University of Ljubljana

UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Katja Vidic

Mentor: izr. pof. dr. Zlatko Šabič

PAKISTAN

foreign policy profile

Subject: International Organizations

Ljubljana, 6 November 2007

The quest for security has been at the heart of Pakistan’s foreign policy since independence. Pakistan’s security environment derives its origins from the circumstances in which Pakistan was created. The historical perspective of Pakistan’s foreign policy falls in five broad phases.

The first period covers the time from the UN (United Nations) enforced cease-fire of 1949 to the 1965 war over Kashmir. During this period Pakistan allied itself with the West by joining the Baghdad Pact and SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization).

The second phase runs from 1965 to the 1971 crisis in East Pakistan. The 1965 war, which was sparked by the Jammu and Kashmir issue, had led to a drastic reduction in economic and military assistance to Pakistan. The increase in defence expenditure together with the decline in foreign assistance compounded economic difficulties and aggravated political problems led by a sense of alienations in East Pakistan. India played on this crisis and eventually imposed war on Pakistan.

During the third phase from 1971 to 1989 Pakistan remained engaged in rebuilding itself and facing the challenge of the Soviet military intervention in neighbouring Afghanistan, which lasted for over a decade since 1979, and has spawned a conflict that continues to ravage Afghanistan.

The fourth phase covers the period from 1990 to the nuclear tests of May 1998. Two important events from the security perspective took place in 1990. US (United States) clamped economic and military sanctions on Pakistan under the prissier Amendment (which widened the conventional gap between India and Pakistan). That same year the freedom movement intensified in the occupied Kashmir.

The last few years, the current phase, have witnessed important developments in Pakistan’s foreign policy. These includes former prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s initiative to resume bilateral dialogue with India soon after taking office, the nuclear tests that radically altered the security environment of South Asia, the security dialogue with the United States. These developments, together with the continuing conflict in Afghanistan, represent the major preoccupations of Pakistan’s policy makers. Meanwhile, trade and economy have acquired increasing importance in foreign relations (UNPAN 2004).

PAKISTAN−INDIA REALTIONS

Since partition, relations between Pakistan and India have been characterized by rivalry and suspicion. Although many issues divide the two countries there are two that are in forefront. The most sensitive one since the independence has been the status of Kashmir and an also important issue is the proliferation of nuclear weapon.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto made a decision in January 1972 to produce a nuclear weapon. His decision was motivated by the need both to deter India’s military superiority after the Bangladesh war and to restore Pakistan’s place in the world. India's nuclear test in 1974 was generally acknowledged to have been the impetus for Pakistan's nuclear weapons development program (Talbot 1998: 238).

The prospects for better relations between India and Pakistan improved in early January 2004 when a summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) permitted India’s Prime Minister Vajpayee to meet with Pakistani President Musharraf. Both leaders agreed to establish a Composite dialogue to resolve their disputes. The Composite dialogue focuses on eight issues: confidence building measures, Kashmir, promotion of friendly exchanges, terrorism and drug trafficking, and economic and commercial cooperation. The first round of the Composite Dialogue was held in New Delhi on June 27-28, 2004.

Relations further improved when President Musharraf met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York in October 2004. Additional steps aimed at improving relations were announced when Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh visited Islamabad in February 2005 and in April 2005 when President Musharraf traveled to India to view a cricket match and hold discussions. After a destructive earthquake hit the Kashmir region in October 2005, the two countries cooperated with each other to deal with the humanitarian crisis.

At the meeting in September 2006 Musharraf and Singh condemned all acts of terrorism and agreed to continue the search for options acceptable to both sides for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of all issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir (US Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 2007).

PAKISTAN−AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS

Following the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Pakistani government played a vital role in supporting the Afghan resistance movement and assisting Afghan refugees. After the Soviet withdrawal in February 1989, Pakistan, with cooperation from the world community, continued to provide extensive support for displaced Afghans. Continued turmoil in Afghanistan prevented the refugees from returning to their country. In 1999, more than 1.2 million registered Afghan refugees remained in Pakistan. Pakistan was one of three countries to recognize the Taliban regime of Afghanistan. International pressure after September 11, 2001, prompted Pakistan to reassess its relations with the Taliban regime and support the US and international coalition in Operation Enduring Freedom to remove the Taliban from power. Pakistan has publicly expressed its support to Afghanistan's President Karzai and has pledged $100 million toward Afghanistan's reconstruction. Both nations are also working to strengthen cooperation along their rugged border (US Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 2007).

