Great-power rivalry is intensifying from the Middle East to East Asia. For Pakistan, survival is no longer enough—economic strength must anchor its foreign policy.

Pakistan has rarely had the luxury of sitting out great-power rivalries. From the Cold War to the War on Terror, and now amid rising competition between major powers, it has often found itself at the intersection of global struggles. Geography put it there. Nuclear weapons cemented their relevance. Economic fragility has kept it exposed to pressure.

The escalation of conflict in the Middle East between the United States, Israel, and Iran has once again underscored how quickly regional crises can reshape the global strategic landscape. For countries like Pakistan situated at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia, such upheavals are not distant events. They shape the strategic environment directly.

The question today is not whether Pakistan knows how to balance great powers. History shows that it does. The real question is whether that balancing act still works in a world increasingly divided into rival camps.

Inside Pakistan’s policy circles, survival is often treated as success. Despite sanctions and international pressure, the country preserved its nuclear deterrent. It avoided full-scale war with India after the 1999 Kargil conflict. It deepened ties with China without completely severing links with Washington. It tapped financial support from Gulf states when needed.

In a volatile region, mere survival can look like achievement.

But survival is not a strategy. It is the starting line.

For decades, Pakistan’s foreign policy has been defined primarily by security concerns. Hard power mattered—and still does. Nuclear weapons reshaped the balance with India and ensured that no major power could ignore Pakistan’s role in South Asia. Even amid domestic instability, the state maintained a relatively consistent external posture.

In narrow security terms, Pakistan has acted with discipline and realism. The problem is that the world no longer rewards countries simply for staying afloat. It rewards those who convert geopolitical relevance into........

© The Friday Times