THE FOREIGN POLICY OF

PAKISTAN

NAME: IMAMA AAMIR

MAJOR: FILM
YEAR: SECOND
 Foreign policy of Pakistan

The grounds of the foreign policy of any state is based on the idea of realism. Foreign
policies are constructed around national interest. Upon emerging into a new state on
14th August 1947, Pakistan inherited its first ever foreign policy from British india,
which was later on adapted to Pakistan's ideologies and objectives.

Foreign policy is a framework in regards to its diplomatic dealings with other countries.
Foreign policies are established as a systematic way to deal with issues that may arise
with other countries. It is created to ensure flourishing relations with fellow countries as
one country can not survive on its own without depending on others in some way.

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, had a dream of a foreign
policy for ‘the new independent Muslim state’ that was as simple as… ‘peace with all,
enmity with none’. In matters regarding Foreign Affairs of the State, on the 1st of
February 1948, he stated in a message directed to the Nation of the USA that for
Pakistan, the Non-Alignment Policy should be adopted.

“Our foreign policy is one of friendliness and goodwill towards the nations of the
world. We do not cherish aggressive designs against any country or nation… and are
prepared to make our utmost contribution to the promotion of peace and prosperity”
- Quaid e Azam

As it is understandable, Pakistan tries to use its foreign relations primarily to help in

accomplishing the national objectives. It is focused on economic diplomacy to use the
prospects offered by globalization and meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Apart from this, the policy is also aimed at projecting the country as modern and
moderation loving. It seeks to promote the principles of relations among states which
are known in the world, the principles of the inviolability of borders of countries, and
non-interference into domestic relations of other countries, non-violence and peaceful
conflict resolution, and others. Therefore, it has always been the policy of Pakistan to
have and maintain amicable relations with other countries in the World.

The objectives of Pakistan's foreign policy include:

● Positioning Pakistan as a democratic, vibrant and progressive state.
● Fostering positive relationships with countries around the globe, particularly
with major powers and our neighboring nations.
 ● Ensuring the protection of our national security and strategic interests, including
the situation in Kashmir.
● Strengthening our economic and commercial ties with the international
community.
● Protecting the interests of the Pakistani diaspora living abroad.
● Maximizing the use of national resources to foster regional and international
collaboration.

Determinants of Pakistan Foreign Policy

Ideology

Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims of British India after a long freedom
struggle. Islam was at the core of this struggle because Two Nation Theory reinforced
that Muslims were a separate nation, with their distinct cultural, ideological and
religious values. In the establishment of Pakistan, Muslims actually dreamed of a
separate homeland where they could spend their lives according to the teachings of the
Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali
Jinnah also vowed to preserve the Islamic ideology of the country. He said:“Pakistan not
only means freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology which has to be
preserved, which has come to us as a precious gift and treasure and which, we hope
other will share with us.” So, it was not possible for our foreign policy makers to set
aside this ideology while framing the country's foreign policy. Hence Islamic ideology
has always been a central focus in this realm.

Geography

“The foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography”. — Napoleon

Bonaparte

For the policymakers, it is important to take into consideration factors like what
country’s neighbors are, as their attitude, irrespective of their size or power, has a direct
bearing especially on issues of its security, development and resource allocation. No
country could change its geography nor choose its neighbors. So, in Pakistan, sole
consideration has been on safeguarding and preserving the country's independence and
territorial integrity. Geography, thus, placed on Pakistan the onerous responsibility of
consistent vigilance and careful conduct of its relations not only with its immediate
neighbors but also with the rest of the world.
History

Since its inception, Pakistan has been facing complex challenges. Hence, the country’s
foreign policy is also guided by its history. Pakistan and India relations have been
marred by distrust and antagonism. Pakistan and Afghanistan have also been at odds
since long, major concern being the Durand Line which Afghanistan is not willing to
accept as an international border. Thanks to the old imperial connections, we
immediately got sucked into the Cold War struggle. In the process, we encountered an
unbroken series of crises and challenges that perhaps, no other country in the world has
ever experienced. So, foreign policy makers cannot remain oblivious to these factors.

Domestic Policies

The foreign policy of a country is linked to its domestic policies, governance issues and
political situation. A country’s standing in the international community always
corresponds directly to its political, social, economic and strategic strength. Foreign
policy cannot be divorced from domestic considerations. It is an outcome of national
priorities, strengths and weaknesses. Unlike large powers, mistakes in foreign policy can
be very costly for a developing country like Pakistan. Pakistan’s position in the world is
constrained by its weak economics and its dependence on foreign finances. And, that
has been a big challenge before the policymakers.

Security

Internal and external security is the most important factor in Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Historian Paul Kennedy named Pakistan as one of the nine pivotal states whose future
evolution would not only determine the fate of their region, but also affect international
stability. Pakistan has developed as a principal actor and a vital personality of its own.
So, it is supposed to secure and protect its all vital interests, at all costs.

