The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad will host its annual flagship Dialogue Forum, the Islamabad Conclave, on 3-4 December 2025. Marking its fifth edition, the Conclave this year takes the theme Re-imagining South Asia focusing on security, economy, climate and connectivity.
The Islamabad Conclave has matured into a prominent Track 1.5 forum that brings together senior Pakistani leaders, leading academics, practitioners and international area experts. The event provides a forum to assess regional and global trends, weigh their implications for Pakistan and develop forward-looking policy options that respond to geopolitical flux, economic uncertainty, climate vulnerability and connectivity gaps.
South Asia sits at a critical crossroads as the unipolar moment recedes and multipolarity intensifies major-power competition and regional fragilities. Longstanding disputes, nuclear risks, transnational terrorism, climate-induced disasters and limited economic integration continue to limit the region’s potential. The Conclave will examine the regional security order amid evolving multipolarity, emerging strategic security challenges, transnational terrorism and its regional ramifications, the intersection of economy and climate change, and pathways for regional connectivity and collective growth.
Following an inaugural plenary, each of these sub-themes will be explored in separate working sessions featuring distinguished speakers from Pakistan and abroad, combining academic insight with practical policy experience. A concluding plenary will synthesise the discussions and propose actionable recommendations relevant to Pakistan’s strategic priorities.
Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood said, “This year’s Conclave would be richer in scope, depth, and level of participation.” He added that renowned scholars and thought leaders would discuss how South Asia can navigate complex challenges and seize opportunities to build a future of hope, progress and prosperity. “Essentially, this is an exercise in thinking together — re-imaging South Asia in the key realms of security, economy, climate, and connectivity,” he concluded.
Building on last year’s focus on Pakistan and the evolving global order, the fifth Islamabad Conclave aims to expand the Forum’s intellectual and policy footprint by offering nuanced analysis and practical strategies. Through sustained dialogue, the Conclave intends to support Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives and promote cooperative regional solutions that foster a more stable and prosperous South Asia.
