A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party and former Foreign Minister, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari , held a focused interaction at International Institute of Strategic Studies, one of the world’s premier think tanks on defence and security.

The session, moderated by Desmond Bowen, Associate Fellow for South and Central Asian Defence, Strategy and Diplomacy at International Institute of Strategic Studies, brought together a distinguished audience of policymakers, academics, strategic analysts, and media professionals.

During the engagement, the delegation apprised the participants of the recent escalation in South Asia, voicing serious concern over India’s unprovoked military strikes that resulted in civilian casualties and posed a significant threat to regional peace and stability. They underscored that these strikes constituted a blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, international law, and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. It was emphasized that Pakistan, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, exercised its inherent right to self-defence through a measured and proportionate response, intended to demonstrate its legitimate right, firm resolve, and capability to safeguard its territory and protect its people.

In his remarks, Mr. Bilawal strongly denounced India’s unilateral and illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, terming it a flagrant breach of international obligations and a direct threat to the water security of over 240 million Pakistanis. He noted that the weaponisation of water undermines international norms and sets a perilous precedent. He urged the international community to take notice of this alarming development and make India accountable for its actions.

Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the core issue in India-Pakistan relations. The delegation urged the international community to support meaningful dialogue and ensure respect for international commitments and human rights. Pakistan always advocated for constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue for resolutions all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

The delegation also engaged in a candid Q&A session, responding to a range of queries from participants, addressing concerns related to regional tensions, Pakistan’s diplomatic approach, and its broader vision for peace, stability, and cooperation in South Asia.

The other members of the delegation included: Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Masood Malik ; Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and former Minister for Information and Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman ; Chairperson, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar ; former Minister for Commerce, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan ; MQM’s Parliamentary Leader in the Senate and former Minister for Maritime Affairs, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari ; and Senator Bushra Anjum Butt , Former Foreign Secretaries, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani , who also served as Caretaker Foreign Minister, and Ambassador Tehmina Janjua .

