The Information Service Academy, in partnership with the Institute of Regional Studies, convened a strategic dialogue at the ISA Auditorium in Islamabad that brought together senior military officials, diplomats, scholars, policy experts, media representatives and students to examine evolving regional security dynamics and Pakistan’s strategic outlook.
Imrana Wazir, Executive Director General of ISA, opened the session by urging informed and objective discussion amid heightened tensions in South Asia. She highlighted Pakistan’s strategic potential and called for collective intellectual engagement to address emerging regional and global challenges.
The keynote address was delivered by former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General (R) Zubair Mehmood Hayat as Guest of Honour. He drew lessons from recent developments, stressing vigilance, credible deterrence and strategic prudence while observing that India’s strategic assumptions have proved erroneous. He urged a move away from confrontation, warning that sustainable peace depends on robust security preparedness combined with diplomatic realism, and called for abandoning Operation Sindoor in favour of restraint and dialogue.
Senior speakers including former Corps Commander General (R) Khalid Rabbani, former Foreign Secretaries Jauhar Saleem and Aizaz Ahmad, and Dr. Maria Sultan, President of SASSI University, discussed the changing regional landscape. Their remarks covered military preparedness, air power capabilities and the need to couple a calibrated military posture with proactive, effective diplomacy to preserve stability.
An interactive question and answer session saw students from diverse universities pose thoughtful, pertinent questions that enriched the conversation and reflected strong academic engagement. The event was attended by senior government and military officials, diplomats, representatives of civil society and think tanks, and members of the media.
In closing, the Executive Director General summarized the key takeaways and reaffirmed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to navigate future security challenges through strategic foresight and prudent decision-making. She noted this strategic dialogue is the first in a planned series, with similar engagements scheduled over the next six months, and expressed appreciation for the collaboration and support of the Institute of Regional Studies.
