Non-Traditional Security Threats and the Reorientation of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in South Asia (2012–2022)

Abstract

This study investigates the transformation of Pakistan’s foreign policy in South Asia between 2012 and 2022, arguing that traditional security frameworks inadequately capture the dynamics shaping its regional engagement. The central research question explores how non-traditional security (NTS) threats including terrorism, economic vulnerability, energy and food insecurity, climate change, and cyber challenges have influenced Pakistan’s diplomatic behavior, and to what extent these threats have reoriented policy priorities. Employing a qualitative research design, the study conducts discourse analysis of official policy documents, foreign office statements, strategic speeches, and regional agreements, supplemented by secondary data from multilateral institutions and global security databases. The analysis reveals that Pakistan’s foreign policy has undergone a partial but significant recalibration: traditional military-centric strategies remain, yet diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, and multilateral normative discourse increasingly reflect the securitization of non-traditional threats. This transformation is evident in shifts in India policy toward de-escalation, adaptive Afghanistan strategies in response to border and refugee dynamics, pursuit of geo-economic initiatives such as CPEC, and enhanced engagement in climate and counterterrorism diplomacy. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the limits of classical realism in explaining foreign policy in contexts dominated by transnational and non-military threats, offering a layered framework that integrates securitization theory with empirical analysis. Practically, the findings underscore the need for integrated security planning, strengthened institutional capacity, and enhanced regional cooperation mechanisms to effectively address evolving security challenges in South Asia.

Keywords: Non-Traditional Security, Securitization Theory, Pakistan Foreign Policy, South Asian Regional Security, Geo-economics and Diplomacy

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18501056