On Tuesday, 30^th April, 2024, Amb. (R) Tasnim Aslam, former Special Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the lecture-discussion on “Pakistan’s Foreign Policy towards the Middle East”, to the participants of the 35^th SMC.

During the lecture discussion, Ambassador (R) Tasnim explored the historical perspective of Pakistan’s relationship with the Middle East through three distinct phases since independence. She discussed the first phase of strategic alliances from 1947 to 1970, the second phase of economic alliances and prosperity driven by the influx of Pakistani expatriates in the Gulf region from 1971 to 1989, and the third phase, which began with the end of the Soviet war and the rise of sectarian rifts between Iran and Saudi Arabia after 1989. She elaborated on the changing socio- political realities in the Middle East and enlightened participants about the emerging scenarios from political and economic perspectives.