In the world we find ourselves in, the international system increasingly demands certainty. Not clarity of purpose, but clarity of alignment. States are expected to signal loyalty loudly and often. Thus, foreign policy is no longer judged by outcomes or coherence, but by proximity to power. Those who refuse to declare allegiance are quickly labelled ambiguous. Those who engage broadly are accused of hedging. Pakistan, by choosing strategic autonomy over rigid alignment, has found itself subjected to precisely this framing.

Yet this interpretation misses the point entirely.

Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupts, spewing ash up to 1,600 meters

Pakistan’s contemporary foreign policy reflects not indecision, but evolution. It marks a departure from alignment-driven diplomacy toward a more measured, interest-based approach consistent with middle-power statecraft. In an era of shifting centres of influence and economic uncertainty, this posture is not only rational, it is sustainable.

Historically, Pakistan’s external engagements were often shaped by necessity rather than choice. Strategic partnerships brought short-term leverage, but they also narrowed diplomatic space and constrained policy flexibility. Over time, the costs of over-dependence became evident. Policy cycles were tied to external........

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