Patna: India must adopt a long-term and pragmatic strategy towards Pakistan, balancing a firm stance against terrorism with sustained engagement, former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, T C A Raghavan, said on Monday.Delivering the inaugural lecture of the ‘Patliputra Pragya Prawah’ series at Bihar Lok Bhawan on “Mecca Accord, Pakistan and the Future of India-Pakistan Relations”, Raghavan said India should view the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape through a strategic rather than emotional lens.He said the growing alignment among Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia could reshape regional dynamics. While Pakistan brings military and nuclear capabilities, Saudi Arabia offers financial strength and Türkiye contributes technological expertise and a distinct model of modernity. According to him, the Mecca Accord may indicate the emergence of a more autonomous regional security framework, even as the three nations continue their engagement with the United States.Raghavan said China’s expanding influence remains a key factor in the changing regional equation. He stressed that foreign policy is not a zero-sum game and countries increasingly pursue multi-alignment to advance their national interests. He also noted that technological advances and asymmetric warfare are transforming modern conflict and reducing traditional military advantages.“In such a volatile environment, India must maintain a delicate balance,” Raghavan said, adding that New Delhi’s Pakistan policy should not be driven by either sentiment or short-term considerations.Earlier, governor Syed Ata Hasnain said Bihar’s rich tradition of intellectual debate made it an ideal venue for reviving dialogue and knowledge-sharing. Additional chief secretary to the governor Dipak Kumar Singh said Lok Bhawan would host two lectures every month. CNLU vice-chancellor Faizan Mustafa moderated the session.—
