WORLD politics has now entered an era in which old alignments are rapidly changing. During Cold War, the world was largely divided between two major super powers yet today the landscape is far more complex. The United States is trying to maintain its global dominance, China is emerging as an economic and strategic power, Russia is seeking to reassert its influence, while countries of the Middle East and Gulf are also developing their own independent diplomatic and defense priorities.

In this changing world, a new diplomatic opportunity has emerged for Pakistan. The “Financial Times” in its recent analysis, has described Pakistan as a potential “hinge power” that is, a state capable of playing a role in connecting, balancing and facilitating understanding among different centers of power. Over the past few years, Pakistan has sought to advance its........

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