History occasionally presents nations with moments that redefine their destiny. Such moments are rare and fleeting. They reward countries that possess the wisdom to recognise them, the confidence to seize them, and the institutions to transform opportunity into enduring national strength. Pakistan stands today at precisely such a historic juncture. As the international system undergoes its most profound transformation since the end of the Cold War, the country’s foremost strategic challenge is no longer merely to safeguard its sovereignty but to attain strategic autonomy—the capacity to pursue an independent foreign policy rooted in internal national strength rather than shaped by external dependence.

More than two millennia ago, Thucydides observed that “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” The observation continues to resonate because international politics remains profoundly influenced by disparities in national power. Yet history........

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