Foreign Policy of Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities

Sajeela Yousaf and Dr. Shaista Tabassum

SZABIST
Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract: during 1990s once again became a frontline state in US

The Purpose of this study is not to concentrate on war against terrorism due to its geo-strategic importance.
Pakistans relations with the rest of world but to focus on
the challenges faced by Pakistans foreign policy and Second phase of US war against terrorism was its decision
opportunities available to it in this changed to attack Iraq in order to punish despotic ruler Saddam
international scenario after 9/11 and US attack on Iraq. Hussein for making weapons of mass destruction.
In the end are mentioned important steps that Pakistan Washington took responsibility to liberate Iraqi people
needs to undertake in order to exist as an independent from the tyranny of Saddam who was accused of
state in order to make independent internal as well as maltreating his people. After the failure of Arms
external policies so that it can be free from the influence inspectors appointed by UNO US decided to attack Iraq.
of big powers specifically from the influence of the sole This time situation was little bit different as except Britain,
super power. Australia and Spain rest of the world including Pakistan
opposed the use of military force against Iraq.
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DETERMINANTS OF PAKISTANS FOREIGN
Towards the end of twentieth century, when Communism POLICY
and Soviet Union were defeated in Afghanistan mainly
with the help of Mujahideen, financed and supported by There is a great responsibility on the shoulders of those
the other super power USA, a unipolar world began to who are entrusted with the task of formulation of foreign
emerge. Soviet Union disintegrated; Communism was policy and for its implementation. It is usually believed
seen to be a failed social, political and economic ideology. that in case of developing countries like ours foreign
A victory for west sponsored capitalist ideology based on policy sometimes become important than internal policies.
maximization of profit, free trade and free market was quite As far as Pakistan is concerned there are certain factors
apparent. There appeared to be a move from bipolar world that play an important role in the determination of its
to a multipolar system (with the emergence of EU, ASEAN foreign policy. Important concerns of Pakistans foreign
and due to the presence of countries like China, France, policy are:
Germany and Russia). What actually happened were the
tragic events of 9/11. These attacks were declared terrorist 2.1. National Security
attacks by US administration and it started hunt for
invisible enemy. President Bush vowed to find those who The most important concern of Pakistans foreign policy is
were responsible and bring them to justice. The new national security in the presence of hostile India and
enemy was terrorism that became a justification for politically instable Afghanistan.
everything. US tried to unite whole world to fight this
menace. This war was initially declared a crusade by 2.2. Islamic Ideology
President Bush. The links were traced to Al-Qaeda
organization an Islamic militant Organization led by Osama Another important determinant is Ideology. There is a
bin Laden without investigation. Afghanistan was great commitment to Islam among the people of this
attacked to punish Taliban regime for harboring terrorists region. Pakistans creation is unique in a sense that it was
when they refused to hand over Osama to US created on the basis of religious ideology. This
Administration without any evidence. UNO provided a ideological aspect influences the internal as well as foreign
legal cover for this action. NATO countries also policy decisions of Pakistan.
supported Washington in order to save themselves from
fundamentalist Muslims who according to Western 2.3. Geo-strategic Location of Pakistan
governments were jealous of the prosperity of Western Geo-strategic location of Pakistan has always played an
World. Pakistan the most sanctioned country in the world important role in the formulation of its foreign policy as it

Journal of Independent Studies and Research (JISR)

Volume 1, Number 2, July 2003
shares borders with China, India, and Iran Afghanistan use the United States-led pre-emptive war against Iraq as a
and very close to Central Asian Republics (former Soviet pretext for an attack on Pakistan. So Pakistan is faced with
Union). a serious challenge on one hand by supporting
Washington in its war against terrorism and on the other
2.4. Economic Factor hand it is countering Indian accusations that Pakistan is
involved in cross border terrorism in Kashmir.
Another motivation of Pakistans foreign policy has been
its economic interests. At the time of partition, Pakistan 3.3. Economy of Pakistan
inherited a very weak economy. The economic interests of
under-developed countries like Pakistan play an important There existed a strong sense of betrayal by the US among
role in the formulation of their foreign policy. the people of Pakistan in general, and the Pakistani military
and political establishment in particular. Pakistan was left
3. CHALLENGES FACED BY PAKISTANS FOREIGN all alone to deal with the legacies of Afghan war against
POLICY Soviets. More than three million refugees and resulting
economic fall out were two important consequences of
Important challenges faced by Pakistan in Changed world Afghan war. Thus to support US after 9/11 events meant
scenario after 9/11 are mentioned below: to increase problems for Pakistans economy which was
badly affected due to the sanctions imposed on Pakistan
after Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Later India
3.1. Pakistans Nuclear Program massed its troops on Pakistans border after terrorist
attack on Indian parliament also created problems for
The most important challenge faced by Pakistans foreign Pakistans economy.
Policy is related to its nuclear capability especially when
US has started a campaign against countries making 4. OPPORTUNITIES
weapons of mass destruction. Pakistan being the only
Islamic country that has nuclear capability is facing In this section of independent study focus is on number
number of problems. As a matter of fact USA from the of opportunities available to Pakistan in post 9/11 period.
very beginning was against Pakistan being an Islamic
state becoming a nuclear power while it was not bothered 4.1. Economic Benefits
by Indias nuclear program. Recently numerous media
reports, quoting unnamed US intelligence officials, have The 9/11 events contributed towards the improvement in
alleged that Pakistan exported nuclear technology to economy, which was in worst conditions during 1990s due
North Korea [1]. to sanctions imposed on Pakistan by USA, Europe and
Japan, countries providing economic and military
assistance to Pakistan. Sanctions were lifted by US as
3.2. Anti-terrorism Movement well as other countries. US decided to write off $1 billion
debt of Pakistan and total debt relief approved for Pakistan
Pakistan from the very beginning even before 9/11 when it was of $12.5 billion by donor countries [2].
carried the distinction of the most sanctioned country in
the world has supported US to fight this menace of 4.2. Pakistans Geo-strategic Location
terrorism. The government of Pakistan decided to hand
over Amil Kansi and Ramzi yusuf to USA because of their Once again geo-strategic location of Pakistan has forced
alleged involvement in terrorist activities. After terrorist US to take dramatic turn in its policies towards this state.
attacks of 9/11, Pakistans government was under This time US is here to stay for a much longer period of
tremendous pressure to cooperate with US as it shared a time due to its economic interests in Central Asia and
long border with Afghanistan. When military government Caspian Basin. Then due to Gawadar port Pakistan can
of Pakistan decided to cooperate with US to attack get economic benefits from China by helping it to develop
Afghanistan despite its betrayals in the past, people of its western provinces and US by providing it the shortest
Pakistan opposed it. India after 9/11 has found the world, route to transport hydrocarbons from Central Asia to
particularly the West more receptive to its calls for firm outside world. Pakistan can also provide port facilities to
action against terrorism in Kashmir and Pakistan was land locked countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan.
accused of supporting terrorist activities in Kashmir and Pakistan can get $600 million to $800 million by providing
India. After US attack on Iraq, Delhi once again tried to transit route for gas pipeline to India from Turkmenistan.

