Foreign policy

CHAPTER - ONE
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN POLICY. AN
OVERVIEW
DEFINITION
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Definit€]y lik€ m€n, states also require neighbor and fii€nds in ord€r
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to lllfill th€ir social, economical, and polidcal needs. ForeiSn policy of a
country is very imponant ard corplex activity becaus€ the Sbte in lhe
world achievs their national inteBts md objecliv€s tbrcugh for€ign policy.
It is desirable to make a study of the behavioral pattem of lhc various
slates, as reflected in th€ir policy in order to tully comprehend the intcFslate
Accordins to F.S. Norlhedge implies, "Foteign policy is use of
political innuence in order to induce other slates to exercise their law-mrking
power in a manner desir€d by the state conc€med: it is an inl€racnon
b€tw.en forces originating outside the country's bordeB and those worldng
Therc is no unanimity amongsl the scholars regarding the m€aning of
for€ign policy and they havc offered various definhions in this rcgard.
ADEL ford AND Lincolin says, "Foreign policy is lhe totahy of ils dcaling
with lh€ dtemal environm€nt." ('z)

While Huge Gibson defin€ in this way "foreign policy is well
rounded, compr€hensive plan based on bowl€dge and experience for
conducling the business of govemmenl with the r€st of ihe World.',o)
According to Hill, Foreign policy is the content or a substance of a nalion's
eflorts to promote its int€resls vis-A-vis orbe. narions." (')
Prol HartEunn d€fines foreign policy as "a slstematic slatemenr of
dcliberately selecrednarioml inlercsrs." (r)
According 10 Proi Rutbnaswamy, " For€ign policy now js the bundt€
ofprinciples and praclices tlat regulare lhe intercourse ofa srate wilh other
Though all th€ above definirions of foreign policy refer ro rh€ srate
action with .egard to foreign powers, ir is also retated wilh rhe dom€sric
policyofa state.
According 10 Clement ,,the distinction berw€o domestic policy and
foreig poli€y is misleading." (?)
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AIMS OF FOREICN POLICY
Basic objectives
promolion of its national
of th€ forcign policy of ary counrry are me

the prime objecriv€ of the foreign poliry of a stare, particularly a
small staoe like Pakistan, is to ensrre its survival or indep€nd€nce. It is a
scrious challeng€ for {he stales, wbich d€ d€pend€nt mititdily,
economically on suf,€r powers, b€ing independent, a country should be fi.ee
within its intemal affairs and should hav€ power 10 express independent
vicws on exlernal issu€s.
The important aim of the foreign poticy of the countries also include
to work for th€ pres€rvation of the present int€mational syslen and the
vanous riShts and pdvileges iDherenr in rhar system. The srales realize thal
pcacef'rl relations,, with other counEics are possibte onty if srable
intcmational systern exists.
As Northedge has pul it, ..All counhi€s have a Srear€r or less interesr
'n
cnsuring thar romorrow's world is nor ptunged inro flam€s againsr which
no on€'s hous€ is firc- proof" (3)
All the srates try to work for the improvem€nt of rhe living standard of
their p€ople. This is nol only because of $e dem@ratizarion of ihe fo.eign
policies, but also b€cau!. ..Ir is obvious tha! in rhe last resort liviDg srDdard
will, ifnecessary be sacrificed for ..highcr" national inter€sts, as experienced
in a world in which stales must provide for their securiry, guns must
unfortunarely come bcfore butler and the practice of srat€s show that on the
*holc this Indim is rcflccr€d in their polici€s." (q)
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3 APPROACHES OF FORIICN POLICY.
There are few kinds of approaches of foreign policy, which hclp to
under srand th€ forcign policy but thcy ar€ uled in diff€r€nt period of dtc
history- There arc Histoncal or Traditional Approachcs: -
Thes€ approaches havc bccn adopted for the study of diploftatic
evmts of a panicular p€riod wilh accuracy, precision, !o as io leam lesson
for tunlre on lhe basis ofpasl expcricnce.
Legrlistlc Approrch
This approach lsys emph.ais on the study of foreign policy in
legalistic tcrm. Efforts are madc !o sludy the extemal relarions ofrhe stat s
in dle light intcmational law, tr€ades, constitutional provisions etc.
De$riptlve Approech
The scholars adopting this apprcach pick up somc sp€cific pmblcrns
or conceptual fiamework, usine th€ir own judgenent on rh€ weishing of

Anabtical Approrch
His approach differs ftom
regards 1o the mcthod but also in
of int€mtional politics.
Comparrtiv€ Approrch
regrd to its general
of study not only with
orienution to th€ field
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The conparative approach for the study of foreign poticies is of
rclatively reccnt origin and draws inspiralion fton the study of€omparative
Ideological Approrctl
This approach tricn lo anal)"ze forcign policy as an expression of rhe
prevailing political, social or religious believe. Thus, rhe policies are
classjfied as d€mocratic or authorirarian; Iiberal a.d socialisric, peac€ loving
or aggressive. However! ihe siudy of foreign policies pur€ly on ideological
ba3is is not pssiblc becaus€ when thcrc is clash berw€en idcology and
ratioDal inlerests, the former is abandoned.

