TABRIZ, IRAN – In a distinguished academic gathering hosted in Tabriz, the Pak-Iran Intellectuals Forum paid tribute to Dr. Aytan Farzaneh, a renowned scholar from Ardabil, for the launch of her seminal book, “Axis of Instability or Balance? Regional Security Complexes and the Evolution of Pakistan-Russia Ties”. The event, attended by diplomats, researchers, and strategic affairs experts from Iran and Pakistan, celebrated Dr. Farzaneh’s rigorous contribution to regional security studies and her innovative application of Barry Buzan’s Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) to the evolving nexus between Pakistan, Russia, and Afghanistan.

Speakers at the ceremony hailed the book as a “landmark scholarly achievement” and lauded Dr. Farzaneh’s ability to bridge theoretical insight with pressing geopolitical realities. The Qom-based leadership of the Pak-Iran Intellectuals Forum emphasized the book’s relevance in navigating the post-American security vacuum across Central and South Asia. “Dr. Farzaneh’s voice comes at a critical time when the region is redefining its strategic priorities,” noted Dr. Abbas Mohtashami, a senior member of the Forum. “Her work offers both clarity and direction”.

The book, already circulating in academic and policy-making circles, explores the emergence of a shared security environment among Pakistan, Russia, and Afghanistan, with particular attention to overlapping threats such as terrorism, narcotics, and border instability. Dr. Farzaneh argues that unilateral policies are no longer sufficient and that coordinated regional strategies must become the new norm. Her work draws from RSCT and neoclassical regionalism to argue for a multilateral approach based on mutual vulnerability and cultural-political connectivity.

One of the most admired aspects of her book, highlighted at the seminar, was her inclusion of Ardabil Province as a key cultural interface. Several panelists praised her for weaving in the overlooked soft power legacies of Soviet influence in Ardabil, from architecture to ideological exchange. “She has given new academic life to Ardabil by showing how it can serve as a bridge – not a border – between civilizational currents,” said Professor Raza Ali from Islamabad’s Strategic Studies Centre, who joined the event virtually.

Attendees from the Iranian academic community in Tabriz were particularly moved by Dr. Farzaneh’s call for empowering border provinces like Ardabil in Iran’s foreign policy strategy. She was commended for advocating decentralized diplomacy and cultural engagement, especially with the Caucasus and Central Asia. “Dr. Farzaneh’s vision for Ardabil as a soft diplomacy hub is not only realistic but necessary in today’s interconnected world”, stated Dr. Shirin Motlagh, a regional historian based in Tabriz.

Representatives from Pakistan also voiced admiration for the book’s analysis of Islamabad-Moscow relations. Dr. Sadiq Khan of the National Defence University, who participated as a keynote speaker, described the book as “a vital compass for understanding Pakistan’s evolving strategic posture and its engagement with non-Western poles of power”. He emphasized the book’s balanced perspective, noting how it reframes Russia-Pakistan ties as strategic pragmatism rather than opportunism.

During the event, Dr. Farzaneh was presented with a commemorative award from the Forum in recognition of her academic excellence and service to regional thought leadership. In her acceptance remarks, she reaffirmed her belief in the importance of locally grounded, yet globally informed, scholarship. “We must speak from our own geography and history – not in reaction to others, but in understanding ourselves better”, she said. Her statement received a standing ovation.

Closing the seminar, the Forum announced plans to translate “Axis of Instability or Balance?” into Urdu and Russian, aiming to expand its reach across academia, think tanks, and foreign ministries in Eurasia. The Forum also revealed that Dr. Farzaneh will lead a new collaborative research initiative focusing on Iran’s provincial diplomacy potential, with Ardabil as the pilot model.

The Tabriz event marked not just a book launch but a regional academic milestone – celebrating the rise of a bold new voice in strategic studies and affirming the shared intellectual space between Pakistan and Iran in shaping a post-unipolar regional order.