LONDON: Three Pakistani students at the University of Oxford secured a resounding victory over their Indian counterparts in a widely watched debate on India’s populist national security policy and its use of anti-Pakistan sentiment for domestic political gain.
The debate—hosted by the prestigious Oxford Union and organised by its President, Moosa Harraj, who also led the Pakistan team—ended with a decisive 160–51 vote in favour of the Pakistani side. Alongside Harraj, the winning team included Israr Khan Kakar and Ahmed Nawaz Khan.
India had initially announced a high-profile panel featuring former army chief Gen. (retd) MM Naravane, former law minister Dr Subramanian Swamy, and politician Sachin Pilot. However, the original speakers withdrew before the event and were replaced by J. Sai Deepak, Pandit Satish Sharma, and Deorchan Banerjee.
The motion under debate was: “This House Believes India’s Policy Towards Pakistan is a Populist Strategy Sold as Security Policy.”
Harraj opened the proposition by arguing that India’s Pakistan policy has increasingly been shaped by electoral motivations rather than genuine security threats. He also cited hydro-politics as an example of political pressure masquerading as strategy.
Kakar highlighted how domestic political shifts in India—particularly Hindutva-driven policies and rising intolerance against minorities—have directly influenced the government’s stance towards Pakistan. He also alleged India’s involvement with proxies in Balochistan and its links with the TTP.
Concluding for Pakistan, Nawaz underscored the country’s resilience, improved security landscape, and diplomatic maturity, arguing that outdated narratives fail to capture Pakistan’s current posture as a responsible nuclear state.
The event drew significant attention amid pre-debate controversy over the withdrawal of Indian speakers. Despite uncertainty, the Oxford Union proceeded with replacement panellists, ensuring a full debate attended by students, diplomats, and scholars.
What followed was one of the most one-sided results of the academic year, marking a clear victory for the Pakistani team and reinforcing the Oxford Union’s reputation for rigorous, high-impact debates.
Story by Murtaza Ali Shah