PRJNCIPLES OF PAKISTAN'S FORIIGN POLICY
The principles of Pakistan's for€ign policy are finnly bascd in thm
country's Islamic ldeolo$/, its rich cultuml heritag€ dd historical
backgroD4 especially the inlmse sruggle for fr€edom. As an Islanic and
non aliSned country Pakisran suppons, with all iis heans. "The lslamic
causes and upholds with will the principles of respect for independence,
sovereignty, and teritorial inlegriry of (r0)
states".
Phases orPakistan's Foreign policy.
Pakistan's dom€stic polilic! started in 1947 and €nded in 1949. This
phase is called as an er. ofn€unality /non-aligned. This was pcriod whcn
strategy dd not ideolo$,, dominated Pakistan's domqtic sccne. Thc
balmce on the tulcrum of policy rnaking remained titled havily in favour of
Pakistan did nev€r exist before 1947 as successor colonial unit it was
part hole sub contin€nt. When s€pamted frcm tbe sme, il was also separaled
from lhe vas! adninistrative, economic and defensive structure which used
lo bave their nucleus center in N€w D€li as such the infan! state of Pakistan
having exh€nely meager resourccs, had to rebuild its osn srructur€ from
scratch. Li.k€d with these devclopment was the influx of nine million
refugeg from India rhis mass, unlmown in the pasr hisrory of the world,
made it essential for the liberal straregisrs ro dep€nd on rhe pre €xisring
westemized bureaucracy for both the rehabiliiarion of refugees and $e
mainlerarce of gen€ral law and order in rhe coDtry. Similarly rh€ Indo

Pakislan war ovcr Kalhmir in 1947- 48 rcx.d rhc nalional adtuinisF|tion. Ir
crcatcd an cmcrgcncy in which lhc libcral sFatcgisb at rhe hclm w€rc not
suppos.d to be conscrvativc lh€y had ro apply modem laws ofwar lo oppos.
Indian dulat, which also included rh€ formarion of ctos€ tiaison with
wcst€miz€d military leadcls. (r r)
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Th€ Intemational system that crncrged aner $e Second World War
wa5 charactenzcd by cold war and dght bipolariry. Thc for€ign poticy of rhc
filst fcw years ofth€ exislenc€ of Pakisran can bc labetled as $c non-atiFcd
ycaF, b€cause Pakisaan wrs €sscnriatly trying ro mainrain n€uFatity in rhe
on going cold war during rhis period. Both the USA and USSR were inviting
Palisi.n for suppon in rhe cold war alignmenrs. Howevet pakisran was
its.lfbcs€t wilh thc task ofpu$ing rhings roa€ther in rhc promised tnnd. tr
was confronicd wirh all sorts of economic, potirical and retigious probtcms.
So it was nor in a posirion ro s€r for its€tf an imponanr role in rhc
intcmational arcna.(r?)
Forcign policy itl I 950s and 1960s- during this penod pakisran was
part ofthc dcfence tr€aties sponscrd by rhe wcsr
Forcign policy in 1970s - dui'g which cmphasis was tsid on
bilalcrlism and ther€ was a nnrkcd shin on pan of pakisian from
Soulh Asian sub-slst€m ro rhc Middlc Easlem sub-sysrem and
Paksilan sought ro forge cconomic and potitical dcs with rhc
Middle Bstcm and Wesr Asian Mustim counEies.
t:

For€ig. Policy in 1980s - in which lher€ was revival of a close
alliance wi$ th€ west and theUSA.
Foreign policy in tbe 1990s - lhis era covers shifting trend! in the
foreign policy in lhc wakc of chdging realili€s in an around
Pakisian. A disaincl feature ofthis era seems to be "regionslism."
For€tsn Policv In r9s0s
Kashmir dispute and fear of Indian aggession and Pashtun problem
had be€n th€ comerston€ ofpakistan's forei8n policy since India had flol yet
reconciled lerself to the €mcrgcnce of Pakistan. This f€ar was furthq
slrengthened by the September 1965 wai. Congiess l€aders had thougbl that
Pakistan would collapse soo.er or lalcr- They leff no stone untum€d to uf,do
Pakislan afler lh€ partition. Th€ Indian Governm€nt stopped canal watcr, and
encouraSed lhe "Pushtoonisian" mov€ment just after the achievemenl of
Pakistan. All this was not an isolated exp€di€nt, but a deep conspiracy to
undermine the foundation of rhis nervly bom state. On the other hand lndia
invaded Junagadh and enter€d Kashmir, violating all principles ofjustice.
Communal riots dd pushing refug€cs inro Pakistan was another indicat;o.
of Indian policy towards Pakistan. (1r)
Realizing all the gounds facb Pakistan join SEATO (Soulh Eisl
Asiar Tr€ary Orsanization) in 1954 and CENTO (Central Trcaty
Orsanizaijon) in 1955. In 1959, Pakistan and lhe US sisned a Defcncc Pact
in which the later guaranle€d the security of Pakistan in the evcnt of a
communist attack. Pakislan's inclusion in weslem alliance system offended

India, Afsharistan, Sovi€r Union and Egl4r. patisran was rermed as a .US
prol6ge' during period ofalliance. Pakistan princ Minisrer Hussain Slahe€d
Shorwardhi was so ov€Mhelned rhal h€ dcclar€d pakistan to be th€ ..rnosr
allied alll'ofthe Unired Stales. pakistan received substanrial economic and
m'litary assjslance form €xisting. How€ver, pakisran could nor achiev€ irs
mam objeclive i.e. security by joining these aliance syst€m. Althoush
CENTO and SEATO w€re dir€cted againsl rhe commumsr powers, yet
Pakistan hop€d to acquire westem support lo solvc the Kashmir issue. The
US did not pur any pressurc on India lo hold plebiscite in Kashmir.
Moreov€r, fe$' imponanl d€velopm€nts forced paKrstan 1o r€cons,der s
roreisn Policv In r960s'
the U,2 (th€ US spy ptan€) incident of t960 had exposed the inseoriry
of Pakisra in rhe evenr ot the Sovier alack. The Kh.ushchev threatened
lo wipe out P€shawar fiorn where U,2 had flown over the Sovier Union.
The Amencan baes in pakisran had creaco embanassmenr br
Tlle 1962, Sinolndo border war forc€d pakhtan ro seeK auemare ophons
thd d€pending on th€ w€slem alliance system. The US massive mititary
support to India, nor wirhstanding rcservarions shown by pakistan, added
fiustration anong policy makers in lslamabad. pakrstan protested ro rhe
US that lhe American/ W€stem n)ilitary assislance to lndra would be
used against Pakisran.

