On Friday, January 30^th, 2026, Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, delivered a lecture on the Foreign Policy of Pakistan to the participants of the 39^th Senior Management Course (SMC) at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Lahore.

Dr. Jaspal observed that states are increasingly moving toward more assertive and aggressive foreign policies. He illustrated this shift through recent and ongoing actions by major powers such as the United States, China, and Russia, as well as by regional actors including India and Israel. He argued that the resurgence of a predatory style of international politics has heightened tensions and increased the risk of state-to-state wars. He noted that current global trends do not support peace or stability, as multipolarity is rising while multilateralism is steadily retreating.

Dr. Jaspal examined competing strategic visions, including President Trump’s emphasis on hegemonic stability and peace through strength, President Xi Jinping’s four interlinked global initiatives, President Vladimir Putin’s concept of Russkiy Mir, and Prime Minister Modi’s articulation of a New Normal.

Dr. Jaspal highlighted South Asia as a focal point of intensifying strategic competition, marked by renewed great power interest, the US Indo-Pacific strategy, and persistent tensions between India and Pakistan. He concluded by outlining the complex dynamics shaping Pakistan’s relations with India, Iran, Afghanistan, the United States, China, and the Middle East.

The session was followed by an extensive Q&A session.