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India's Effort to lead Global South: Is Pakistan Out of Strategic Calculus?

In Pakistan, India is mostly discussed as a traditional rival but India's gains in the political and economic landscape have given it strategic and diplomatic mileage on a global stage. Pakistan is preoccupied with its domestic politics and Pakistan's decision-making apparatus is struggling to establish who is who in the system.

Global south as an idea and term was raised back in 1955 at the Conference of African and Asian states in Bandung, Indonesia. This term has been raised in global conferences, academic and diplomatic circles but Chinese and Indian leadership raised this frequently. China and India have different views when it comes to the global south and how their engagement shall be with the global south. China wants that its idea of comprehensive growth, comprehensive security, and shared growth shall be taken seriously for Common Growth in the Global south.

India talks of reformed multilateralism, rule of law, and an equitable international system. India blames Europe and the western world for its euro centrism and absence of perspectives from the global south and India. Although the global south is a big area that includes Asia, Africa, Oceania, South America, and other regions outside Europe and North America. The global significance and seriousness of India increased when it crossed the United Kingdom and emerged as the fifth-largest economy and its help of vaccines during COVID 19.

For making itself relevant in global north India is challenging multilateralism and it believes it cannot make space in the global north because it's in the southern half of the world, it's not industrially rich, socially stable, and has illiberal democracy. But since the only way to have an impact in a rules-based international system is to raise a voice for the global south while sitting among great powers. So this will give India value in countries of the south which are not economically stable as India and they are not as relevant in the West as India.

Indian plan to be a leader of the global south is a challenge for Pakistan because Pakistan has historically kept its position which is not to let India be a regional policeman. Is Pakistan out of regional strategic calculous as there was a time when political leaders used to sketch the country's future to lead Asia as Asian Tiger. At this moment when India is aspiring to lead the global south, Pakistan is fighting a war for its survival where 75 % chances of financial default of Pakistan are imminent as foreign exchange reservices are around $ 8 billion which are loans from international financial institutions and friendly countries. Political instability is on the rise where former PM Imran khan blamed the military establishment and the United States for the successful no-confidence vote against him. Pakistan's political elite and media wasted weeks speculating who shall be the next army chief which have been appointed recently.

The political and military elite have stopped looking regionally and globally because of internal disagreements and political uncertainties. International trips of Politian and the military are to make sure how to secure money for the balance of payments and save Pakistan from financial default. Pakistan's national security doctrine and the former hybrid government decided to move away from geostrategic competition and look for geo-economics. Unfortunately, there is no political consensus and serious debate on how to make it a priority and materialize this shift in foreign policy.

Pakistani government officials and the strategic community are not even discussing Indian engagement in multilateral forums like QUAD, I2U2, and how the US is making India a global partner. Pakistan's foreign policy in previous months was to repair its ties with the US and the western world although Pakistan kept supporting the world in the Afghan war and in withdrawal. Indian efforts to be a leader of the global south are not even part of a discussion in Pakistan's strategic community and narrative on India is either controlled or too patriotic to be critical. Pakistan's economic challenges and Indian pressure on Pakistan to isolate at UNSC are so impactful that Pakistan talks with China are for its financial support, and loan readjustment rather than making a strategic outlook on how to counter with China India's leadership in the global south. What are Pakistan's options if India develops its strong credentials as a leader of the global south politically and economically?

Pakistan has raised the voice of people of a global south through a spectrum of climate injustice. $100 Billion was pledged by the global north for climate change adaptation for the developing world and Pakistan is waiting for some of these funds as millions got displaced in Pakistan because of the 2022 floods. Pakistan's ailing economy needs a financial boost and for this leadership must not politicize these funds. In the past foreign aid , financial support, and foreign direct investment has been used for political benefits and electoral campaigns so Pakistan shall not politicize financial support related to climate change.

About Writer:

Dr Qamar Cheema is academic and appears as strategic and political analyst on National and International Media