Pakistans Foreign Policy

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staf

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2 September 2014, 2:07 am

Pakistans Foreign Policy

Pakistan was born under inauspicious circumstances. As with all other countries,
Pakistans Foreign Policy is determined by the inescapable facts of history and of
geography and by special influences which may be of transitory nature. In the words of
P.A Reynolds, the Foreign Policy is defined as under:The range of actions taken by varying sections of the government of a state in its
relations with other bodies similarly acting on the international stage, in order to
advance the national interests.
Foreign Policy consists of the external actions taken by decision makers with the
intention of achieving long-range goals and short-term objectives. Action is constrained
by the perceived circumstances of the state, which includes its geography, its economy,
its demography its political structure, culture and tradition, its military-strategy
situation. But action is taken with reference to other bodies (states) similarly acting on
the international stage, and is likewise constrained by their action. This may be called
the international environment of decision-makers.
DETERMINANTS OF PAKISTANS FOREIGN POLICY
.
1. Security, 2. Ideology 3. National Interests 4. Diplomacy 5. Public Opinion
6. Decision making
PRINCIPLES OF PAKSITANS FOREIGN POLICY
1. Security 2. Ideology 3.National interests 4. Dtente and peaceful relations . 5. Non
alignment 6. Close relations with Muslim countries 7. Support f independence
movements
As a matter of fact, a la any other country, the logically primary influence on foreign
policy of Pakistan lies in the goals that policy seeks to achieve. These are normally
security, welfare, and preservation or promotion of values. The search for security is
perennial. All foreign policies of all states are basically influenced by it. For three
centuries, for example, French decision makers sought to establish Frances eastern
and north-eastern frontier on the Rhine. In the case of Pakistan If the main concern of
the Christian West is containment of Chinese Communism, the main concern of Muslim
Pakistan, is the containment of militarist and militant Hinduism. The fact remains that
Pakistan jointed the CENTO, SEATO, etc in the mid of 1950s largely to protect her
interests against the future aggression of India.
No state is autarkic, or self- sufficient, at least in the only sense that is politically
relevant. Every state can be economically self-sufficient in the sense that the territory in
question could support some number of people at some standard of living. Deficiencies
whether of materials, or food, or markets, or capital, or technical skills, do exist and the

foreign policy of a state must endeavor to arrange their supply. Pakistans earnest
involvement in the international political arena has been mainly due to the fact that it
wanted to make up its deficiencies in certain fields.
Third among basic goals is the desire to preserve or promote values. Since Pakistan had
come into existence in the name of Islam hence promotion of cordial and close
relationships with the Muslim states has formed the cardinal principle of Pakistans
foreign policy. Pakistans membership of OIC and unswerving support for the just cause
of Palestinians speak volumes about our eforts in this connection.
A Critical View of Pakistans Foreign Policy and our Future Strategy:
Our Foreign Policy is one of the friendliness and
goodwill towards all the nations of the world We
do not cherish aggressive designs against any
country or nation. We believe in the principle of
honesty and fairplay in national and international
dealings. Pakistan will never be found lacking in
upholding priciples of the United Nations Charter.
(Quaid-e-Azam, Feb: 1948)
The perusal of the above passage entails that the Quaid wanted Pakistan to play a
honourable role based on the principles and norms of International Law in the arena of
international politics. However the study of External Policy of Pakistan over the last 50
years of independence manifests that Pakistans geo-political location on the world map
and her strategic vulnerability viz-a-viz India could not permit her to pursue that
independent policy. Resultantly the foreign Policy of Pakistan has passed through the
following several phases of development, responding to the changing pattern of
relationship with the big powers.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Era
Era
Era
Era

of
of
of
of

Neutrality
Allainces
Bilateralism
Non-alignment

A critical analysis of the foreign policy pursued in the last half of a century transpires
that Pakistans Foreign Policy has largely revolved around a triangle of India , China and
the U.S with the objectives to counter India, befriend China (an enemy of India), and
serving the U.S interests
4. Era of Non-alignment
A critical analysis of the foreign policy pursued in the last half of a century transpires
that Pakistans Foreign Policy has largely revolved around a triangle of India , China and
the U.S with the objectives to counter India, befriend China (an enemy of India), and
serving the U.S interests as in the 1960, 1971, 1980s and in the aftermath of Sept: 11,
or seeking its involvement through scare scenarios like the Bomb, Drugs and
fundamentalism.
The future strategy of Pakistan in its foreing policy must be a shift from traditional

diplamcy to economic diplomacy as well as cultural diplomacy

Relations with distant Godfathers are no substitute for bonds in the region of a countrys
location. Pakistan can have the best relations with the US, but if it loses out in its
neighborhood , with hostility form Iran and Afghanistan , distancing from Central Asia
and a cooling of with China , then it would end up undermining its core interests. It is all
the more essential for the success of the foreign policy of Pakistan that it has to be
rooted in domestic base which includes political stability, national consensus, sound
economy, efective deterrence and above all, quality of leadership.
Pakistans priority should be a Foreign Policy that has no disconnect either with
domestic politics or with regional realities. An efective policy requires domestic stability
and a national consensus on issues.
The upshot of the above account is that, the Government and people of Pakistan should
remain on their guards, for in International relations there are neither eternal friends nor
eternal enemies, the only thing eternal is the National Interest. Thus it requires that
through deft diplomacy , using innovative and novel means we must strive to promote
our interests and at the same time keep a triangular balance among the world giants i.e
The U.S, The China ,and the E.U.