ISLAMABAD (TNS) Pakistan is committed to a secure and prosperous future for the region.
Strategic alignment reflects Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to creating a secure, integrated, and cooperative regional order, based on shared security interests and regional solidarity. The Regional Chiefs of Defense Staff Conference hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad was attended by top military officials from the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The ISPR statement said that the Regional Chiefs of Defense Staff Conference was organized in Islamabad under the theme ‘Strong Connectivity, Secure Peace’.
In his address, Field Marshal Asim Munir reiterated the commitment to peace, stability and playing a constructive role in the region and said that strategic dialogue and mutual trust are important in the context of the challenges faced. The objectives of the conference include better measures, promotion of cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Field Marshal Asim Munir has said that Pakistan is committed to a safe and prosperous future for the region. There is an urgent need for mutual military cooperation in the face of global threats and complex hybrid challenges. The aim of the Regional Chiefs of Defense Staff Conference is to strengthen mutual cooperation. The high-level dialogue covered in-depth discussions on regional security situation, changing strategic context in Central and South Asia, joint training initiatives, cooperation in counter-terrorism and coordinated humanitarian response during crises. The participating delegations reaffirmed their commitment to collectively address common threats such as peace, respect, protection of national sovereignty, terrorism, cybersecurity threats and violent extremism. The participants appreciated Pakistan’s leadership, hospitality and initiative to promote defense diplomacy.Since the Indo-Pak war of 2025, the Indian Foreign Minister, Home Minister and other ministers have been making threatening statements against Pakistan every day, saying that India can take military action against Pakistan again at any time. India sent several delegations to the US, UK and some European countries to present its negative narrative against Pakistan and gain global support. However, Indian efforts have been unsuccessful because the Indian delegation that visited Western countries could not present any solid evidence against Pakistan. It could not even provide evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam area of occupied Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan offered to cooperate in an independent and impartial international investigation into the incident, but India ignored this offer and continued negative propaganda against Pakistan. India had launched missile attacks on various civilian targets in Pakistan on the night of May 7, using the Pahalgam incident as an excuse.
India had not only suffered defeat in the May war but also had to bear the shame of international diplomacy. India’s diplomatic efforts after the war also affected its relations with the United States. India made major mistakes regarding the war, namely that Indian military and civilian circles and its semi-official defense experts were under the misconception that India would paralyze Pakistan’s defense system in a day or two due to its traditional military superiority. According to them, India’s superiority in manpower, weapons, air force and navy would paralyze Pakistan’s defense system to such an extent. However, this naive confidence of India failed miserably in the four-day war of May because Pakistan activated its modern air defense system after the Indian attacks on May 7. Pakistan, using professionalism, service commitment and modern technology, not only thwarted the Indian air strikes between May 7 and 10, but also effectively thwarted the Indian attack with the help of Chinese-made J10-C, JF-17 Thunder aircraft built under the Pak-China joint venture, modern missiles, drones (Chinese, Turkish and Pakistani-made), radar and satellite communication systems and cyber technology. Pakistan targeted Indian military bases from Kashmir to the Indian state of Gujarat, some of which were severely damaged, even the Russian-made S-400 defense system was affected. Pakistan claimed to have shot down six Indian aircraft, including three French-made Rafale aircraft. All this was a severe blow to those Indian defense circles who were never willing to acknowledge Pakistan’s military prowess and its development of modern defense technology. India’s mistake was that it refused to acknowledge the fact that American diplomacy, especially the personal interest of President Donald Trump, brought about a ceasefire between Pakistan and India on the evening of May 10. The Indian government was unable to admit that India accepted the ceasefire on the mediation of the United States. Despite this fact being recognized worldwide, India’s refusal caused a rift in US-India relations. On the contrary, Pakistan appreciated the efforts of President Trump and his team and asked the US to play its diplomatic role and use its influence to negotiate on all the disputed issues between India and Pakistan. However, India rejected the US offer and said that it did not want US mediation in the issues with Pakistan. India’s mistake was that it refused to listen to the international advice for peaceful negotiations to resolve the issues with Pakistan. The international community was afraid of the possibility of a full-scale conventional war between the two nuclear states because this war could also turn into a terrible nuclear conflict. But India is not ready to talk to Pakistan on any issue. India’s announcement of unilaterally suspending the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 has also caused further tension between the two countries. According to international law and the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty, India cannot unilaterally suspend this treaty. International water and legal experts also support Pakistan’s position that India cannot take this step. This stubbornness of India has also caused it diplomatic damage at the global level.It should be remembered that in the past, Pakistan’s closeness to the Middle East grew on the basis of religious, cultural and geographical reasons. Our successful defense capabilities played a key role in bringing Pakistan closer to the Arabs, because even in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the brilliant performance of the Pakistani forces, especially the Pakistan Air Force, had attracted the attention of the Arabs. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important countries in the Middle East, which is a close ally of Pakistan. Historically, military relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were established in the sixties. In the past, whenever the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia was threatened, Pakistan stepped forward and provided defense cooperation in every difficult time. Even today, countless military services are being rendered. The armies of both countries regularly participate in joint military exercises. Pakistan also has the honor of appointing a former Pakistani army chief to head the Islamic Military Alliance for Counter-Terrorism established under the auspices of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan also enjoys the status of a major naval power in the Arabian Sea, and Pakistani ships regularly visit the ports of various Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman. In this regard, the aforementioned countries have also signed defense agreements with Pakistan based on military training, defense cooperation, and joint exercises. Pakistan organizes training courses to improve the professional skills of the military officers and soldiers of these countries, and most of their defense needs are met through Pakistan. The recent border tension between Pakistan and India was not limited to fighter jets alone, but Pakistan shocked the world by demonstrating its advanced capabilities in electronic warfare, drone neutralization and airspace monitoring. The news of the downing of the French-made Rafale aircraft, which was considered invincible, also managed to become part of the top headlines in the Arab media of the Middle East. This is why Pakistan’s successful defense strategy has improved our military reputation in the eyes of the Middle Eastern countries. The Gulf countries are looking at Pakistan as a country that has professional capabilities in modern drone warfare, air defense and cyber security. The recent Indo-Pak war has provided Pakistan with a golden opportunity to make rapid progress in the field of defense diplomacy in the conflict-ridden region. Thanks to its strong defense capability, Pakistan can not only ensure the security of its national borders, but its existence is also indispensable for the regional security of the Middle East.
