ISA–IRS Launch First Strategic Dialogue
Islamabad : Information Service Academy (ISA), in collaboration with the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, organized a strategic dialogue titled “India’s Aggression and Pakistan’s Strategic Response: Contemplating the Future Course of Action” at the ISA Auditorium, Islamabad. The event brought together senior military officials, diplomats, scholars, policy experts, media representatives, and students to deliberate on evolving regional security dynamics and Pakistan’s strategic outlook.
In her opening remarks, Imrana Wazir, Executive Director General, ISA, welcomed the distinguished participants and underscored the importance of informed and objective discourse amid heightened tensions in South Asia. She highlighted Pakistan’s strategic potential and emphasized the need for collective intellectual engagement to effectively address emerging regional and global challenges.
The dialogue featured a keynote address by former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General (R) Zubair Mehmood Hayat, who attended as the Guest of Honour. He shared strategic lessons drawn from recent regional developments, stressing the importance of vigilance, credible deterrence, and strategic prudence. He noted that sustainable peace must be underpinned by robust security preparedness and observed that “India’s strategic assumptions have proved erroneous.” He further opined that India failed to impose a so-called “new normal” and emphasized the need for India to abandon Operation Sindoor and shift towards diplomacy, realism, and restraint.
Other distinguished speakers included former Corps Commander General (R) Khalid Rabbani, former Foreign Secretaries Mr. Jauhar Saleem and Mr. Aizaz Ahmad, and President SASSI University, Dr. Maria Sultan. The panelists shared valuable insights on regional stability, military preparedness, air power capabilities, and diplomatic engagement. They highlighted the changing regional landscape and emphasized the importance of maintaining a calibrated military posture complemented by proactive and effective diplomacy.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed, during which students from various universities posed thoughtful and pertinent questions to the panel, enriching the discussion and reflecting strong academic engagement with the subject.
The dialogue concluded with closing remarks by the Executive Director General, who 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 that this was the first dialogue in a planned series and that similar engagements would be held over the next six months on other relevant and timely topics. She also expressed appreciation for the collaboration and support of the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in making the event successful.
The dialogue was well attended by senior government and military officials, diplomats, representatives from civil society, think tanks, and the media. The active participation of students from diverse universities added depth and vitality to the session, making it both engaging and productive.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