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iii After 1962, the global polilical climate had changed from cold war to
d€tenle md peacetul coexislence - CENTO and SE{TO were thc
legacies ofthe cold war and afier a political setlement belween the US
ard the Sovier Union, many countri€s begun 1o delink themsehes ftom
super power rivalry. Realizing the new situation, Pakistan also
reorienled its foreign policy on practical.nd r€lational lines.( ')
Pakisran's l-ear that American tid would disturb lhe Indo-Pak miljtary
balance came true when in Septcmber 1965, India atlacked P3kislan and
used the mllilary ams againsl her which were obiained for using against
China. Ll',J jnlervened and a ceas€-fire was agreed by bolh the Staies. Then
Russia olTered her good offices to mcdiat€ between India and Pakistan,
which w€r€ accepred. Presid€nl of Pakislan and Prime Minister of lndia
visited Russia in Janrary 1966. whcre the Tashkent D€claration was signed
by both the Heads ofstate, Armies w€re withdmM to the previous positions
and diplomalic rclalion wcrc rcslorcd. ThouSh rclat'ons beNeen the lwo
States became normal but the situalion along the borders remained
explos've. Pak'stan had cenain cxpectation from th€ Tashkanl Declaration.
She thougbt due lo Russian innucnce and medialion Kasbm'r dispule would
be solved, but Russian cold atlitude disillusioned her. lt n€ilher won her
Russian friendsbip. nor ii neutralizcd her attitude because Russia conlinued
giving mitnary aid 1l) India. President A}l'lb clearly stated many times t|at
lhefe could be no friendship wilh India until thc Kasbmir problem was
Pakislan is an ideolo8ical State.'Ihc ideology ofPakistan is based on
Islam. One of thc objectivcs of Pakistan for€ign policy was to promot€

broth€rly relations with Mushn countfles. But the €floris of pakisran
Gov€mmen( did not brins rh€ desired r€sults. On the orher hand she could
not jo'ned hands wirh th€ Communist bloc because of he.c ideotog/,
Pakistan had ro search fo. friends who could ensure here securily. AII these
ractoE lcd Pakistanjoin the wesrem bloc. Liaquat Alj Khan was invired by
bodr USSR and USA bur he preferred lo vjsit USA which indicated
Pakistank till rowards the Wes1. H€r retations with USA were guidcd by rwo
principles- Firsrly, USA was on ot the major powers of the wortd_ The
paneh of hcr rctations with USA was not likely to affeca h€r rote and
rclatons with other countries. Secondty, USA was in a posirion to make
conlrjb0urion rowards pakistan economic devetopnenl and ulrjmatety to
her national security. On the orher hand, USA atso wanted to enabtish
cordial relations with pakislan, becaus€ of hef geopotrtrcat sjlualion and
proxinity 10 USSR, which could be used forconrarnment ofCommunism_,rl
Foreigl| Polhy fr 1970s
Decemb€r l97l was a criticatjuncture in paKrsran_s nalro.at bistory.
Seldorn had a narjon faced a crisis oflhe type that pakjsrah had to face on
Decenber 20, t971. Wtrh one pa.t ofour counrry rom away as a resutt ofa
humilialing d€fcal at the hmds of India. The morate of fte nadon was al the
lowe$ level. More than 90,000 ofhe. vatiant sotdrers were hetd caprives in
India, which also occupied 5,000 miles ofland in West patisran. t.hcrc were
more than l2 Lac shelterl€ss peopte jn the refugee canps. who had tost rheir
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Such was fte situation Zulilkar Ali Bhutto rook over the reins ofthe
Govemment ofPakistan. He was lhe architect ofthe forcign policy adopted
during the sixties based on Bilat€ralism". As 1be Presidenl of Pakista, he
gave ir a concrel€ shap€ recognizing lhe emerging r€aliti€s in lhe sub-continenr
and rhe cbanging siruarion in the world rcal world politics- The
basic principlc rcmained 1o serve thc bcsr inrercsi ofPakislan by maintaining
friendlyrelations with all rhe counties.
Thc major sleps. indicariv€ of radical chmges in thc lorcign policy of
Wilhdrawal from the Commonweallh.
ii. Recognition of Easl Germany, Democratic Republics of Kor€a and
Vietnam, the Republic of Cuin€a Bissau, $e Royal Govemment of
Nalional ( lnion ofCambodia.
ur. withdrr"al ftonSEATO and UNCURK.
The main obrccnvc ofrhe forcilr policv were as follows:
Restoralion ofthe confidence of ftiendly counries and rebuilding the
EsBblishing fnendly rclations wilh all big powels-

