Karachi: Department of International Relations of the University of Karachi organized a seminar titled ‘The Gulf Crisis, Makkah Declaration and Beyond’ on Wednesday, at the KU’s Chinese Teachers Memorial Auditorium, bringing together leading scholars, strategic affairs experts, journalists, faculty members, and students to deliberate on the rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East and their broader implications for regional and global security.
KU Chairperson of the Department of International Relations Dr Naeem Ahmed emphasized the importance of creating academic spaces that encourage critical engagement with contemporary international developments.
He also reaffirmed the department’s commitment to promoting research, intellectual exchange, and informed policy discourse on emerging global challenges.
The first session featured former KU Chairperson of the Department of International Relations Professor Dr Talat Ayesha Wizarat who joined the seminar virtually and delivered a comprehensive presentation on ‘The Gulf Crisis: What Next?’ Her analysis examined the changing political landscape of the Gulf region, the future trajectory of regional alignments, and the strategic consequences of recent developments in the Middle East.
The second presentation was delivered by Professor Dr Muhammad Ali Ehsan of DHA Suffa University, who spoke on ‘The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: A Security Guarantor for the Middle East and Beyond?’ Drawing upon his extensive academic and military experience, he explored the prospects of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as a potential framework for collective security in the region and assessed its implications beyond the Middle East.
The seminar’s third session featured Professor Dr Muqtedar Khan of the University of Delaware, USA, who also joined the proceedings virtually. His presentation, titled ‘The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement: An Alternate to the US Security Umbrella in the Middle East, ‘ critically examined the evolving security architecture of the region and evaluated whether emerging regional arrangements could offer a viable alternative to traditional security partnerships led by the United States.
The final presentation was delivered by renowned journalist and Controller News at Geo News Nasim Haider who addressed the topic ‘US-Iran War: Who’s the Winner, Who’s the Loser?’ His analysis offered a media and policy perspective on one of the most consequential geopolitical confrontations in recent years, highlighting the strategic calculations of major regional and international actors and examining the potential political, economic, and security consequences of the conflict.
The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which students and faculty members engaged the panelists in discussions on regional security, collective defense mechanisms, the future of the Gulf states, the shifting balance of power in the Middle East, and Pakistan’s evolving diplomatic role in regional affairs.
The exchange reflected the growing interest among young scholars in understanding contemporary geopolitical transformations through an academic and policy-oriented lens.
The event reaffirmed the Department of International Relations’ longstanding commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue on pressing international issues and providing a platform for informed debate on matters of global significance.
