The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad’s India Study Center hosted the launch of SM Hali’s new collection titled Defence and Diplomacy, bringing together policymakers, former service chiefs and scholars to discuss Pakistan’s strategic challenges.
The volume, comprising 12 extensive chapters, offers a comprehensive collection of essays on defence, security, strategic affairs and diplomatic challenges facing Pakistan and the wider region. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors ISSI, highlighted the author’s prolific output over two decades and singled out chapter five for its analysis of India’s defence posture, the rise of Hindutva and the marginalisation of minorities.
Serving as Chief Guest, Senator Nisar A. Memon congratulated the author on his 16th book and described the work as the product of sustained intellectual inquiry. He noted that the relationship between defence and diplomacy is best understood as lived statecraft rather than abstract theory, and said the book’s lessons are timely in light of the recent May 2025 India-Pakistan armed conflict. Senator Nisar also underlined how credible defence capability combined with mature diplomacy shapes a nation’s standing, observing that national security today is increasingly contested across media and borders.
Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director of the India Study Center, emphasised ISSI’s commitment to encouraging thoughtful scholarship and remarked that while articles can be ephemeral, a book endures in academic and policy debates.
The author, Mr. Sultan Mehmood Hali, reflected on his career as a soldier, journalist and defence attaché, describing the collection not merely as a compilation but as a synthesis of lived experience and intellectual engagement. He argued that defence and diplomacy are inseparable and urged responsible narrative building, expressing hope that the book will serve as both a mirror and guide for students and policymakers.
Ambassador Naela Chohan praised the book as a distinctive blend of experience, analysis and narrative skill, noting that Hali has both written about and lived many of the strategic events he discusses. She called for self-introspection and balanced diplomacy to address longstanding regional conflicts.
Dr. Aalia Sohail Khan offered a detailed scholarly appraisal, commending the book’s contribution to indigenous knowledge production and its insider perspective that challenges externally imposed narratives about Pakistan’s security choices.
In his remarks, Guest of Honour Air Chief Marshal (R) Sohail Aman described the work as a lifetime testament to the author’s devotion to the country, stressing the need for historical awareness and strategic literacy among younger generations. Vice Admiral (R) Muhammad Haroon also praised the essays as thought provoking and well researched.
The launch concluded with a formal unveiling, a group photograph and refreshments, as attendees reflected on how Defence and Diplomacy can inform Pakistan’s policy and scholarship going forward.