iii. Elimination of the consequ€nccs of 1071 war and settlement of
outstanding issues with Indjaon honourable basrs.
iv. Restomtion of ties and contacts wilh lhe autho.itics and p€ople of
Ihngladcsh.
v Rrilo6ron offorcign ard for rmmediJre $o tulLr.e nccds
vi. Re-eslablishing the lost prestige of Pakjstan in foreign counties
specially in the Westen World.lr"r
With asumption of power by Z.A. Bhurlo, pakist.n chaned a new
course in its foreign relatjons. Immediatcly after coming lo power. he look a
lour of20 Muslim counr es ofdie Middlc East, which hc ca ed a nission of
r€na'ssance ofrelarions witb the Mustim world. tn 1972, pakisran wnhdrew
from the Commonwealth, SEATO and rcco8nized rhe Sociatisr Covemmcnt
ofNonh Korea and Norrh Vietnam.
Bhuno missed no opportunity 10 cxrcnded lotat suppon for Arabs
during the Ranazan war of 1973 againn tsrlel and readity exptoired rhc
srtuatron to enhance Pakistfl's rote in rhe Islamic wortd by hosring rhc
second Islamic Summit Conference in Lahore in 1974.
It is v€ry interesting ro nore thal pakistan followcd tbe poUcy of
bilateralism while mainraining its mcmbership in CENTO. Excepr lh€
sympatheric poljcy ol Nixon adbinisrrarion lowards pakisran during thc
l97l Indo-Pakislan war, Pakistan-Us relations were nol as cordial as they

were dunng 1950's and early I960's. Twice the US suspended military a'd
ro Pakisbn, i.e. dunng 1965 and l97l Indo-Pakistan wa$. One of the
advanrages which Pakislan achieved in foUowing thc policy ofbilaleraUsm
was its increasing cconolnic and political relations wilh the Th;d World and
the Socialist Countries. rrl)
Ioreign Policy In 1980s
Pakistan's relations wrrh US had deteriorat€d especially after the
suspension of American economic aid in I 979 as prolesl against Pakistan's
nuclear program. Bur tbe situarion drmalically chang€d after Ru$ian
intedenlion in Afghanistan, which forced USA to rcorient its relation with
the Pakisran. Asia emerged as a rcgion ofbigh priorily for the US policy-make6.
Whilc maintaining its membership in the NAM, Pakistan signed a
3.2 (1982) and 4.02 (1986) billioD doud packag€ deal with the US. After
Russian inlervcntion in Afghanishn, the US did nol object Pakiston's
nuclen !ro$am- in fact it received a big boosl.
During lhis period, following werc the main objectives of Pakisran
foreign policy:
1. Friendly and cordial relationship withthc pcople Republic ofChina
ii. Clos€ relations wilh rhe United Stat€s-iii.
Beuer cconomic dd pol ncal nes urfi fie 4rslim counmes
iv. Policy ofNon-Aljgnmenl in world afiairs.

v. Securny(r3)
Iran revolulion and Soviet Union intervenlion inb AfShanislan posed
senous thrcad to west and Uniled Stares inleresls in Soulh Asia ard Middlc
East. So UDrtcd States realizing rhe graviry ol sirlation infomred thc
Pakistan that Anerica recognizes lhe Dlrand Line as thc Pakislan-
Arghanistan boundaries. It offered lslamabad an economic and miluary
package to Pakisre and sent dclega(ion headed by Dr. Bzuinski and Mr.
Christopher |o Pakistd in February 80s. Dr. Bze2inski emphasi4d thal
SovieE should not be allowed to consolidare in Afghdistan. US authorities
told Pakislan that US law would be amendcd ifPakisran cooperates wirh rhe
Washinglon lo resisr the Sovicl Union ir A&hanistm. This trarkcd ncw cra
belween Pakistan and United States.
DETERMINATING FACTORS OF PAKISTAN'S
FOREIGN POLICY.
ln faci, the lor€ign policy is merely an extension ofnarion's domesric
policy. stale has lo derermine rts forcign policy kc€ping in view ils own
domestic coftpulsions. No doubt rhe global polirical devetopmen$ atso
exercise influcnce in the determination oIa country's foreign policy, blt this
innuencc is mainty at rhe outer fringes.
Il cannot be denied rhar a continuous intemcrion gocs on bclwccn
inlemational milieu and rbe donrcstic factors so far tbar $e dctemrnalion of
the forejgn policy ofa state is concemed.

According lo Roscoe Pound, "Domcsdc policy is social conrrot
through law; foreign policy islhe useofpolitical influenc€ in ordcr to induce
oth€r statcs to ex€rcise thcir law making powcr in a manner desircd by lhe
Thesc wcrc all lhe opinion of scholars in which we kncw the meaning
definitions and importance of rhc foreign policy. Bur being srud€nr of
inlemationrl r€lations, if we wanl ro discuss rh€ foreign policy of a
panicularly counrry, ir will b€ csscntial ro undcr srand fie aims, obiecrives
and the Approaches ofrhe forcign policy.
Which advocated that Hindu and Muslims were rwo separatc cultural
and rcligious conmunities and could not co€xist in a single country.
Pakistan being a Muslim srare had ideolos/ in irs foundarion. Thc
ideological factor thereforc ha! bcen a vcry imponanr facror in
dcterrhiDalion of ils forcign policy.
Each and evcry slat€ has its own dctcrminant whil€ formulaling or
naking thc foreign policy. Th€rc arc also c€nain factors, which dercrminc
lh€ coursc of foreign policy of Pakistan.
ldeolosv as A Delermin.nt Frctor.
As mcn(ioned above, ldeology is one of the irnponant factors in
formulating the forcign policy ofa statc. Pakistan's foreign policy is based
on lslanic ideology bccause of rhe two rcaons, firsr morc rhan 85%
population is Muslim in Pakistan and Pakistan was crcat€d to me€t the

