PAKISTAN’S FOREIGN POLICY

The foreign policy of a country is in a sense a projection of its internal policies“

”.,social, political and economic
(F. M. Muhammad Ayub Khan)

Pakistan was born under inauspicious circumstances. As with all other countries,
Pakistan’s 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 PAKISTAN’S FOREIGN POLICY

.
Security, 2. Ideology 3. National Interests 4. Diplomacy 5. Public Opinion .1
Decision making .6

PRINCIPLES OF PAKSITAN’S FOREIGN POLICY

Security 2. Ideology 3.National interests 4. Détente and peaceful relations . 5. .1

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 France’s 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. Pakistan’s 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 Pakistan’s foreign policy. Pakistan’s membership of OIC and
unswerving support for the just cause of Palestinians speak volumes about our
.efforts in this connection

:A Critical View of Pakistan’s 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 Pakistan’s 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

Era of Neutrality .1
Era of Allainces .2
Era of Bilateralism .3
Era of Non-alignment .4

A critical analysis of the foreign policy pursued in the last half of a century
transpires that Pakistan’s 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

Era of Non-alignment .4

A critical analysis of the foreign policy pursued in the last half of a century
transpires that Pakistan’s 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
country’s 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 off 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, effective deterrence and above all,
.quality of leadership
Pakistan’s priority should be a Foreign Policy that has no disconnect either with
domestic politics or with regional realities. An effective 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