NATURE has once again presented Pakistan with a vital opportunity to establish itself as a nation of strategic, economic and defence importance on both regional and global stages.
This moment aligns with the vision of Allama Iqbal—a Pakistan that stands as a beacon of hope for the Muslim Ummah.
By managing its internal affairs prudently, Pakistan can rise as a key player in global and Islamic leadership.
Over the past decade, the global landscape has changed significantly.
Traditional power dynamics have shifted, with former giants losing influence and new powers emerging.
After the Soviet Union’s collapse in the 1990s, Russia experienced a decline in its global standing.
However, under President Vladimir Putin, Russia began to restore its strength and influence.
Although not fully back to its previous stature, Russia has regained enough momentum to impact global affairs and rival Western powers.
To bolster its position, Russia turned to China for strategic partnership.
This alliance formed naturally due to shared ideologies and mutual adversaries, particularly the capitalist systems of the United States and Europe.
As China and Russia signed defence agreements and aligned politically, Pakistan—already closely allied with China—found itself in a favorable position.
With this alignment, Russia is unlikely to oppose Pakistan, while its ties with India have weakened.
India’s pivot toward the US has strained its historic defence relationship with Russia and the once-dominant supplier of Indian military equipment now sees declining influence.
Recent confrontations between India and Pakistan further exposed India’s lack of firm backing from global powers.
The United States, despite being a strategic partner to India, offered no practical support during the conflict.
In fact, President Trump’s comments during that time caused embarrassment for India.
Meanwhile, no South Asian nation sided with India, which further isolated New Delhi diplomatically.
In contrast, Pakistan demonstrated its military competence and technological edge, proving its capacity to defend itself and showcasing superiority in several key areas.
Its nuclear deterrence remains a formidable component of its defence posture.
With this credibility, Pakistan has the potential to assume leadership among smaller regional countries.
However, complacency is not an option.
The shifting global order requires Pakistan to remain vigilant and proactive.
Strategic foresight calls for deeper cooperation with like-minded nations.
A trilateral defence alliance between Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan is one such strategic imperative.
These nations share religious, cultural and historical bonds and they face similar threats: aggressive neighbours, proxy wars, separatist movements and extremist violence.
Through unity, they can better confront these challenges and shape a collective, secure future.
In conclusion, the evolving global dynamics present Pakistan with a rare chance to redefine its role in the world.
By strengthening alliances, modernizing defence and acting with vision, Pakistan can meet the demands of a changing world and rise as a leader not only in South Asia but in the wider Muslim world
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Faisalabad. (ranazahid4@gmail.com)
