The competition between the region’s big India, China, and Pakistan have long been the defining motif of the strategic dynamics of South Asia. Beyond conventional military, economic, or political spheres, this triangular relationship involves space exploration. In our 21st century, space acts as a new frontier for exercising national power, technological prowess and geopolitical influence. The growing regional space race is dominated by India and China, whose space programs have quickened the pace and technology application, and who are seeking supremacy in space based technologies, scientific discoveries, and the international scene.

India has greatly contributed to the world tide of innovative and cost effective space missions as part of its space program through the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) which was recognized internationally for Chandrayaan lunar missions and the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan). Beyond recognising how these milestones represent India’s scientific capabilities, they assume a role in the overarching desire of India to place itself at the forefront of space exploration, actively participating in furthering regional and global scientific achievements. However, China through the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has been pushing ahead with its space efforts, accomplishing landmark achievements — crewed space missions, lunar explorations, and its own space station — Tiangong. China’s long term vision is to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars which further enhance China’s role as a space superpower.

The escalating competition is not only scientific curiosity but has strategic objectives, national security, economic development, and regional influence. India and China not only use space technology for military use – communication, surveillance, resource management – but their rivalry has a widespread impact on the wider South Asian region.

Despite starting its space program early in 1961 with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Pakistan trails its regional competitors. Limited by political instability, economic constraints, and technological dependencies, Pakistan’s space program since the mid 1960s has focused primarily on communication, remote sensing, and strategic applications. Then the intensifying space race between India, and China has forced Pakistan to rethink its space policy, and realizes the need to go on acquiring indigenous space capabilities to ensure national security and aid in economic development.

With India and China investing billions into space technology, Pakistan now finds itself at a crossroads, as it attempts to maneuver in an increasingly important domain. Pakistan’s evolving policies and partnerships in this evolving space landscape are challenged and opportunist. Pakistan is trying to line up, as much as possible, with China, partly to balance India’s growing space capabilities, and partly to look for ways to develop its own technological base. The competitive dynamics between India and China in space are addressed by the author to evaluate their direct and indirect impact on Pakistan’s changing space policies. Moreover, he also examines the........

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