Rethinking Pakistan’s Space Strategy: An Astropolitical Analysis of South Asia

This paper examines the rapidly changing astropolitical environment in South Asia and the role that the fast-growing and militarized Indian space program has played in the security of Pakistan. It offers a novel contribution by applying Everett C. Dolman's theoretical doctrine of Astropolitik to this regional rivalry. It measures Pakistan’s lack of a comprehensive space doctrine, institutional incoherence, and historical under-investment in the space industry against the astropolitical principles of the Indian space program. Through qualitative thematic analysis, this research identifies a critical strategic flaw in Pakistan's defensive posture. Findings show that India's highly militarized space capabilities would cause a high degree of strategic asymmetry and the escalation of the security dilemma for Pakistan. Analysis indicates that Pakistan lacks strategic freedom due to its current reliance on foreign assets, implying that without indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicles and development of dual-use satellites, its space program remains vulnerable. This paper has therefore recommended that Pakistan adopt a dynamic strategic hedging model to balance access to technology and dependence. It further suggests that a civil-military space integration framework should be institutionalized to maximize both defense and development-focused dual-use capabilities.