The timely session followed a recent escalation in military tensions and examined both the challenges posed by the region’s evolving security dynamics and the pathways toward sustainable peace. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Attaullah Tarar, served as the Chief Guest, while General (r) Zubair Mahmood Hayat, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, joined as Guest of Honor.
Minister Tarar emphasized Pakistan’s enduring commitment to peace based on reciprocity, highlighting the nation's readiness to defend itself if provoked. He referenced Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos as a testament to Pakistan’s resolve and reiterated the importance of resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which he described as a pressing international concern.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS; Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Vice Chancellor of BNU and former National Security Adviser; and Ambassador Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Director of the Beaconhouse Center for Policy Research. Their insights focused on the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident and its implications for regional security.
The dialogue featured a distinguished roster of participants including Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, former Defence and Foreign Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, and former National Security Adviser Lt. Gen (r) Nasser Khan Janjua. Also in attendance were Admiral (r) Asif Sandila, Air Marshal (r) Saeed Muhammad Khan, and senior diplomats Amb. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and Amb. Ali Sarwar Naqvi. Strategic and academic voices such as Dr. Maria Sultan (SASSI) and Dr. Huma Baqai (MITE) added critical perspectives to the roundtable.
Participants collectively stressed the urgency of de-escalation and resumption of constructive diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan. The session concluded with a consensus on the need for ongoing policy dialogues and academic partnerships to cultivate peace and prevent future conflict in South Asia.
