ISSI’s Islamabad Conclave 2025 Concludes with Strong Call for Regional Cooperation, Connectivity and Climate Resilience
Independent Report
Islamabad — The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) successfully concluded the 5th edition of its annual dialogue forum, Islamabad Conclave 2025, centred on the theme “Re-imagining South Asia: Security, Economy, Climate, Connectivity.” Former Foreign Minister Ambassador Inam ul Haque was the Chief Guest at the closing plenary session.
In his concluding presentation, Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted the key takeaways from two days of extensive deliberations. He noted broad consensus among speakers that South Asia continues to suffer from persistent deficits in security, development and regional cooperation—factors that restrict the region’s full potential. The discussions underscored that escalating geopolitical tensions, unresolved disputes and recent crises, including those witnessed in May 2025, reflect the fragility of regional stability.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasised that the Conclave’s core message was the need to shift from confrontation to cooperation, replace zero-sum thinking with win-win approaches, and build institutionalised frameworks for economic integration, connectivity and climate resilience. He reiterated that South Asian countries possess the agency to reshape their regional future, as also stressed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar during the inaugural session.
Delivering his keynote remarks, Ambassador Inam ul Haque praised ISSI for convening a substantive regional dialogue. He offered a wide-angle assessment of the evolving global order driven by shifting geopolitical alignments, technological transformation and emerging economic patterns. He stressed the need for developing countries to cultivate strategic foresight, diversify partnerships and strengthen institutional resilience. Reviewing major-power dynamics, he noted that the future global structure—unipolar, G-2 or multipolar—remains uncertain.
Ambassador Inam ul Haque reaffirmed the enduring importance of Pakistan’s partnership with China, while underscoring the value of maintaining balanced and constructive ties with Western nations and other global partners. Turning to South Asia, he identified limited economic integration, weak connectivity and absence of cooperative security structures as core challenges. He urged the region to prioritise inclusive development, climate resilience and human-centred growth.
He concluded by underlining the urgency of internal consolidation—strengthening the economy, addressing population pressures, revitalising education, improving healthcare and enhancing governance.
Chairman ISSI Board of Governors Ambassador Khalid Mahmood delivered the Vote of Thanks, acknowledging the participation of diplomats, academics, policy practitioners, civil society members and students. He noted that while the old global order is eroding, the new one is yet to stabilise—making thoughtful regional dialogue indispensable.
The Conclave reaffirmed a strong collective call for regional peace, stability and shared development through collaborative, forward-looking approaches.
