The Information Service Academy, in partnership with the Institute of Regional Studies, convened a strategic dialogue in Islamabad to examine India’s recent actions and Pakistan’s strategic response. The session gathered senior military leaders, diplomats, policy experts, media representatives and students to assess regional security dynamics and outline policy options.
Imrana Wazir, Executive Director General of the Information Service Academy, opened the proceedings by calling for informed and objective discussion amid heightened tensions in South Asia. She stressed Pakistan’s strategic potential and urged collective intellectual engagement to meet emerging regional and global challenges.
The keynote address was delivered by former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General (R) Zubair Mehmood Hayat, who attended as Guest of Honour. Drawing on recent developments, he highlighted the need for vigilance, credible deterrence and strategic prudence. He argued that India’s strategic assumptions had been flawed and urged a shift away from coercive measures such as Operation Sindoor toward diplomacy, realism and restraint.
Contributions from other senior figures enriched the strategic dialogue. Former Corps Commander General (R) Khalid Rabbani discussed military preparedness and air power capabilities, while former Foreign Secretaries Jauhar Saleem and Aizaz Ahmad examined diplomatic options and regional stability. Dr Maria Sultan, President of SASSI University, offered perspectives on the broader implications for Pakistan’s strategic posture and intellectual engagement.
The event featured an interactive question and answer session that highlighted strong academic interest. Students from multiple universities posed thoughtful questions that deepened the discussion and reflected active civil society engagement with defence and foreign policy issues.
In her closing remarks, the Executive Director General recapped the session’s key takeaways and expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to navigate future challenges through strategic foresight and prudent decision-making. She noted that this strategic dialogue is the first in a planned series, with additional sessions to be held over the coming six months on related topics.
The dialogue was well attended by senior government and military officials, diplomats, representatives of think tanks and the media. The organisers said the collaboration between ISA and IRS underlined the importance of sustained policy debate, and that continued public-private engagement would be essential to shape Pakistan’s strategic outlook.
