India is intensifying its strategic maritime engagement in the Western Indian Ocean through initiatives like MAHASAGAR and AIKEYME, aiming to safeguard national interests and contribute to regional stability amid evolving maritime dynamics. This pivot towards Africa and the Global South reflects India's broader strategy to navigate a multipolar world marked by rival spheres of influence. Concurrently, India faces complex security challenges from the deepening China-Pakistan military alliance, which poses a two-front threat to its national security. Chinese-origin weapons, including J-10C jets and PL-15E missiles, have been used by Pakistan against India, highlighting Beijing's military collusion with Islamabad. However, during recent conflicts such as Operation Sindoor, Chinese-built Pakistani air defense systems like CLIAD and ADGES showed performance deficiencies, with radars jammed and missile batteries proving unreliable. The integration of China and Pakistan's militaries threatens India's position across multiple domains. Furthermore, China's support for Pakistan in multilateral forums, alongside closer Pakistan-Afghanistan ties and the Taliban's regional maneuvers, complicates India's strategic calculus in South Asia. India is leveraging tensions between Islamabad and Kabul to expand its engagement with Afghanistan, including through the Chabahar Port for trade and connectivity. Additionally, unrest in Balochistan is viewed by China as a two-front threat, jeopardizing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Beijing's investments. India is also strengthening ties with the United States while participating in alternative multilateral forums such as BRICS and SCO, demonstrating strategic flexibility. Experts emphasize India's strategic restraint, non-alignment, and economic resilience as positioning it as a stabilizing force amid global fractures. The country's nuclear strategy is also evolving to address the multipolar global landscape. Overall, India's approach reflects a recalibration of its security and diplomatic posture to address regional threats and assert its role in a changing international order.