PAKISTAN IN THE ERA OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION

Abstract

After the Global War on Terrorism, the world entered a multipolar system of power distribution due to the resurgence of Russia and the rise of China. In this new system, Asia is at the center of the strategic competition between the three great powers. The United States desires allies in the region that are capable of supporting its global strategy; this desire has caused Washington to become increasingly dissatisfied with Islamabad—a historical ally since the Cold War—which has proven unwilling to support the United States in achieving its objectives. This dynamic explains Washington’s current desire to make India its preferred partner in the region. As the United States grows closer with India, the future of the United States’ relationship with Pakistan is becoming unclear. Therefore, Pakistan has searched for more reliable partners, creating uncertainty among experts, who are divided on how Pakistan will be situated among the great powers in this multipolar system. By examining Pakistan’s past behavior during the Cold War (bipolar power distribution), the Global War on Terrorism (unipolar power distribution), and the present situation (multipolar power distribution), this research concludes that Pakistan will most likely balance the great powers against one another to maximize the benefits it receives to meet its own strategic goals.