Securing Pakistan's Maritime Future: A Strategic Outlook for the Indian Ocean Region by 2050

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17184389

Abstract

Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has enormous significance in the world due to its strategic, economic, political, and security value. Littoral, regional and extra regional powers have their convergent and divergent interests in the region of Indian Ocean (IO) because the economic interests of the whole world joins the strategic and political interests in this region. Major Powers like USA, China, UK, Australia, France and Russia are increasing their role in the region because their interests are dependent on the economic and geopolitical significance of the Indian Ocean. Existence of major powers and India’s ambitions for regional dominance is increasing weapons and nuclear arms in the region which has maritime vulnerabilities for Pakistan. The rapid changing regional dynamics, increasing role of extra regional forces, new alliances, presence of India with swift intensification of weaponization and nuclearization, climate change and environmental issues in the region of Indian Ocean has many implications for Pakistan. Pakistan’s amazing location in the region of Indian Ocean requires a thorough and deeper reconsideration of its maritime strategies beyond the conventional lens as Pakistan is facing traditional and non-traditional security threats in the region. This research article investigates maritime security vulnerabilities of Pakistan along with opportunities and challenges for Pakistan. This research work is an attempt to secure the maritime future of Pakistan and present a strategic outlook for Pakistan in the Indian Ocean Region by 2050.