London
09 June 2025

Paris (Imran Y. CHOUDHRY) :- Former Press Secretary to the President, Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France, Former MD, SRBC Mr. Qamar Bashir analysis : While the West devastated Afghanistan through decades of war, drone strikes, and foreign occupation, China took a different path—quiet, strategic, and respectful. As American troops dropped bombs and NATO scrambled for exits, China was building something far more enduring: relationships, trust, and long-term partnerships—not with governments or factions, but with the people themselves.
China never intervened in internal conflicts. It didn’t back one militia over another or try to redesign Afghanistan in its own image. Instead, it reached out to Afghan farmers, miners, traders, and workers—those who hold the real stake in a nation’s future. China didn’t issue ultimatums or demand allegiance. It offered trade, development, investment, and a shared vision rooted in mutual benefit. While others saw Afghanistan as a battlefield, China saw it as a bridge. And now, that vision is taking form.
On May 21, 2025, a landmark “informal” meeting in Beijing brought together the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. More than handshakes and smiles, it marked a strategic turning point: the decision to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan. A decision that could not only reshape the region, but offer Afghanistan a real shot at peace—on Afghan terms.
CPEC, the flagship of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has already transformed Pakistan with highways, ports, power plants, and rail links. Now, Afghanistan joins this evolving network—not as a dependent state, but as a vital partner. This is not just about infrastructure; it’s about integration. Roads will link not only cities, but economies. Corridors will connect not only markets, but destinies.
Importantly, the emphasis is not just on “hard” connectivity—rails, roads, ports—but also on “soft” connectivity: harmonizing regulations, easing trade, facilitating the movement of people, and respecting local customs and social structures. It’s a nuanced, sophisticated model. One that does not demand political alignment but offers economic alignment.
And within this spirit of integration, other dormant regional initiatives are regaining momentum—CASA-1000, TAPI, the Trans-Afghan Railway—each poised to support energy sharing, trade expansion, and regional mobility.
What sets China apart is its commitment to letting Afghanistan rebuild itself—on its own cultural, social, and religious terms. There is no political engineering. No social or cultural meddling. China is not offering a model to impose; it is offering a hand to uplift. And that matters in a land long scarred by foreign interference.
This new economic vision will allow Afghanistan to thrive the Afghan way. Under the guidance of its traditions, shaped by the values of its people, and led by the social fabric rooted in the Pashtunwali code, Afghanistan can now envision a future that is both modern and authentic.
In the same meeting, the three nations also addressed regional peace and stability with clarity and resolve. They jointly emphasized that no group or actor—whether Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM)—would be allowed to use their territories to threaten regional security.
But this was not a military statement. It was a reaffirmation that true security is a product of stability and opportunity, not surveillance and subjugation. And for the first time in years, regional players are aligning not around ideology, but around infrastructure, integration, and mutual interest.
The commitment to non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs—a principle stressed by all three parties—further highlights the maturity of this partnership. Where others tried to rule, this alliance seeks to support.
This development also sends a gentle but clear message to powers like the United States, the broader West, and even India: peace is not built through pressure or presence—it is earned through partnership.
India, in particular, is watching this shift with unease. Having long opposed CPEC due to its passage through Pakistan-administered Kashmir, New Delhi now sees its regional influence challenged by a deepening China-Afghanistan-Pakistan axis. Its strategic projects like Chabahar Port and regional outreach to Central Asia now face real competition.
But perhaps this is also a moment for reflection. What has military intervention achieved that peaceful development cannot exceed? What has isolation created that connectivity cannot heal?
Afghanistan, long viewed as a crossroads of conflict, is now being prepared to become a corridor of cooperation. With CPEC stretching into its heartlands, Afghan traders will gain access to global markets. Afghan workers will have new employment prospects. Afghan youth will see schools grow, roads built, and hope return.
This transformation won’t happen overnight—but it is no longer a fantasy. With $40–50 billion in projected regional investments, trade volume expected to multiply, and transit routes expanding across borders, Afghanistan is poised to become a pivot—linking South Asia to Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
China’s approach isn’t just strategic—it is profoundly human. It understands that the way to build peace is to help people live with dignity. To give them something to lose—and thus, something to protect. And that’s exactly how China transformed Xinjiang—by investing in education, skills, industries, and livelihoods. Now, the same model is being softly replicated in Afghanistan.
With China’s integrated, respectful, and win-win approach, a new Afghanistan is within reach—one where terrorism fades into irrelevance, schools thrive, trade routes flourish, and airports once again welcome the world. Roads of international standard will connect the country to the region. Its corridors will pulse with economic life. Its cities will hum with opportunity.
And most importantly, this prosperity will belong to Afghans. It will be shaped by their traditions, guided by their values, lived according to their social norms, and honored through their timeless Pashtunwali code. No foreign model will be imposed. No social fabric will be rewritten. No cultural identity will be challenged.
This is not a distant hope. It is a near and unfolding reality. Under China’s guidance and with regional cooperation, Afghanistan is no longer the world’s forgotten battlefield. It is becoming its new bridge—linking civilizations, reviving ancient trade routes, and lighting a path toward shared peace and prosperity.