ifiesistible demand ofthe MusUnrs of thc sub'conljnent. It was duly rmposc
by the klam not to associate or merge lhcil identiucation and individualily
Sn Saycd Ahamd Khan hrgh ljghting 1hc samc said *11 was nol
possible for the Hindus dd Muslims 1o progress as a sjngle nation-.. I .m
convinced rhat both nations will nol join whole heartedly in my thing-.-he
!'ho lives will se€. '(10)
Dr. Allana Muhammad Iqbal committi.g on this said in his
pr€sidential address in December 1930 " Personally I would lik€ to go
funher than the demand embodicd il. I would likc to see th€ Punjab;
Nonbwest Frontier province, Sindh a.d Balochistan amalgamated into a
sinSle slale. Self govcmment within lhe adtish empirc or without the British
cmpire. fte tonmtion of consolidated North-West lndid Muslim state
rpp€ars to me lo b€ the final desliny ofthe Mudim at least of th€ Mudim at
lcast ofthe Nonh west India."(rr)
The late Prime Minisrer of Pakistan Liaqar Ali Khan opinioned (The
underlying idea of the novement fo. lhe achievemenr ol Pakistan was nol
jusr lo add one more couniry to lhe conglomcration ofcouDaies in rbe world
or lo add one more patch ofcolor 10 the multi-colorcd global map. PakisQn
camc irlo bcing as a result of lhc urge felt by the Mudims of lhis
subcontinent to secure a terilory, howcv€r limited. where the Islamic
idcology and way oflife could bc pracriced and demonstraled to fte world.
A cordial fealure ofthus ideology is to make Muslim brothe.hood n living
feality. lt is, th€refor€, pafi of tbc mission which Pakistan has sel b€fore

irseli to do every tbing in its powcr 10 promote closer fellowship and
(")
cooperation between Muslims countnes."
While Quaid e AzamMlhammad Ali Jinnab o. fte eve ofh's visit lo
rhe USA underlined the importancc oftbe in his address in February 1948
Ideological facror
"The constitution of Pakisi.n has yet to be fiamed by the Pakistan
Conslituenl Assembly. I do not know whal the xltimate shape of thc
constitulion is going to be but I am sure lha! it will be a democratic
t)?e embo'lying the essential principles oflslam.'('1r'
So in the light oI above citations it is imporiant for policy maker lo
incorporate ldcology as an esscntial faclor in determanation of Pakistan's
foreaglt pol'cy. ft
's
therefore obvious that Pakishn assoc'ated it self with
democmtic and Muslim countries and will do the same in fulure Il was
lherefore on the basis of ideological unanimity thal Pakistan cl'ose lo align
with United States led bloc since inception. In lhe begiming at the timc of
Afghanislan war USA and Pakistan suppor'ted Afghans wilh difTerenl
USA h6 to conlem€d USSR in Aighanistan and takes the revenge of
Vietnam wal and Pakistan had to help Muslims brothers in Afghanislan on
rhc ground oflslamic ideology.
e.sss4djs4-[4!!9!

Geogaphy doninates the poliiical envnonnenl of a counq. lt has
p€rmanenl iniluencc on the foreign policy of a coutry and it is the rnarters
ofhonor md r€speci of a panicular state in Modem Inrcmational politics.
According to Dr, Ea),.rs 'Pacts nay be broken. trealics unilalerally
dcnoun.ed. bur Aeogaphyholds Is,cli|I5 |J5r'r:"
ceography controls political cnvircnment ofcountry rnd the pnze of
modem intemational politic is the €anh. The tem may also be used to
dcscribe political gcography consider€d inlems ofrhe slrucrurc oftbe wodd
arl its components stales- Napoleon aptly said about 175 years ago that the
foreign policy of a country is delemined by ils geography the potitjcal
signiiicance ofan ar€a beals a well-defined relation to its climate, landforms
and natuml resources. (ri)
ft is the nain reason rhar Pakistan's forejgn poticy mosrly b€gins and
ends at her borders rnore padjcularly wilh tndjans border and Afgheisran,
The map ofPakistan shows that roughly hatf of Pakistan.s tand meet with
India alnost one th;d with Afghdisla one sixrh with lran and lery sha
stnp with China, Before lhe disintegrarion of Soviet Union of was very
closcst. Afglanislan was buffer sble berween pakisran and USSR.
C€ograpb'cal localion in the sourh ofPakislan lics Arabian sca and gateway
bolh to the Persian gulf and culf oi Adan wbich ljnks .rabian sea with
Meditorian sea via red sca md Swiss canal. this is the mairr rrade route
b€rween Europe and Asia.
World reputed and rcnowned €conomisr Dawn Shahjd .javcd barqi
describ€d the geo-political impo.tancc of pakisran in this way ..Thus

