On February 11, 2025, the Centre for Law and Security (CLAS) had the honor of hosting General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, NI (M), Retired, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, for a distinguished guest lecture. Drawing on his extensive experience at the highest levels of Pakistan’s defense and security establishment, General Hayat delivered a powerful and thought-provoking lecture on the complex and rapidly evolving global strategic landscape.

In his address, General Hayat offered a deep analytical overview of the key geopolitical transformations shaping international affairs, ranging from the recalibration of global power centers, the resurgence of great power competition, to the implications of hybrid warfare and disruptive technologies. He emphasized the critical need for Pakistan to enhance its strategic foresight, invest in technological innovation and ensure institutional agility to protect its national interests in an increasingly volatile world.

The session was moderated by Rehman Azhar, Executive Director of CLAS and opened by Dr. Faisal Mushtaq, Chairman Advisory Board CLAS, founder and CEO of Roots Millennium and The Millennium Universal College (TMUC).

The session drew a distinguished audience comprising ambassadors, diplomats, senior academics, researchers, think tank representatives and policy advisors, sparking a vibrant exchange on Pakistan’s strategic priorities, regional challenges and the way forward in recalibrating its national security doctrine.

In his concluding remarks, President CLAS – Ambassador Masood Khan reiterated the Centre’s mission to serve as a platform for informed, interdisciplinary dialogue on issues at the intersection of law, foreign policy and national security. He emphasized CLAS’s commitment to bringing together thought leaders and practitioners to shape forward-looking narratives in an era of global uncertainty.