By Aishma Gul
“The UK and Pakistan have a shared history and a shared future in addressing global security challenges.”— [UK Ministry of Defence]
On February 20, 2025, as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir walked onto the historic Royal Horse Guards Parade Ground in London, the ceremonial Guard of Honour was emblematic of more than just diplomatic formalism — it was a restoration of a 78-year-old defense relationship between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Beyond the military modernization initiatives and tuition discounts in news headlines is a broader narrative: a reassessment of bilateral relations in a time of great geopolitical uncertainty.
Historical Roots: A Legacy of Security Cooperation
Pakistan and the UK’s historical ties have given rise to a defense relationship that benefits from training exchanges, counterterrorism cooperation, and strategic dialogues. More than 1,200 Pakistani officers have been trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst since 1947, including many of Pakistan’s senior military leaders, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. This team spirit has been crucial for successful events like the annual Regional Stabilisation Conference. Since 2018, this conference has helped identify top security priorities in the region.
Gen Munir’s attendance at Sandhurst — a cradle of military leadership — underscores continuity in this partnership. Chatham House’s 2023 report on UK-Pakistan relations highlights the partnership’s role in regional stability and counterterrorism.
The Emerging World Order: Pakistan’s Strategic Calculus:
Gen Munir’s interaction, “The Emerging World Order and Pakistan’s Future Outlook,” highlights Pakistan’s balancing of a multipolar world. Both countries are focusing on “strategic autonomy with selective alignment,” with the U.K. pivoting toward stronger partnerships amid a global shift after Trump’s second election and Pakistan maintaining a balancing act with China, the U.S., and the Gulf.
In the UK’s Integrated Review 2023, “Tilt to the Indo-Pacific” is embedded with Pakistan as a bridge between South Asia and the West. Then there is Pakistan’s National Security Policy 2022– 2026, which places a central focus on economic diplomacy — where CPEC and regional connectivity are key pillars. Pakistan’s future, as Gen Munir wrote, “is predicated on utilizing its geographic and demographic dividend through partnerships rooted in respect for mutual interests.”
Defense Modernization: Moving from Hardware to Knowledge Transfer
The UK’s display of advanced capabilities—cyber operations, long-range surveillance, and artificial intelligence systems—all correlate with Pakistan’s military modernization objectives. Concrete outcomes from the visit include 35 joint projects and a proposed defense industrial joint venture that could boost Pakistan’s defense exports by $363 million in 2023 (SIPRI).
Also, cooperative maintenance involving HIT and POF may improve subsystems related to the Al-Khalid tank and the JF-17 fighter jet. The UK MoD has previously emphasized that its partnership with Pakistan focuses on “shared expertise and modernization.”
Socio-Economic Synergies: Education and Diaspora Diplomacy.
Britain’s offer of fee discounts (30 percent for APS alumni, 40 percent for martyrs’ families) at institutions like Oxford and Imperial College London marks a soft power play. In 2023, 18,400 sponsored Postgraduate, 2,625 PhD, and 2,100 designated International students (Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency) from Pakistan enrolled in UK universities, injecting £620 million into the UK economy. This could foster people-to-people links, which are crucial for a 1.6 million-strong Pakistani with sway in both UK politics and trade.
Counterterrorism and Regional Stability: A Common Challenge
Gen Munir has met Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in the UK where the intelligence chiefs of MI5 and Pakistan’s ISI have worked together since 9/11, briefing each other on new threats such as cyberterrorism and hybrid warfare. UK officials have described Pakistan as a “key partner” in addressing regional instability, particularly post-2021 Afghanistan developments.
Future Trajectories: Recommendations for Sustained Growth
-Institutionalize Defense and Industrial Collaboration: Create a UK-Pakistan Defense Technology Council to facilitate joint ventures.
-Grow Academic Connections: Turn tuition discounts into research partnerships on climate security and AI.
-Diaspora Engagement: Form a bilateral task force to leverage diaspora expertise in tech and entrepreneurship.
Gen Munir’s visit goes beyond ceremonial diplomacy — it is a strategic reorientation in a fragmenting world order. By combining defense modernization, economic pragmatism, and diaspora connectivity, Pakistan and the UK are building a 21st-century partnership that will withstand geopolitical shocks. As the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall,” a principle both nations will experiment with over the coming decades.