PRESS Release
CSP-South Asia Program, Stimson Centre Institutional Dialogue
March 15, 2021
The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) held a virtual institutional dialogue with the South Asia Program at Stimson Centre. Director General ISSI, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry introduced the participants from the Stimson Centre about the working and structure of ISSI which was followed by a brief introduction of the South Asia Program at Stimson Centre by Mr. Sameer Lalwani, Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program. DG ISSI pointed out that a lot of discussion inside Pakistan today revolves around understanding the Indo-Pacific strategy and its application and relevance to South Asia. Similarly, major power competition is another area of great interest in Pakistan and the US increasing tilt towards India has emboldened it to undertake ventures and adventures of concern to Pakistan. Mr. Lalwani pointed out that it is not the US intention to push the strategic environment of today in a zero-sum world. The orientation of the QUAD is not to divide the world into certain camps, but rather to augment the international economic order. He further stated that while the atmosphere of relations between the US and China is competitive, it still has cooperative elements and could be non-conflictual. Common areas of interest and specific theme-oriented dialogues relevant to the strategic stability of the region were identified for future discussion between the institutes.
