In the dynamic theater of international politics, foreign policy is never static. It adapts to shifting alliances, regional instability, domestic priorities, and global transformations. Pakistan’s foreign policy, long dominated by a binary dependence on Western powers and a close alignment with China, is undergoing a subtle yet significant transformation. This recalibration marks a move toward strategic diversification, economic diplomacy, and regional balancing, reflecting both necessity and opportunity.

For much of its post-independence history, Pakistan’s foreign policy was shaped by its security concerns—particularly its rivalry with India and its need for economic and military assistance. During the Cold War, Pakistan aligned itself with the West, becoming a key U.S. ally in SEATO and CENTO. While this alignment yielded military aid, it also drew Pakistan into American conflicts such as the Afghan jihad in the 1980s and the War on Terror after 9/11. Yet this partnership often lacked strategic depth, as Washington’s interest in Islamabad remained transactional and cyclical.

In contrast, Pakistan’s relationship with China emerged as a more consistent axis. Over decades, the two countries forged deep military, diplomatic, and now economic ties, crystallized by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. China remains Pakistan’s largest arms supplier, a major investor in infrastructure, and a crucial........

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