Pakistan’s Balancing Strategy between the United States and China: An Analysis

Abstract

This study examines Pakistan’s balancing strategy between the United States and China regarding the growing great-power competition and the changing multipolar world order. Using realist and hedging approaches, the article examines the way in which Pakistan aims at maintaining strategic independence and gaining both economic and security interests. This study adopts a qualitative approach primarily based on secondary data, including official policy documents, academic literature, policy reports, and governmental reports. The findings reveal that Pakistan follows an issue-based and pragmatic strategy that is characterized by an intense economic involvement with China, especially the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, as well as selective diplomatic and security collaboration with the United States. Although such a strategy has short-term strategic and economic advantages, it also creates problems regarding economic reliance, foreign pressure, and policy consistency. The study provides theoretical and policy-related findings on middle-power balancing behavior.