Journal of Independent Studies and Research (JISR)

Volume 1, Number 2, July 2003
It can play an important role in the reconstruction of developing infrastructure, education and health sectors,
Afghanistan and by developing infrastructure in Central banks and media. Pakistan has also an opportunity to
Asian states. start barter trade with some of the countries in Middle
4.3. From Unipolar to Multipolarism; An East.
Opportunity for Pakistan
5. CONCLUSION
As Pakistan like the rest of world is not sure that how US
will behave in pursuit of its unilateralist ambitions for In the wake of developments that took place on world
world domination. World is definitely moving from scenario after 9/11 it is very important for those entrusted
unilateralism to multilateralism and from unipolar to with the task of the formulation of Pakistans foreign
multipolar system after US attack on Iraq. Pakistan in view policy to review it. The founding fathers of Pakistan
of its past experiences with US as it has never been wanted to make it an economically stable tolerant state,
proved a trustworthy ally should consider the opportunity free from legal and political discrimination that could serve
to gradually lower its dependence on Washington. as a role model for other Islamic states of the world. In
Pakistan since partition Islam has been used by different
sections of society with their vested interests to exploit
4.4. Improvement of Economic Relations With EU masses, to gain political benefits and above all to rule
country. In order to have an ideological state it is very
Pakistans relations have improved with European Union important to have a state structure. It can only be
after 9/11. EU decided to take number of steps in order to achieved under the rule of democratic regime that can
contribute towards political and economic stability of make a foreign policy based on national consensus. So
Pakistan. It has approved a 71 million Euro grant for the most important thing is to revive political process and
Pakistan to help in improving governance and to free foreign policy from the influence of military,
accountability in educational sector and increased textile intelligence agencies civil bureaucracy and feudal lords. It
quota by 15% [3]. In pos t 9/11 period Pakistan has an can help Pakistan to exist as an independent state free
opportunity to improve trade relations with EU. from the influence of other powers especially from the
influence of the sole super power.

4.5. Regional Cooperation It is important to gradually lower dependence on US and

to promote economic ties with other economic and military
After 9/11 changed world scenario has also has its impact blocks. Pakistans foreign policy objective should be to
on South Asian region. Pakistan has an opportunity to improve relations with Russia and to achieve peace with
improve relations with Russia as it is no longer a super India. It can also help in strengthening this region of
power but remains an important Eurasian power. In line South Asia and can help in making SAARC an effective
with Russias new pragmatic foreign policy approach, it is organization.
looking to diversify its regional cooperation. Pakistan has
an opportunity to further strengthen its relations with Pakistans internal as well as foreign policies should be
China as with the highest economic growth rate at present aimed at improving its economy as in order to have an
China is going to be worlds biggest economic power by independent policies it is very important for states to have
the year 2025. In order to strengthen this region Pakistan self-reliant economy. Due to common Islamic ideology
has an opportunity to normalize and improve relations Pakistan needs to improve relations with Muslim world by
with India and to make SAARC more effective on the lines increased people to people contacts. Pakistan should be
of other economic alliances like EU and ASEAN. able to make long-term policies in national interest by
giving up ad hocism and reactionary policies. This ad
hocism is due to the absence of independent planning and
4.6. Relations with Muslim Countries research division in Pakistans foreign office and lack of
involvement of scholars and academic experts in foreign
After 9/11 another development is revival of Muslim policy planning. Making an advisory board including
identity among the people of Islamic states. Pakistan foreign relations experts from top universities in country
being an Islamic country can play an important role in can do this. There is a need to make a definite foreign
bringing Muslim countries together. It has an opportunity policy keeping in view the recommendations from this
to develop people to people contacts and trade relations. advisory board.
Islamic countries can pool in their huge resources in

Journal of Independent Studies and Research (JISR)

Volume 1, Number 2, July 2003
REFERENCES

[1] North Korea gave missile technology to Pakistan,

DAWN, April 3, 2003.
[2] DAWN, April 8, 2003.
[3] http://europa.eu.int/comm./external_relations/
Pakistan/intro/

Journal of Independent Studies and Research (JISR)

Volume 1, Number 2, July 2003