Russia and China, bilaterally and along with the members of the Shanghai Cooperation, may pose a serious challenge to US interests in Central Asia region, said Dr Musarrat Jabeen, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Balochistan, Quetta.
While delivering her third lecture on 'South Asia and Management of Energy Security' in a series of lectures arranged by Punjab University's Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) here on Thursday. Dr Jabeen said that disruptions in oil supply may constrain policy makers in USA.
She said energy demand in third world is increasing because of western economic and strategic endeavours. Invasion of South Asian energy security would affect the trade capacity of the region, she added. 'South Asia as a region has failed to appreciate the importance of the growing trend towards economic strength and energy security and crises may hit South Asia-Pakistan with new slabs of conflict', said Dr Jabeen.
Talking about the future trends, she said situation in Afghanistan will define the future of energy security and the broad based economic development in 21st century would depend on the implementation of far-sighted policies and pricing mechanisms to encourage greater energy system. The lecture was followed by a question answer session. The teachers of the university, research scholars and students attended the lecture.