The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad will host its annual flagship Dialogue Forum, the Islamabad Conclave, on 3-4 December 2025 as the event marks its fifth edition focusing on reimagining South Asia across security, economy, climate and connectivity.
The Islamabad Conclave has evolved into a premier Track 1.5 initiative that brings together senior members of Pakistan’s leadership alongside eminent scholars, practitioners and area experts from within the country and abroad. The forum aims to provide a space to assess regional and global developments, weigh their implications for Pakistan and recommend practical policy pathways.
Organisers say the Conclave is convening at a critical juncture as the receding unipolar moment and the rise of multi-polarity intensify major-power competition and regional fragilities. Long-standing disputes, nuclear dynamics, transnational terrorism, climate-induced disasters and low economic integration are among the challenges the Islamabad Conclave seeks to address under sub-themes that examine the regional security order amid evolving multi-polarity, emerging strategic security challenges, transnational terrorism, economy and climate change, and regional connectivity through multilateral pathways.
The event will open with an inaugural plenary and proceed to dedicated working sessions where distinguished speakers from Pakistan and abroad will explore each sub-theme with academic depth and policy relevance. A concluding plenary will consolidate the central insights and recommendations arising from the deliberations and highlight actionable strategies for Pakistan and the region.
Director General ISSI, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, said the fifth edition would be richer in scope, depth and participation, noting that renowned academics and thought leaders will share perspectives on how South Asia can navigate contemporary challenges and find opportunities for progress. He described the Conclave as an exercise in thinking together to reimagine South Asia in the key realms of security, economy, climate and connectivity.
The Islamabad Conclave, which in 2024 focused on Pakistan and the evolving global order, aims to build on its growing legacy by offering nuanced analyses and policy recommendations that contribute to a more stable, connected and prosperous South Asia. Through this platform, ISSI remains committed to promoting dialogue, advancing Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives and supporting cooperative regional solutions.
