ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Pakistan in collaboration with its project partner, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), organized an online workshop on “Internet, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technologies - Implications for Security and Foreign Policy” on 20 January 2021.
The event featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Daniel Voelsen, a digital policy and cyber development expert from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs SWP.
Dr. Voelsen highlighted the implications of digital technologies for foreign and security policy and offered strategic perspectives on digital technologies along with relevant examples. He said:
Modern technologies [= Internet, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing] are affecting all aspects of foreign and security policy. There is fierce international competition over leadership in artificial intelligence with major powers presenting different versions according to their national policies.
The SWP Senior Associate then explained different approaches for networked digital foreign policy including dominance, isolation and diversification.
Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General of ISSI and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the USA stated:
The strategic landscape is rapidly changing and the speed of change is flabbergasting. Emerging technologies have solid gains to offer in terms of economy and health research but could also cause disruptions to the strategic balance.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, Board of Governors of ISSI and former Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Iran, Iraq, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia emphasized:
New technologies provide new tools as well as new challenges. They are helping mankind in many ways, but the abuse of this technology, particularly by non-state actors, can wreak havoc. We have to raise awareness about the importance of these developments and invest in research involving all the stakeholders.
The workshop moderator Mr. Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Centre at ISSI added:
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing technology; it is going to change state behavior in major ways and is expected to become more involved in the strategic decision makings of countries.
The Resident Representative of HSF Pakistan, Dr. Steffen Kudella, remarked:
Technological developments such as digitization are and will be one of the greatest game changers for the future of humanity. They are also non-traditional security challenges. The German Hanns Seidel Foundation proudly supports the analysis and evaluation of such challenges as one of its new focus areas in Pakistan.
The online workshop included an interactive discussion session with numerous security and foreign policy stakeholders from Pakistan. It was attended by approximately 30 selected participants including government officials, security experts, foreign policy analysts, and members of the academia.
You may find event photos at twitter.com/HSF_Pakistan. For more information on HSF Pakistan please visit pakistan.hss.de, on ISSI issi.org.pk, and on SWP swp-berlin.org/en/. Press contact: islamabad(at)hss.de.
Full Event Video