THE global order is undergoing a profound transition.

Intensifying great-power competition, persistent instability in the Middle East and shifting security dynamics in South Asia have placed Pakistan’s foreign policy at a critical juncture. In an era defined more by fluid alignments than rigid blocs, Pakistan’s ability to maintain strategic balance, credibility and clarity has emerged as both a necessity and a source of strength. This approach is not new; its intellectual foundations lie in the country’s founding vision. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned a foreign policy anchored in sovereign equality, principled independence and constructive engagement. He advocated relations based on mutual respect rather than subordination to any power bloc. This emphasis on restraint, dignity and autonomy continues to shape Pakistan’s diplomatic identity in today’s complex world.

In the early decades after independence, this vision was carried forward and refined by a distinguished generation of diplomats. Sir Zafarullah Khan earned international respect through his principled and legally precise advocacy at the United Nations. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto injected a more assertive and confident posture into Pakistan’s global conduct, although his legacy remains contested due to the events of 1971. The sophisticated and balanced diplomacy of Sahibzada Yaqub Ali Khan, combined with the........

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