Pakistan has e atlcnrile geographical localion sutr'singly i1 sib righr in
ftonl ofnumbe. ofimponant galcway it is at the gaieway to the resource rich
countries ofcentral Asia and Middle Easi it is linked to weslem provinces of
China by all weathcr road rhat lnversca a landscapc of exrra ordinary
beauly. we should not discount facr that Pakistan one day will provide a link
between rcsources rich counfies of central Asia and India which is facing
growing cnergy deficit. {'6)will come to Pakistan so thh is the another
determinant factor, wfiich deternin€d the Pakistan's foreign policy.
Economic Factor.
Economy plays vcry imponant role in shape of srabitjzing counrry -
Pakislan at the time of its cre3tion, faced number ofdiflicuhies in economic
sector - got very liltle during partition plan. Was tooking to d€vctop that
sector and lbis was rhe main reason rhat premier Liaqat Ali Kban visired
United Srates instead of USSR. Becausc at thar tjnre USA was very mucb
dominated in tbe world Polirics and gra.ted cconomjc count y assistancc is
group Africa, Asaa and Lalin Amcrican countries conrotling wortd's s6a
roois. So it provjdcd betrer chance and opportuniry for Pakistan lo have
b€tter relations with USA md lhrough it she succeeded in joini.g relarions
wirh fte SEATO, Cento and orher pacts wirh Washingron. wesrem Europe
and got considerablc aid in military and economic sector.
Besides, Pakistanjoined the intemalional insritutions like IMF, Wortd
Bank and mainrained extremely cordial and fiicndty relntions with Muslims
countnes from wh€rc economic assislance in rh€ shap€ of cash and orher
products likc crude oil to Pakista. in lime her n€€d. Now pakjstm

continuously is lrying !o develop economic soundness 10 reduce dep€ndency
on wesl and industrial nalions. Pakistan's policy in concem ofEconomic is
based onthe following two principles.
. Joinl vcnturc project with nciShboring nations.
. Eslablishins resional
throughout lh€ region
organizations like ECO for rapid developmenl
and SAARC.
Securitv Concerr.
Def€ncc has been
policy. Sinc€ ns birth in
wilh lwo serious issues in
a major determining faclor ol
1947. Soon after independence
tlris rcgard.
Firstly, it
establish itselfas
had to win rccognitjon
an existing r€ality on the
S€cond'y, il badly needed a viable defence to e.sure its lcrritonal
Sov€reignty.
In facl it was on the basis of serious tkeat to the suNival ofnewly
bom s're rtdr Pdkisrd was in he(ric se ch io. a ,rDErpotr er co-opcra, rol
defcnce Umbrella Panicularly k€eping in view the mutual fold mighr of
India and Afgh3rislan.

The two countries fought three wars against each other in which was
offensive. Bolh countries have made latest weapons and nuclear techtology.
Due !o tension ot bo$ coutries a najor part of Pakistan's budget for
defenc€ because in this situation the milit.ry strength of a country also
determines ofits foreign policy like lsrael.
ln facl it was the British imperial wrthd.awal from the region of Soutl
Asia, thal crealed the vacuum and boft super powers of posl war i-e. ljnited
Slates and Soviet Union tried ro fillit up. The inter€sl ofsuper powers in the
arca was reflected in the fact, that President Truman invited Jawaharlal
Nehn to pay oflcial visit !o the United States whil€ Soviet Premier Joshph
Slalin senl the invi|alion to Pakislan P.ime MinislerLiaquat Ali Khan for the
Soviel Union.
Howeve. in a very shon period, India gravitaled bwards Soviet
Unjon. Pakistan chose the Unitcd States as a security guarantor in face ofan
India threat. Pakislan signed the Mutual Defense Assistance aBreem€nt wirh
tbe United States. After singing Mutual Defense Assistance agreemenr wirh
lhe United Srales. Pakistan also became mcmber ofsouth East Asia Trealy
Organization. In 1955 Pakrstan acceded to the "Baghdad Pacf'.
Agha Shahi says. " from 1955 to 1960 Pakistan enjoyed a kind of
honeymoon relationship with the United Stares." However he is of rhe
opinion lhal military aid was kepr car€tully linired so rhar Pakisran rnay nol
achiele military pariry wirh India." c7)

!0
Uniled Satcs policy lowards Pakislan liltle bil chmged during the
PRsident Kenedy penod because he had rcsewed Dulles policy, Kenedy had
suggened lhal non-alignment nalions should play role of bridge bu'lders
betwcen two antagonist mililary bloc NATO- WARSA. Pakistan w.s
eoried when Kcncdy sen( mititary assistance to India including United
Stat€s air force cover, after India- China clash in 1962 " l'?r)
Although Pakistan was a reliable Uniled States ally, it was shocked
wh€n Uniled States Presidenl Johnson imposed an ams embargo agarnst
Pakisran during 1965 war wilh India. On the other hmd lndia took the
benefil ofAmericans soitness towards her.
l97l war was slso a bitter experi€nce for Pakistan as a Uniled States
did not move to help in a crucial period ofPakislan's history. Pakislan lost
lastem Province in this war. Wh€re as Indo- Soviel Trcaty in Augus! l97l
provided a sotid suppon lo India and prevenled China Iion assisling
Pakrnan eflectrvely rn wdke ofnaked lndian dggres'iorr.
Zulfiquar Ali Bhurto in view of Pakislan bilter experience with thc
super powers so called iiiendship tried 10 give new directions to both foreign
and security of thc counlry. His nuclear pmgram and effons lo unie the
Muslinr World on the basis oflslamic and cconomic consciousness annoyed
fte ' old fiend" United Stal€s, as a.esuli he was not only over thrown but
also hanged. Ousted Bhutto had alleged that " utite Elephrnt" was bebind
conspiracy to topple lrls govemment.