Economic Compulsions

Pakistan as a developing country also needs to establish and maintain cordial relations
with those states with whom it can maximize its trade relations or from whom it can
obtain maximum economic aid. Pakistan’s position in the world is constrained by its
weak economics and its dependence on foreign finances. The main aim of Pakistan’s
foreign policy is to boost economic trade.
Economic Development:

Pakistan as a developing country also needs to establish and maintain cordial relations
with those states with whom it can maximize its trade relations or from whom it can
obtain maximum economic aid. Pakistan’s position in the world is constrained by its
weak economics and its dependence on foreign finances. The main aim of Pakistan’s
foreign policy is to boost economic trade. The level of economic development attained
by a country has a deep impact on the foreign policy of the state. One of the middle
range objectives of the foreign policy of a state is to expand, diversify and strengthen its
economic relations with the external world. An increased economic activity warrants
that the surplus goods, raw material and services of the country have markets outside
the country and that the state may ensure the procurement of the needed products, raw
material and services at economical rates. Similarly Pakistan is always concerned about
securing markets for its raw material, cotton, rice leather products, sportswear and
cotton products. The level of economic development has a direct relationship with the
standard of the citizens of the given country.

Role of Media & Think-tanks:

In modern times the role of media in determining the Foreign Policy of a state cannot be
overestimated. Media has to faithfully highlight the issues of public concern; doing so it
serves both as a corrective machine as well as a guide for the policy makers. Usually
former diplomats, strategists, and military generals take part in productive discussions
in the media. The Government and Foreign Office have to take the input from the media
and think tanks very seriously. In fact, in the US, the think-tanks and media play a very
significant role in the orientation of its foreign policy.

International Organizations:

The role and importance of international institutions as instruments of states’ foreign

policies, and the political, military, functional, economic and humanitarian roles played
principally by the United Nations in international relations cannot be overestimated.
These international organizations to varying degrees serve as modifiers of state behavior
and as independent actors in their own right. They have a profound impact on the
determination of the foreign policy of a state. No state can decide and conduct its policy
arbitrarily to the detriment of other states. UN and other multilateral forums come to
the rescue of the aggressed state. Usually sanctions are imposed which in some cases
become very effective provided the international community imposes them sincerely.
Challenges of Pakistan foreign policy:

Co-existence

Pakistan supports the idea of living together with peace and Pakistan cultivating good
relations with China which is dis-like by Afghanistan and India. The USA didn’t like to
see Pakistan as a developing country. They tried terrorist attempts in Pakistan so China
didn’t create good relations with Pakistan. This is the biggest challenge to Pakistan that
they co-exist with the countries while other countries like India and America. Relations
with India From the independence of Pakistan (1947) to till now the relation between
India and Pakistan is going toward hostility. The relation between violence due to
numerous factors that develop a bad relation with them. This is mainly due to the
division of the sub-continent, that’s why the peaceful co-existence is diminished. Both
countries have atomic power and India influences its power toward the United Nations
and the USA also supports it. The conflict of Kashmir between the two countries is
creating a bad effect in the relation between them. India also causes the disturbance in
the border attached with Pakistan that issues and affects the relation between the
countries in bad stages. The Kashmir issue, the main and common problem that we face
now days is the Kashmir problem between the two countries

Policies with Iran

Pakistan and Iran are enjoying a friendly relationship between each other. Both
countries have better relations to develop peace in the world. As the same religion of
Muslim both countries protect each other from different perspectives. Both are helping
each other in diplomatic, political and as well as financial support to each other. At the
beginning, Iran helped Pakistan in different situations even in the Indo Pak war and
provided aid in any of the disasters. The challenge among the nations is to develop
better relations between themselves. Most of the projects that work out by the help of
Iran in Pakistan are the Gas pipeline in Pakistan. As they have good relations and are
neighboring countries have moved toward betterment. The trade between Iran and
Pakistan is of many goods and also help each other in different problems,

“The State shall endeavor to preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among
Muslim countries based on Islamic unity, support the common interests of the peoples
of Asia, Africa and Latin America, promote international peace and security, foster
goodwill and friendly relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of
international disputes by peaceful means.”
- Quaid e Azam
Pakistan’s nuclear program

Pakistan became a nuclear country in 1998 after a lot of difficulties because of the US
campaign against the countries who are making weapons for mass destruction. At the
beginning the US was against Pakistan being an Islamic state so there were a number of
problems faced by Pakistan.

Current scenario and Pakistan foreign policy:

Concerning the failure of foreign policy, the decision of the financial action task force
FATF to put Pakistan on the gray list of countries reflects the previous government’s
shortcomings in foreign policy and active lobbying for Pakistan’s unmatched efforts to
counter terrorism. Pakistan’s contributions, role and sacrifices need to be consistently
conveyed to the international community; FATA’s gray list could have dire
consequences for the economy. FATA’s grey list put Pakistan in the cross hairs of
potential sanctions that may ruin the already volatile economy. Its execution will
depend on the incoming government and their priorities, FATA, has been a matter of
campaign agenda for the leading parties in Pakistan, with all in consensus that the world
needs to appreciate Pakistan’s efforts in countering terrorism, and not be coerced
through the FATA. The new government has to make whole hearted efforts to build up
Pakistan’s soft image at international level.

