carried unacceptable risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referring to the experience of May 2025, Gen Jamil stressed that there was no space for war between two nuclear-armed states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also highlighted Pakistan\u2019s nuclear deterrence, conventional capabilities, national resilience and cohesive response framework, including the principle of Quid Pro Quo Plus, saying these were aimed at ensuring that no aggressor could achieve its political or military objectives through force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier, Maj Gen (retd) Syed Shahab Shahid, director general of Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs at the SPD, said the global arms-control, disarmament and non-proliferation architecture was facing growing challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called for a balanced, equitable and non-discriminatory approach that took into account the legitimate security concerns of all states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gen Shahid said the continued modernisation and diversification of nuclear and strategic capabilities, alongside emerging developments in South Asia, were reshaping the strategic environment and creating new challenges to strategic stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He warned that the selective application of non-proliferation norms and security arrangements could undermine confidence in the existing international security architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed the need for a consistent and inclusive approach to strengthening strategic stability, reducing risks and advancing meaningful arms-control and non-proliferation objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The officials also pointed to disruptive technologies and growing reliance on hard power as factors complicating efforts to reduce risks and prevent conflict in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshop brought together senior professors and academics from universities across Pakistan, along with think-tank professionals, foreign policy experts and diplomats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It aimed to strengthen understanding of contemporary strategic issues and develop the capacity of academics and trainers to contribute to informed discourse on strategic stability, nuclear deterrence, arms control and non-proliferation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his opening remarks, CISS Executive Director Amb Ali Sarwar Naqvi reflected on Pakistan\u2019s strategic environment, tracing the evolution of its regional relevance and the opportunities and challenges shaping its security landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He highlighted Pakistan\u2019s role as a diplomatic actor and its stated commitment to regional stability, while underscoring the importance of effective strategic responses to an increasingly complex security environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his keynote address, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said Pakistan was emerging as a credible middle power in the evolving international order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said Pakistan\u2019s ability to mediate, engage and build partnerships in an increasingly fragmented world reflected the country\u2019s \u201cgrowing strategic weight\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Adviser to the National Command Authority and former director general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) Lt Gen (retd) Mazhar Jamil has warned that the erosion of traditional arms-control frameworks, shrinking space for diplomacy and growing reliance on hard power and emerging technologies are creating new challenges to strategic stability in South Asia. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":133376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n