A Turning Point in South Asian Diplomacy

In a region long plagued by frozen diplomacy and escalating tensions, Pakistan’s renewed call for engagement marks a pivotal shift in South Asian geopolitics. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent remarks during the trilateral summit in Lachin, alongside Turkiye and Azerbaijan, were more than diplomatic pleasantries — they were a calculated move, a direct signal to India, and a declaration of Pakistan’s strategic clarity.

Pakistan’s intent is clear: dialogue is not a concession but a calculated choice. The message is not masked in ambiguity — Islamabad is open to a serious, structured conversation that includes the issue of Kashmir. This is not a departure from longstanding positions; it is a reaffirmation that silence, isolation, and stagnation are no longer viable options for regional stability.

Post-2019 Stalemate: A Region in Diplomatic Paralysis

The year 2019 marked a turning point in India-Pakistan relations, with the unilateral revocation of Article 370 by India and the resultant diplomatic fallout. Pakistan retaliated by suspending bilateral trade and downgrading diplomatic ties. Since then, both countries have remained entrenched in rhetorical posturing and minimal engagement, while the wider South Asian region continues to bear the brunt of disintegration.

The collapse of cross-border trade, especially via the Wagah-Attari corridor, has been particularly detrimental. Cities like Sialkot and Faisalabad, once modest beneficiaries of limited trade, now find themselves cut off from valuable markets. These were not just numbers on a balance sheet; they represented jobs, growth, and economic interdependence.

South Asia’s Trade Deficit: A Structural Weakness

Intra-regional trade in South Asia stands at a dismal less than 5% of total trade volume — a shocking figure when compared to over 30% in Southeast Asia. This glaring disparity is not a technical oversight; it is a symptom of political inertia. The costs of this disengagement are real and growing: inflated prices, missed investments, and limited regional resilience.

This economic self-isolation does not just hurt Pakistan or India. It stifles the potential of an entire region with a combined population of nearly two billion. Pakistan’s position is firm — it does not expect India to compromise its national security, just as it will not compromise on the rights of Kashmiris. But between the extremes of hostility and normalization, a spectrum of cooperation exists.

Strategic Recalibration: Pakistan Diversifies Its Alliances

While diplomatic overtures are extended to India, Pakistan is not idly waiting. Instead, it is actively restructuring its foreign relations, moving decisively towards multi-vector diplomacy. The Lachin summit with Turkiye and Azerbaijan symbolized this shift. The $2 billion investment pledge from Azerbaijan underscores Pakistan’s appeal as a destination for energy, infrastructure, and defense sector growth.

This summit was no mere photo opportunity. Turkiye’s involvement — through defense manufacturing partnerships, energy cooperation, and trade logistics — points to the emergence of a strategic triangle, built not on geography but shared vision and pragmatic cooperation.

Expanding Horizons: Strengthening Pakistan-Iran Relations

Simultaneously, Pakistan is reinforcing ties with its western neighbor, Iran. Recent agreements to scale up bilateral trade to $10 billion, reopen key border markets, and launch joint security patrols signify a growing pragmatic alliance. This evolving partnership, long underutilized, reflects an understanding of geographic destiny and mutual economic need.

Far from posturing, these initiatives are delivering tangible outcomes. Pakistan is gradually building economic and strategic leverage beyond its eastern frontier — ensuring it is not diplomatically cornered, but rather dynamically positioned in the evolving global order.

Kashmir at the Core: Dialogue Rooted in Principle

Prime Minister Sharif’s stance on Kashmir remains unequivocal. Any meaningful engagement with India must address this issue. It is not a political demand, but a moral imperative, anchored in international legitimacy and humanitarian concern. Yet, Pakistan is not framing this as a precondition, but a component of a structured peace framework.

Such clarity allows room for issue-specific collaboration: trade, environment, health, and people-to-people exchanges can function as entry points. They do not undermine core political disputes but offer a scaffold for rebuilding trust.

The Case for Economic Revival Through Trade

Trade is not just an economic tool — it is a confidence-building mechanism. Restarting limited trade can ease supply bottlenecks, counter inflationary pressures, and support struggling micro-economies on both sides. Particularly in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, where both nations have complementary strengths, cooperation can save lives and build goodwill.

People-to-people engagement, including academic exchanges, tourism, and sports diplomacy, also has untapped potential. Generations are growing up with no lived experience of peaceful bilateral relations. This cultural vacuum feeds hostility. Engagement — however minimal — can counter this.

India’s Crossroads: A Regional Giant’s Global Ambition

As the largest economy in South Asia, India has a unique responsibility. Its aspirations for global leadership and permanent UNSC membership ring hollow if it remains disengaged from its own region. Great powers do not retreat; they shape the terms of engagement.

The opportunity is not infinite. Pakistan is asserting that regional peace cannot be postponed indefinitely. The new generation of South Asians deserves a future built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect — not inherited hostility.

Conclusion: A Strategic Window Is Open

Pakistan has made its move — clear, confident, and calculated. It is ready for dialogue rooted in reality, not rhetoric. It is building alliances, securing investments, and preparing for a multipolar future. The question now is whether India will reciprocate.

A stable South Asia is not only possible but essential — for economic prosperity, strategic autonomy, and regional dignity. The current deadlock is not a result of irreconcilable differences, but of receding political imagination.

Engagement is no longer a diplomatic luxury. It is an economic necessity and a moral duty. Pakistan is not asking for favors. It is offering a chance — a strategic pause to recalibrate, reconnect, and rebuild. Whether India responds will shape not just bilateral ties, but the trajectory of an entire region.