Paris (Imran Y. CHOUDHRY) :- Former Press Secretary to the President, Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France, Former MD, SRBC Mr. Qamar Bashir analysis : Beyond its economic diversification and ambitious infrastructure projects, Saudi Arabia’s meteoric rise as a global powerhouse is increasingly evident through its dynamic diplomacy, international alliances, and calculated geopolitical maneuvers. At the helm of this strategic transformation is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), whose bold foreign policy vision has redefined the Kingdom’s global posture. Through direct engagement with world leaders, targeted investments, and calculated geopolitical decisions, MBS has transformed Saudi Arabia into a key international actor whose influence now extends far beyond the Gulf region. In February 2025, MBS hosted a trilateral summit in Riyadh with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani form “Gulf-Eurasia Strategic Forum,” a diplomatic initiative focused on defense, energy, and trade coordination across the Middle East and Central Asia—signaling a shift in regional diplomacy led by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic relations have undergone a tectonic shift under MBS’s stewardship, notably through high-profile bilateral agreements with global powers. A hallmark of this strategy has been forming economic and political alliances that enhance both regional security and global influence. The Kingdom has strategically positioned itself as a reliable partner to major powers, ensuring its voice carries weight in matters of international policy. In March 2024, Saudi Arabia signed a comprehensive defense and technology cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom. This included a $12 billion joint venture to develop military drones and cybersecurity systems, alongside intelligence-sharing protocols, cementing Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a tech-savvy security partner.
The Kingdom’s financial clout also plays a central role in its rising global stature. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is increasingly being used as a tool of international diplomacy. With multi-billion-dollar investments in key sectors of partner countries, the Kingdom is influencing the flow of capital and technology on a global scale, enhancing both its financial reach and diplomatic leverage. In January 2025, PIF committed $18 billion to renewable energy and semiconductor manufacturing projects in India including a joint solar energy research center and marks a deepening of India-Saudi economic ties in high-growth sectors.
MBS’s personal diplomacy is perhaps one of the most visible markers of Saudi Arabia’s strategic shift. Unlike previous rulers, MBS takes an active role in shaping foreign policy through direct and personal engagement with world leaders. These one-on-one meetings often result in significant bilateral or multilateral agreements that would otherwise require prolonged negotiations. In April 2024, MBS made a surprise visit to Beijing, where he personally negotiated a trilateral energy corridor agreement between Saudi Arabia, China, and Kazakhstan. The deal will facilitate the export of Saudi crude and hydrogen to Central Asia via a newly proposed pipeline route, aligning energy diplomacy with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts in conflict mediation have also elevated its diplomatic prestige on the global stage. MBS has strategically positioned the Kingdom as a neutral and trusted interlocutor in international disputes, extending Saudi Arabia’s influence beyond the Middle East and into global conflict resolution. On March 24, 2025, Saudi Arabia hosted groundbreaking peace talks in Riyadh between Russia and the United States, aimed at advancing a roadmap for ending the Ukraine conflict. While a full agreement remains elusive, Riyadh’s neutral hosting and shuttle diplomacy have earned global recognition, reflecting MBS’s growing clout as a mediator between great powers.
Geopolitically, Saudi Arabia has taken an assertive stance under MBS’s leadership. The Kingdom has evolved from a reactive foreign policy approach to one marked by strategic initiative, particularly in regional conflicts and power balances. While this shift has drawn mixed international reactions, it undeniably signifies Saudi Arabia’s intent to lead rather than follow in regional affairs. In June 2024, Saudi Arabia brokered a ceasefire between Sudanese government forces and rebel militias after weeks of civil unrest in Khartoum.
One of the boldest moves by MBS in recent years has been recalibrating Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Israel. Previously unimaginable, these diplomatic engagements have introduced a new dynamic into Middle Eastern politics, challenging decades-old narratives and alliances. The approach balances normalization efforts with continued support for Palestinian statehood—carefully managing both international and domestic expectations. In October 2024, Saudi Arabia allowed direct Hajj flights from Tel Aviv to Jeddah for the first time, enabling over 5,000 Israeli Muslims to attend the pilgrimage. While official diplomatic recognition remains pending, this practical cooperation reflects a significant warming of relations.
Saudi Arabia has also aligned itself with key global initiatives on climate action and sustainability. Recognizing the urgency of environmental challenges, the Kingdom has adopted an approach that integrates its economic goals with international environmental responsibilities. These efforts aim to reframe the Kingdom’s image from a fossil-fuel state to a clean energy innovator. At COP29 in Dubai in December 2024, Saudi Arabia pledged $10 billion to a newly launched “Green Hydrogen for the Global South” fund. This fund, co-sponsored with Germany and Japan, aims to support green hydrogen projects in Africa and Southeast Asia and represents a major shift in Saudi Arabia’s international climate leadership.
Cultural diplomacy has become another key pillar in MBS’s international strategy. Through strategic investments in global entertainment and sports, Saudi Arabia is not just opening itself to the world—but also exporting its image abroad. These efforts serve both soft power ambitions and economic goals related to tourism and global branding. In February 2025, Saudi Arabia signed a multi-year hosting deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), bringing major international MMA events to Riyadh and Jeddah.
Lastly, energy remains a crucial instrument of Saudi Arabia’s global influence. While the Kingdom pursues diversification, it continues to leverage its dominance in oil production to shape global markets. Through OPEC+ leadership, Riyadh ensures that its decisions reverberate across global inflation rates, industrial costs, and national budgets worldwide. In January 2025, Saudi Arabia led an OPEC+ decision to maintain oil production cuts, keeping Brent crude prices above $90 per barrel amid global economic uncertainty.
Under MBS’s vision, Saudi Arabia’s global emergence is not an accidental byproduct of wealth but a carefully executed strategy rooted in diplomacy, financial acumen, environmental foresight, and cultural projection. Every foreign engagement, investment decision, or diplomatic maneuver underlines a deeper ambition—to redefine Saudi Arabia as not just a participant in the international system but a rule-setter in it.