Pakistan’s Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) celebrated its 52nd anniversary with a high-profile event attended by top officials, diplomats, and scholars. The occasion featured a significant foreign policy address by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who emphasized Pakistan’s strategic priorities amid a rapidly changing global landscape. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, international law, and proactive diplomacy, while highlighting the importance of think-tanks like ISSI in shaping policy.
In his keynote speech, Dar underscored the significance of Pakistan’s evolving foreign policy in a multipolar world characterized by shifting power dynamics. He praised ISSI’s role in fostering research-based policy formulation and strengthening Pakistan’s strategic outreach. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted ongoing regional issues, including Pakistan’s response to recent India-Pakistan escalations, dismissing Indian attempts to politicize the Indus Waters Treaty and warning against water weaponization. He reiterated Pakistan’s stance on resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions and the Kashmiri people’s will.
Addressing broader international concerns, Dar condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, expressed support for Palestinian self-determination, and called for adherence to international law. He also addressed tensions in the Iran-Israel context, noting the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel, and emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of Middle Eastern conflicts through dialogue. The Foreign Minister lauded regional trilateral initiatives involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Bangladesh, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to geo-economics, multilateralism, and its active role in the UN Security Council. He concluded by reaffirming the Foreign Office’s continued partnership with ISSI and congratulating the institute on its anniversary.
Earlier in the event, ISSI Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted Pakistan’s unified response to external threats and emphasized the importance of a fact-based national narrative on the global stage. He called for continued vigilance and proactive diplomacy to seize regional and international opportunities. Ambassador Mahmood also reviewed ISSI’s achievements over the past year, including organizing numerous events, publishing over 180 policy briefs, and contributing scholarly research on key issues such as global power shifts, regional conflicts, and technological advancements. He announced the launch of five new publications and reaffirmed ISSI’s role as a vital bridge between research and policy.
The event showcased ISSI’s recent publications, which covered topics ranging from Pakistan-China relations, the Kashmir question, emerging technologies, transnational terrorism, and Pakistan-Russia relations. The institute also presented its biannual journal “Strategic Studies” and the annual report for 2024, highlighting its ongoing contribution to strategic analysis and policy discourse.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of a commemorative shield to the Deputy Prime Minister by ISSI’s Chairman of the Board of Governors, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, and a cake-cutting celebration, marking over five decades of ISSI’s service to Pakistan’s strategic community and its role as a key think-tank in shaping foreign policy.
