PLACE AND ROLE OF PAKISTAN IN GLOBAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS

Abstract

The global dynamics are rapidly changing owing to compounded, augmented and complexed security issues, assymetric conflicts, economic challenges overlapping issues of sovereignty and territorial integrities and socio-economic implications of these threats. At the core of this transitory phase lies the shift of power from the West to Asia. These realities have zoomed in the geoeconomics and the twenty first century is being drawn on this as the twentieth century belonged to the geopolitics. This fundamental transition is elevating the strategic significance of Pakistan, the "Zipper State", connecting the Eurasian Vision and a clipping state for Belt and Road Initiative. The primary factor of US to compete China and the former determining Russia a malign factor intensifies the bidding to have maximum influence in this region. India, has become a natural and potential choice of priority for the US. India's new found position in the Indo Pacific as the US Net Security Provider, it's foundational agreements with the US for huge logistic, intelligence and military systems cooperation renders it a valuable partner for the West to contain China and Russia. The emerging nexus of US-India-Israel in the Indian Ocean is clearly a bid to encircle China and Russia in which Pakistan elevates to be the front line or the first target, or if tapped and incentivized adequately, to be a defense. Russia's prudent Eurasian Vision and International North South Trade Corridor is a win-win project to engage Iran and India. Yet the former's natural inclination towards the the US and the latter's highly limited options due to Arab-Israel nexus in the Strait of Hormuz post Abraham Accords may pose a challenge to the practicality of these connectivity visions. The growing requirements of regional connectivity align China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey naturally for the mutual and regional security and prosperity. The most significant point in this regional connectivity is the Gwadar Port having huge potential of catering to regional trade, connectivity and aligning with other regional trade routes with much better security prospects. Russia, an important global actor and regional player, and Pakistan have the suitable prospects to leverage Pakistan's magnified role in global politics for practical gains, can jointly play a better counter game.