Pakistan Foreign Policy To Other Countries.

 

Pakistan's Foreign Relations

Usman Ashraf

Pakistan Foreign Policy To Other Countries.

Pakistan's foreign policy is centered on its relationship with neighboring countries, particularly with China, Afghanistan and India. The country has a complicated relationship with the United States, marked by periods of cooperation and tension. Pakistan's relationship with its immediate neighbor, India, is particularly fraught, due to the ongoing dispute over the region of Kashmir. The country has also played an important role in the Muslim world and is a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Pakistan has traditionally sought to maintain a balance of power in the region, and has fostered strong ties with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Historically Discussion:

Historically, Pakistan has had a complex foreign policy, shaped by the country's geography, its relationship with neighboring countries, and its position as a Muslim-majority nation.

In the early years of Pakistan's independence, the country aligned itself with the United States as a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). However, Pakistan's relations with the US have been marked by periods of cooperation and tension.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Pakistan played a leading role in the Muslim world, and was a strong supporter of the idea of an Islamic bloc of nations. The country fostered strong ties with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and played a key role in the formation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 1969.

Pakistan's relationship with its immediate neighbor, India, has been one of the most significant factors shaping its foreign policy. The two countries have fought several wars, and the ongoing dispute over the region of Kashmir continues to be a major point of tension between them.

During the Cold War, Pakistan maintained close ties with the United States, and received military and economic aid from the US. However, the 1971 war with India, and Pakistan's nuclear development program in the 1980s, strained relations with the US. After the end of the Cold War, Pakistan's foreign policy has seen a shift towards greater engagement with China and the strengthening of economic ties with the Middle East.

Recently, relations with India continue to be tense, and the region of Jammu and Kashmir, which both countries claim as their territory, and is controlled by India, continues to be a source of tension, while the issue of Terrorism also creates a rift in the relationship, making it more complex.

According to some authors and experts, Pakistan's foreign policy has been driven by a number of factors, including the country's geography, its relationship with neighboring countries, and its position as a Muslim-majority nation.

One view is that Pakistan's foreign policy has been heavily influenced by its relationship with India. According to this perspective, Pakistan's efforts to counter India's military and economic power have been a central driver of its foreign policy. The ongoing dispute over the region of Kashmir and the fear of Indian domination have also been cited as major factors shaping Pakistan's foreign policy.

Another perspective is that Pakistan's foreign policy has been shaped by its efforts to balance the influence of major world powers, particularly the United States and China. Pakistan's close military and economic ties with the United States during the Cold War, and its recent strengthening of ties with China, have been seen as efforts to maintain a balance of power in the region and avoid dependence on any one country.

Others argue that Pakistan's foreign policy has been shaped by its identity as a Muslim-majority nation and its efforts to assert itself as a leader in the Muslim world. Pakistan's support for Muslim causes and its leadership role in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are seen as key elements of this aspect of its foreign policy.

Some experts also highlight the role of Military establishment in shaping the foreign policy, and how the military establishment has been able to effectively control the key foreign policy decisions, especially regarding the relationships with the neighboring countries.