Gwadar Port: Serving Strategic Interests of Pakistan

Every littoral state has certain maritime and strategic interests and the scale of these interests vary from state to state based on geo-political setting of the region. The maritime interests are related to the security of seaborne trade by ensuring freedom of navigation and protection of sea lines of communication and exploitation of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) whereas the strategic interests include the defence and protection of coastline of the state both during peace and wartime. This paper analyzes the Political dynamics such as security situation in the Middle East, prevailing conflict in Afghanistan, Iran-US tension over nuclear issue, Pakistan-India divergent regional interests, China‘s growing regional influence and the US counter balancing strategy which have entirely changed the geo-political scenario within and around South Asia. In this standpoint, the paper signifies the construction of Gwadar Port as a critical element for Pakistan to ensure its maritime interests and security in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea due to their cumulative geo-economic and geo-political impacts on the global political chessboard.