In 1979 with Dauad's removal and killing in a leftist military coup
ard subsequenl i.rewenlio. of Soviel Union ir Afghanistrn cbang€d the
Oeo- politic:l situation of the region, when red army occupied Pakistan
neighborhood Americans perception of front line states revitalized. After all
Newyork incidents Americans mission ofAfghanistan, Pakistan has becone
again fioni line state. Whatevcr zigzag relations end experjence Anerica is
most important determinant factor of Pakistank foreign Policy.
6@
FACTOR OF PAKISTAN'S POLICY.
Since itr bi.tb Pakistan has b€cn facing Indian antagonisrn. Indian
facbr, has fterefore been a fundanental detcrmi.ant d fG as Pakista's
foreign policy is concemed.
Rob€rt Schuman, Former Prime Minister of France said thal since
1871, rhe French forcign policy has been continuously dominaied by one
main pre occupadon that ofensurine her s€curity and independence ftom its
neigbbor, c€many.{l') T}is is equally true about Pakistan. The main pr€
occupadon of Pakistan t orn very beginning has been lo ensure its security
Becausc every bcad of state has pin pointed this factor for insbnce,
lwo nations or neighboring countries have fought three wars during the
penod offive decades (1948, 1965, l97l )

lr
Again on 26'h S€prembe. said pale rhreareninS to pakisIan said on
26fi Scpt€mbcr 1947, he drcatcned tha!, " lfPakisran p€rsisrenrly rcfus€s ro
scc its proved !nor, and conrinues 10 minimize il, (hc Indian govemmcnt
would have to go to war sgainsr ir.'oo)
Samc was rhe atritudc ofoth€r Indian leaders, which is apparent ftom
tlrc Congress Pr€sidenl, Mr. Sarjiva R€ddy, said .. W€ have 10 tiberarc rhe
occupied arcas in Kashmir. We are postponing rhe issu€ thar we do nor
accept the ceale fire line as a peEnanent solurion..' Hc expecred th€ people
in "occupicd areas" of Krlhmir to struggte ro rid rhcm selv€s of rhe usurper
and'virhin a shon period ofrim€ lhe covemment wi choose rhc codccr
timc to lib€rac rhat pan of f2shmir also ir had done jn rcsp€cr of Goa.',
(Sratcsman, 5fi Jaruary, 1962) ot)
Th€ latc Prime Minist€r N€hru said: ..So far as China and pakisran ar€
concem€d,lndia isdetermin€d 10 vacare rleir aggrcssion." (rr)
KASHMIR AS A FOCAL POINT OF PAKISTAN'S
POLICY.
No one can doubt the facr thar Kashmir is fi€ flasb poinl not onty of
ioutr Asia but also ofworld today. In pakis|an's foreign policy i(5 position
B rhat of a soul with out which body is unlcss. h will b€ sppropriare lo
discuss this probl€m in detail bcforc locaring ils posilion as a major
dccrminant hctor of Pakistan's foreign policy. Kashmir is disputed r€nirory
betwc€n Pakisran and India. Since the binh of pakisran, Accordinq to 3rd

June 1947 partition plan cach star€ was given the choice tojoin Pakisun or
India.
Jamu & Kashmi. were newly created stale on the behalf of beaty of
Amarlasr and her ruler was Gulab Singh. He was succeeded by Mahamja
Partab Singh, during the partition time Hari Singb was tbe ruler of Kashmir,.
Dx€ to th€ geographical locadon and majority of Muslims were ther€,
therefore lhis state should have become a pan of Pakistm but lndian
conspi.ed and rnade a plan thai how 10 control on Kashmir valley. Therefore,
thcy Indian decided and forced upon Hari Sins to announce (he merger of
Kashmi. with India.
On October 25th 1947 rhc Malar4,a annouoced the accession of the
Kashmir !o the Indian union. India immediat€ly land her forces in Kashnir
on 27rh Ocbber | 947.Quaid-e-Aan rscted thar why Indian troops landing
in valley and he ordcred rhc acting Commandcr ln Chieflo send her toops
to Srinagar bul commandcr In-chicf refused. Mountbate€n than govemor
geneml of India was in favour thar both countries solv€ lhe probl€m lluough
negodarion, as a .esuh and mecring was held ar Lahore- Nehru because
suddenly ill, Mountbat€n came Lahor€ alone. Jinnah propos€d thal two
Govemors Cencral should jointly conduct a plebiscite in Kashmir while
Mountbateen said a pl€biscite should be held by the Unil€d Nations, mrd lhe
meeting end€d inconclusivcly. Campbell-Johnson has explained that
'Jinnah's obleclion, which he made quite c]€ar at lhe Lahore meeting, w6
not 10 the idea of a pl€biscite as such. but to lhe presence oflndian troops in
Kashmir dunng plebiscite held, which he claims likely lo prejudice chance
of itsb€lng impartial." (I)

Actually Pakistan wants to solvc thc probl€m through negotiation or
in&mrtional ahosphere bul India did nol do in this way.
"N€hru also agrccd and promis€d that the r€fercndum in Kashmir
would bc hcld u cr intcmationat ausDiccs likc Uniled Nations." lr')
On lst January, 1948, India formal conplainl against Pakistan in
S€.urity Council and allegation was dlat Pakistan is "aggresso/' in Kashmir
dispuc, her p€lilion was in Sccunry Council und€r the section 15 of chaptcr
Vl, which rclatcs to "Pacific senlem€nr ofdispure'. Nol und€r chaprcr Vll
which desls wnh act ofaggr€ssion.
S€curity Council was madc the commission and passed rhe nany
rcsolutions to solvc thc dispure firough pacific s.(l€menr. India rctus.d ro
ln Novcmbcr 1951, Secunry Council direcred Dr. G"ham ro go back
to thc Sub- contin€nt and rcconciled rhc diff€r€nccs of rwo panics, Dr.
Craham rcsumcd talks with in 1952, but he failed ro find any compromised
On February l953,lalks w€r€ hcld b€rw€en India and Pakisran in
Ccn€va on the Kashmir issue in which dccidcd for holdins pl€biscile, bur
India rcfus€d the oroDosal.
In 1954, India totally changed hcr policy. Sh€ did no( tike rhc T
interference ofw€st€m power in Sourh Asia.

