IRS, CSSPR Launch Landmark Book on Post-Pahalgam Deterrence and Escalation

ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), in collaboration with the Center for Security Strategy and Policy Research (CSSPR), launched a landmark edited volume titled “Strategic Reckoning: Perspectives on Deterrence and Escalation Post-Pahalgam – May 2025” at a high-profile event in Islamabad.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the launch brought together diplomats, scholars, journalists, senior officials, defense experts, and students to engage in a critical conversation on regional security dynamics and crisis management in South Asia.

Edited by Dr. Rabia Akhtar, the book offers an in-depth analysis of the May 2025 crisis—widely seen as one of the most dangerous military confrontations in the region in recent decades. Contributors examine the fragility of deterrence, the risks of compressed escalation timelines, and the catastrophic outcomes narrowly avoided during the standoff.

The volume highlights Pakistan’s calibrated response and strategic restraint in the face of grave provocations, challenging the normalization of abnormal conflict patterns and emphasizing the need for responsible crisis management.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President IRS, criticized India’s coercive posture toward its neighbors—including Nepal and Sri Lanka—arguing that such policies destabilize the region and undermine forums like SAARC. He warned that India’s pursuit of strategic dominance could lead to diplomatic isolation and long-term regional setbacks.

Lt. Gen. (R) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Advisor to the National Command Authority, underlined Pakistan’s robust tri-service operational preparedness. He cited the establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command as a key marker of credible deterrence and strategic maturity, adding that Pakistan had restored the regional balance through coordinated military operations.

Ambassador Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), identified the Pahalgam attack as a major flashpoint and reiterated the centrality of the unresolved Kashmir dispute in perpetuating South Asian instability.

Editor Dr. Rabia Akhtar characterized the May 2025 events as a breakdown of established deterrence frameworks. She argued that India’s attempt to normalize preemptive military strikes must instead be viewed as a dangerous deviation—a “new abnormal”—that threatens long-standing nuclear stability norms.

Khalid Banuri, former DG of Arms Control and Disarmament at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), assessed the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) rapid response and air superiority during the crisis. He stressed that the PAF’s actions not only neutralized Indian strikes but also undercut India’s coercive intent.

Dr. Salma Malik, Associate Professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, spoke on the broader regional fallout of such crises, including economic disruptions, refugee displacement, and cross-border security concerns. She called for inclusive, multilateral crisis management frameworks to empower smaller regional states and ensure shared responsibility for peace.

Renowned defense analyst Ejaz Haider dissected the role of Indian media during the crisis, accusing it of sensationalism, disinformation, and narrative manipulation. He warned that such media behavior fuels domestic pressure for escalation, distorts public understanding, and impedes accountability.

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The launch event generated strong interest, drawing a wide audience from the diplomatic corps, academia, government, think tanks, and media. The volume is expected to serve as a critical resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with regional security and nuclear deterrence in South Asia.