Walking the Tightrope: Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Options in a Multipolar World

The rising multipolarity has intensified great power competition, making it difficult for states like Pakistan to pursue their national interests.

This pushed Pakistan towards its regional neighbors, Russia and China. Islamabad and Beijing have always enjoyed cordial ties since China’s independence. Their mutual rivalry with India further cemented this relationship. However, Pakistan-Russia relations have a bitter background. Due to Islamabad’s alignment with the US bloc during the Cold War, the two sides had limited formal relations. This alignment positioned Pakistan as a regional rival of the Soviet Union. However, in the past two decades, the two sides have attempted to enhance their bilateral relations.

From Unipolar Hegemony to a Multipolar Reality

The United States emerged as the sole global power from the Cold War, making the international system unipolar. However, this unipolar period was brief as China soon emerged as a strong global economic and military power. Russia’s resurgence as a significant global power with the turn of the 21st century also marked the rise of a multipolar world order. In addition, the world........

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