On July 1955,Indian Prim€ Ministersaid that'lhe question ofplebiscile in
Kasbmir was now out ofdate, He gave the following reasons.
American aid to Pakistan
Economic d€velopment of state
C.ealion oflhe consr'tution Assemblyin the occupied Kashmir.
Pakhtan membership ofSEATO & CENTO.1r5)
Pakishn decidcd to go lo the Securily Council once again. On 2
January 1957. decjded in the me€ling that in Jaruary 1949, Security Council
was already passed the r€solut'on in which Kashmiri peoplc would be dccide
by fte€ and irnpanial plebiscite 10 be held undcr the Unit€d Nations. Pakistan
has faced two wars 1965 and 1971. It has lost its one wing East Pakistan.
Consequcncc KashmA is the focal point and very important dererminant
tiictor of Pakislan foreign policy.
Prcs€nt situatjon is critical, freedom fight€rs are fighting againsl the
Indian army for frecdon. Indian troops have rnarrlred rhousand Muslims
peopl€ in Kashmir. thousands ar€ missins thcir homes. India is callins rheh
tercdsl and allegation is tbat Pakistan is supponing them.
Pakistan s policy is thal dispule should be solved according Securiry
Council resolution of U.ited Nalions and Pakistan will give diplomatic
suppon of Kashmiri people in all intemational forums. As a resulr of this
sltuat'o'r we shall not be wrong if we say that only Kashnir is rhe
dererminanr lacror ofPahsran sbda) foreign pohcy.

Liaqat Ali Khan was lhe first Primc Minst€r of Pakistan who clearly
ort lincd th€ relationship betw€en hlarn and Paldstan's Foreign Policy. He
said Pakistan came into being as a resull of lhe urge fell by the Muslims of
tlle Sub-continent to secure a tditory, Howwer limiled, wh@ Islamic
ideoiogy any way oflife could be pmcticed and demonstrated to tle world.
A cardinal feature ofthis ideology is to mak€ Muslim brclherhood a living
r.llity. h is, lherefore, pan of fte mission which Pakistan has s€r before
ib.lf to do ev€ry thing in its power to promote closer ftendship and
cooperalion between Muslim count es." od)
In the light of thes€ views that Pakislan's Foreign Policy is clearly
fiom bcginning to and up to this time that to dwelop the close relations wirh
Islamic World and Muslim neighboring countries. This is ihe cause of the
Pakistan's foreign policy and basic d€t€rminanl factor ofthe foreign policy.
l.
|.

REFERENCES:
L Pdka3hchDde !!E!!s!!9!9LBe!s!!9rt , Cosmos Bookhiv€ pa:
Lld.Dchli, 1996, P-67.
2. Ibid, p. 67.
3. Ibid,p.68.
4. H.K Chabn. Relations of Mar,ioff (Vol-V I | | . Forcisn Policies o I
Major Countries),D€h1i,1980, p. 1
5. Ibidp. L
6. Ibid, p. l.
7. Ibid, p. l.
8. Ibid p.2.
9. lbid,p. 3.
10. M lkJ^mR.abani, Pakistan's forcim polcr, carvan Enterpries Kachari
road, Lahore, 1999, p. 382.
I L Sn?bgic Studies, volumcIII, numb!r3, 1980, p 4?-48,Quarterly
joumalofthe lnstitule of Srategic Studied lslanabad.

12. Grll Sh^hzad sawa Pakistan's Affairs. Rahber karachi, I 997, pp-47-
48.
13. Dt. S^fdat nlabmoorl. httcthational Alan t,l ang Lahorc,2000, p-614.
14. lbid, pp.419-40.
15. Ibid, p.616.
16. lbid pp. 626-2?.
17. C'ul Shahzan saNalgLjrJeLjAlfujlt op-cit. p- zl4l.
18. Ibid p. 442.
19. Chhabra H.K., op-cit, 1980,p.2.
20. Syed Sallzhrdd;n, Farcitln Patid OfPakstan,op-cit.f 1996, p. 5.
21. 14trza Mu|ammmad Yousrf, fowatd Pah an, A-One. 1992, p.5.
22. M]kmmP.abani, Pakistan Afairs, op-cit, pp. 383-84.
23. C-D lN P ED LONDON P46 lonsman goup Lrd.
Cbaudlny)According to above suidance

24. Chhattra H.K. Relations of Nationt. op-cir.p. S .
25. M.lk.am P.abaii. Pak6tan Allats.opcr L. p. 386.
26. DailyDAWN, November 7,2000.
HafeezM^lik. Soriet Ani@a rclatiors with Pokistan han a
Afphatistat.'tbe Macmillf.prcss London, 1987,p. 164.
Ibid p. 164-
21.
28.
29. Dt. Safrlat rnahmood, I4r!@!9!dt1fui!r, opcit. p. 61 3.
30. ChhabE H-K- rRe/ariolr of Nations, op-cir,p.4.
3l. Hafeez Malik. Soyiet Aniea .elotions vith Pakigan lran and
ll.
35.
36.
Afshanxtan. Te Macmllln press London,Op-cir 1987, p.164.
32. lbid p. 164.
S M Burke LaMence Ziring, PakistM s Forcim polica,Oxford
University Press Karachi, I 987, p. 26.
tbid p.27.
Dr. Safdar mahmood, Intenatianal Allairs, opc.I p. 408.
Syed Sallhudun Ahmed,l.o/eigr Por.r Pzlrlsra,, op-cit, p.35.

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