ISLAMABAD: Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) began its 2nd annual international conference, ‘Regional Dialogue 2023.’ Three-day event was inaugurated by President Dr Arif Alvi. Main theme of conference this year is Contemporary Traditional and Nontraditional Security Threats in South Asia encompassing pertinent issues such as great power competition, significance of maritime domination and democratic values. On nontraditional challenges, conference brought together academics, politicians, practitioners and diplomats from home and abroad to deliberate upon issues of climate change, population, health, energy shortages, food security and emerging challenge of cybersecurity.

Dr Arif Alvi lauding initiative by IRS said that it was high time for world to redirect world order on trajectory that prioritised quality of human life at its core. Dr Moeed Yusuf, former National Security Adviser said that there was serious need of attention to oversee equitable distribution of available resources. He said that in case of Pakistan it was imperative to ensure uniformity between the centre and provinces. A starting point in this regard could be to empower institutions such as Council of Common Interest, he said.

Ambassador Asif Durrani, senior research fellow at IPRI said that while regionalism was still rather new construct, there was need to strengthen regional linkages for better collective future of countries in South Asia. He added CPEC could serve as starting point in this regard and could also serve as South and Central Asian Transit Hub. First day of Regional Dialogue 2023 featured several academics from Pakistan and abroad, including Dr Arshi Saleem Hashmi, Dr Ahmed Ijaz Malik, Dr Christian Wagner and Dr Yelena Biberman.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 19 2023

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