KU moot highlights geopolitical importance of Central Asia for economic sustainability

The Department of History of the University of Karachi and The Institute of Central and West Asian Studies (ICWAS) organized an international conference on ‘Central Asia in the Changing World’ at the KU’s Jinnah Auditorium of the Dr. A.Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering on Tuesday.

Renowned historian Professor Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed said that Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have acquired a renewed importance in regional and international politics in the last three and half decades. After the liquidation of the former Soviet Union, these states, along with certain others, acquired independence, and renegotiated their affairs among themselves and with the rest of the world.

He mentioned that Pakistan has had a long history of relations first as part of the Indian subcontinent and later as an independent country in the region of Central Asia. Unfortunately, these historical ties were identified mainly as the incidence and outcome of the invasions of the subcontinent during medieval times.

The honorary secretary of the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs Professor Dr Tanveer Khalid, shared that Central Asia is viewed as a credible of geopolitics where rival great powers compete for influence. In a world where a shift from uni-polarity to multi-polarity is being witnessed, there is a shifting of the balance of power both globally and within the wider region, changing the external dynamics and bringing new opportunities as well as new pressures.

She said Central Asia has historical links and a strong interest in the region. China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan are critical players in the security and economic issues which will determine the future of Central Asia and affect interests in the region. The interests of other states on the periphery mark a significant impact on the development of three republics and their relations especially Turkey, Iran Afghanistan, and China.

According to her, political fluidity marks the politics of these republics in view of the evolving efforts to determine their own cultural identities, form new patterns of alliances and association, identify new friends and rivals, and their place in a radically changed economic environment.

Dr Tanveer Khalid observed that influential and interested states have varied engagements in Central Asia. For US foreign policy, Central Asia was seldom a top priority. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was one of the first countries to recognize the five newly independent republics. Central Asia served as a launch pad for US involvement in Afghanistan and its withdrawal led the public to perceive it as a transient foreign power and public opinion tagged behind Russia and China. However, sourcing relations with Russia and growing skepticism of Chinese influence have created a window of opportunity for the US to bolster its image by long-term investment.

She added that the US will also be providing greater assistance in cultural terrorism in a less pronounced role. China is globally the most influential primarily in its economic growth and expansion. Its success depends on its access to overseas markets and resources. Massive investment in many parts of the developing world including Central Asia means that it has a growing political leverage in the region.

Renowned economist Dr Kaiser Bengali said that when we talk about the interest of any country in a region or country, it means one is looking to establish economic ties or is involved in a conflict.

He mentioned that Pakistan and Central Asian countries always give importance to economic interests to benefit their national interests. He said that the majority of Pakistanis believe that Muslim governments around their neighbour and in a region would benefit the country which is just a misconception as the establishment of economic ties with other nations demands certain policies, practices, and governance.

He added that Afghanistan is also a Muslim country, and Pakistanis expected that with the establishment of a Muslim government in Afghanistan, we would have friends and relations would improve, but today, Afghanistan is bothering us more than India.

Dr Kaiser Bengali said that we have to come up with a better approach to enhance our economic and strategic relations in the world and we need to improve our educational standards to meet the world.