KARACHI - The security scenario at the regional and global level is undergoing a major transformation, which has strategic implications for Pakistan. As the regional security situation becomes more complex and uncertain, Pakistan’s defence industry would be compelled to develop a response that is proportionate to challenges that lie ahead. These views were expressed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne at a seminar titled “Security Outlook 2025 – Future Security Trends and Challenges for Defense Industry in Mounting Technological Response.”The seminar was held under the aegis of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation and organised by Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS). The seminar was a part of bi-annual defense exhibition IDEAS-2012. The chief guest of the seminar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, in his key note address, further said that this mega-event signifies the accomplishments of Pakistan’s defense industry, despite serious security challenges confronting it.Steve Coll, an eminent Speaker from the US, in his speech titled “Technology and the Future of War”, elaborated that recent developments have generated a debate about how computers, satellites, lasers, nano-weapons and other next-generation military technologies will shape doctrine, warfare and global power. One notable aspect of this evolution, according to him, was that how rapidly it had occurred.Dr Maleeha Lodhi, in her presentation titled “Challenge of Uncertainty: Pakistan’s Response and Defense Industry in an Era of Transition”, made the point that Pakistan’s geopolitical location and volatile neighborhood had placed it at the centre of many regional storms. In this context, she said that regional developments could accentuate Pakistan’s security anxieties and will have to be factored in for the direction and evolution of the defense industry.Ye Hailin from China, Chief Editor of South Asia Studies, in his speech titled “2025 Outlook – Dual-Use Space Technology for the Future of Military Technology and Implications”, highlighted the importance of space based capabilities and stated that space technology and space assets were essential for the modern military systems. In fact, current military technology advantages were basically relying on space science and technology dominance. He was of the opinion that space weaponization would be inevitable, given the current trajectory of technological advances and doctrinal evolution. Muharrem DORTKASLI, CEO Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI), in his presentation on “Future Challenges and Paradigm Shift for Defense and Aerospace Industries”, said that new dangers are developing, which will challenge the mindset and the practices for safeguarding freedom. To be able to sustain their competitive advantage, he opined, industries need a paradigm shift in an era where an organisation’s value is determined by its intellectual assets. The Presiding Officer, General (r) Ehsanul Haq, in his concluding remarks, stated that, given the fast pace of technological change, it would be perfectly natural to expect significantly new technologies to develop, including some technologies which will alleviate our security and threat concerns.Earlier, Director General DEPO, Major General Tahir Ashraf Khan, in his opening remarks, said that the altered security environment, particularly the danger of asymmetric warfare, posed a gigantic challenge to the armed forces. In this altered security paradigm; IDEAS aims to bring the intellectual debate forward to a meaningful start towards achieving peace and stability.