Phases:

The first phase:

The first period covers the time from the UN enforced cease-fire of 1949 to the 1965 war
over Kashmir. During this period Pakistan allied itself with the West by joining the
Baghdad Pact and its successor, CENTO, and SEATO. The primary motivation
underlying our membership of these alliances had been the need to redress our defense
vulnerability and achieve a reasonable military equilibrium with India.

The second phase:

The second phase runs from 1965 to the 1971 crisis in East Pakistan. The 1965 war,
which was sparked by the Jammu and Kashmir issue, had led to a drastic reduction in
economic and military assistance to Pakistan. The increase in defense expenditure
together with the decline in foreign assistance compounded economic difficulties and
aggravated political problems led by a sense of alienation in East Pakistan. India played
on this crisis and eventually imposed war on Pakistan.

The third phase:

During the third phase from 1971 to 1989 Pakistan remained engaged in rebuilding itself
and facing the challenge of the Soviet military intervention in neighboring Afghanistan,
which lasted for over a decade since 1979, and has spawned a conflict that continues to
ravage Afghanistan.

The fourth phase:

The fourth phase covers the period from 1990 to the nuclear tests of May 1998. Two
important events from the security perspective took place in 1990. USA clamped
economic and military sanctions on Pakistan under the prissier Amendment (which
widened the conventional gap between India and Pakistan). That same year the
intensification of the freedom movement in occupied Kashmir.

9/11 and Pakistan foreign policy:

9/11 altered the global order considerably. Many of the word states modified their
foreign policies. Pakistan was no exception in this regard. Being on the crossroads of the
territories where War on Terror was ignited, Pakistan needed to reform its foreign policy
particularly in the context of the US and Afghanistan. According to the United States,
9/11 was the catastrophic event engineered by Afghanistan based Al-Qaeda. This
militant wing was led by Osama Bin Laden who was the host of the Afghan Taliban
government in 2001. At the refusal of the Afghan Taliban to hand over Bin Laden to the
US, the then President Bush launched a US-led international alliance against terrorism
and invaded Afghanistan. Pakistan being a neighbor and an important strategic location
in terms of the War on Terror brought up following major changes in its foreign policy;
Pakistan's post 9/11 foreign policy no longer remained India-centric. Now the events in
the US and Afghanistan carried much of influence on its foreign policy making.
Pakistan's post 9/11 foreign policy made the country a front line ally of the US in war on
terror. In this wake though Pakistan did not send its troops to fight in Afghanistan but it
had to provide its land routes, some air and military bases in order to assist the NATO
forces. Pakistan's foreign policy had to bring a change in dealing with the Afghan
government of Taliban. Previously, Pakistan was a favorable country to the Afghan
Taliban government that came into power in 1996. But at the turn of the events the
Taliban government lacked support from Pakistan. Post 9/11 foreign policy of Pakistan
brought the country into the bloc of the US, keeping it disengaged with Russia and other
Eastern powers. The relations with China, however, remained warm. Pakistan in
Regional and Global Politics Amid the scenario when the War on Terror is in its last
phases in Afghanistan, Pakistan is once again reforming its foreign policy to exploit
regional and global politics into its national interest. In future, Pakistan has the
following prospects in regional and global politics; Pakistan being the host of China
Pakistan Economic Corridor is going to gain economic and trade importance in the
region. Pakistan has long experience of combating terrorism. This makes the country an
experienced and steadfast state in the region. Pakistan can share its experience with
other Asian countries to help them make peace. Pakistan is of great importance in the
region for helping the Middle Eastern countries to be out of the chaos. In this wake,
Pakistan made a diplomatic comeback while trying to calm the tensions between Iran
and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is still important in global politics as it will help the US
troops to seek a safe exit from Afghanistan. Globally Pakistan has sought appreciation
for its fight against militancy. This will keep it engaged with the global powers which can
help to develop the country by sharing modern technology and education.
Pakistan altered its foreign policy to cope with the post 9/11 foreign policy and it is
altering it now to manage well in regional and global politics.

Conclusion:
Traditionally, Pakistan has been a security-driven state and that’s the reason why more
emphasis has been on state-building over nation-building. However, changing regional
as well as world dynamics present our foreign policy makers with a set of complex
challenges. This is perhaps the most opportune time that Pakistan should reap the
benefits of its geographical location and its importance to the whole world. Our foreign
policy makers should move forward with extreme prudence. The Foreign policy of
Pakistan is directly influenced by military and intelligence agencies of the country which
causes failure for democratic governments and lack of political leadership. The biggest
cause of failure in Pakistan foreign policy is too dependent in terms of economy and
military assistance on super power countries specially America. Pakistan has insufficient
ability to produce electricity according to demand. Pakistan can see central Asian states
to fulfill the demand of electric supply in summer season because these states have extra
power generation capacity in summer seasons while Pakistan.