Phar, Kim Beng and Hamzah, Luthfy (2025) Forging the Crescent Bridge: Pakistan and Malaysia's expanding strategic partnership. Forging the Crescent Bridge: Pakistan and Malaysia's expanding strategic partnership, NA (NA). pp. 1-3.
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Abstract
The article argues that Malaysia and Pakistan are entering a new phase of strategic partnership that extends far beyond traditional diplomatic ties into a broader framework of defence cooperation, economic integration, educational exchange, and geopolitical coordination across the Indo-Pacific. Framed as the construction of a “Crescent Bridge” linking South Asia and Southeast Asia, the piece highlights how both nations occupy critical maritime chokepoints — Pakistan through the Arabian Sea and Strait of Hormuz, and Malaysia through the Strait of Malacca. The article contends that this shared geostrategic position creates natural incentives for closer collaboration in naval modernisation, maritime security, disaster relief, cybersecurity, and defence diplomacy amid intensifying competition among major powers in the Indo-Pacific. It further notes that the six Memorandums of Understanding signed during Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Kuala Lumpur reflect a deliberate effort to deepen cooperation not only in trade and technology, but also in defence education, institutional dialogue, and strategic trust-building. The article also emphasises the broader geopolitical significance of Malaysia–Pakistan relations within the evolving architecture of Asia. It argues that Pakistan’s experience in balancing relations among China, the United States, and the Middle East offers valuable lessons for Malaysia as Kuala Lumpur navigates its own strategy of maintaining ties with both Beijing and Washington while preserving ASEAN centrality. At the same time, Malaysia is presented as a model for Pakistan in practising regional multilateralism through ASEAN mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The analysis further suggests that expanding cooperation in defence education, humanitarian operations, aerospace development, and maritime awareness can generate long-term intellectual and strategic synergy between the two Muslim-majority nations. Ultimately, the article concludes that the Malaysia–Pakistan partnership is evolving into a wider civilisational and geopolitical project capable of connecting South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf through a framework of moderation, economic cooperation, and strategic autonomy in an increasingly fragmented international order.
| Item Type: | Article (Electronic Media) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Malaysia; Pakistan; ASEAN; Crescent Bridge, Partnership |
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Political Science Office of the Rector |
| Depositing User: | Mr Muhammad Syameer Luthfy Bin Hamzah |
| Date Deposited: | 08 May 2026 10:16 |
| Last Modified: | 08 May 2026 10:16 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-05-Q3255 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/128884 |
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