APPRAISING PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SPACE POLICY 2023 IN THE LIGHT OF INDIA’S GROWING SPACE CAPABILITIES

This paper evaluates Pakistan’s Space Policy 2023 against the backdrop of India’s expanding space capabilities and strategic ambitions. As India achieves significant milestones in space exploration and defence, such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the operationalisation of the Defence Space Agency, the regional security and strategic balance face new dynamics. The study argues that Pakistan’s nascent space programme, despite its potential, lags behind in addressing the dual-use nature of space technologies and their implications for national security and development. Using the Policy Cycle Model, this study analyses the key components of Pakistan’s Space Policy 2023, assessing its strengths and gaps in fostering innovation, enhancing commercial applications, and addressing the security dimensions of outer space. The analysis identifies significant gaps in Pakistan’s policy, particularly in leveraging space as a domain for technological innovation, commercial growth, and defence preparedness. This study contributes to understanding the evolving space dynamics in South Asia, highlighting the strategic imperatives for Pakistan to align its space policy with regional developments and global trends. By addressing these issues, the paper adds to the discourse on the intersection of space technology, national security, and regional geopolitics.