PAKISTAN−CHINA RELATIONS

In 1950, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC). Following the Sino-Indian hostilities of 1962, Pakistan's relations with China became stronger. Since then, the countries have regularly exchanged high-level visits resulting in various agreements. China has provided economic, military, and technical assistance to Pakistan (US Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 2007).

Favourable relations with China have been a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan sought to strengthen its ties with the US through bilateral and regional defence agreements and through economic aid arrangements without antagonizing China (Halpern 1965: 236).

Pakistan also played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the United States and China in the 70s when, President Richard M. Nixon, decided to begin the process of normalizing relations with Beijing (Gilani 2006: 86).

The PRC strongly supported Pakistan's opposition to Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and is perceived by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to India and Russia (US Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 2007).

PAKISTAN−USA RELATIONS

The US and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1947, when two newly independent states Pakistan and India, at the outset of the Cold War, were facing with the dilemma of aligning either with the United States or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). India entered into favourable relations with the USSR and Pakistan chose the alliance with the West. US President Harry S. Truman generally remained indifferent toward Pakistan from 1947 to 1952. When the Eisenhower administration took office in 1953, the US government became increasingly anxious about the spread of communism to Asia and started to take an interest in Pakistan. The US-Pakistan relationship continued to improve as Pakistan joined the SEATO in 1955 and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in 1956. The main pillar of the relationship was the military cooperation between the two countries, which blossomed through an active training exchange program and the fielding of US weapons and equipment within the Pakistan military (Gilani 2006: 85).

However, the US suspension of military assistance during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war generated a widespread feeling in Pakistan that the US was not a reliable ally. Even though the US suspended military assistance to both countries involved in the conflict, the suspension of aid affected Pakistan much more severely. Gradually, relations improved, and arms sales were renewed in 1975. Then, in April 1979, the US cut off economic assistance to Pakistan, except food assistance, due to concerns about Pakistan's nuclear program.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 highlighted the common interest of Pakistan and the US in peace and stability in South Asia.

The decision by India to conduct nuclear tests in May 1998 and Pakistan's matching response set back US relations in the region. Sanctions were allocated restricting the provision of credits, military sales, economic assistance, and loans to the government.

The fateful events of 11 September 2001 had a dramatic impact on US-Pakistan relations, which changed significantly once Pakistan agreed to support the US campaign to eliminate the Taliban in Afghanistan and to join the US in the Global War on Terror. Since September 2001, Pakistan has provided extensive assistance in the war on terror by capturing more than 600 al-Qaida members and their allies. The US has stepped up its economic assistance to Pakistan, providing debt relief and support for a major effort for education reform. Following the region’s tragic earthquake October 8, 2005, the US responded immediately with US humanitarian values and their deep commitment to Pakistan.

President Bush and President Musharraf have affirmed the long-term, strategic partnership between their two countries. In 2004, the US recognized closer bilateral ties with Pakistan by designating Pakistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally. President Bush visited Pakistan in March 2006, where he and President Musharraf reaffirmed their shared commitment to a broad and lasting strategic partnership, agreeing to continue their cooperation on a number of issues including: the war on terror, security in the region, strengthening democratic institutions, trade and investment, education, and earthquake relief and reconstruction.

The US-Pakistan strategic partnership is based on the shared interests of the United States and Pakistan in building stable and sustainable democracy and in promoting peace and security, stability, prosperity, and democracy in South Asia and across the globe (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs 2007).

PAKISTAN IN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Pakistan has always played an active and constructive role in accordance with its commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations. The stature that Pakistan enjoys as a champion of the developing countries and the Islamic world is manifested by its consistent success in elections to various UN bodies. During 1998 Pakistan was elected to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Non governmental Organizations Committee, the Commission on Human Rights, the UNICEF Executive Board, the Commission on Human Settlements, the Inter-governmental Working Groups on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.

Pakistan is an active member of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM), which represents the voice and political and economic interest, of the developing world. At this NAM forum, Pakistan has helped the evolution of consensus on important disarmament and arms control issues and the United Nations reform process.

Pakistan is member of SAARC and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). SAARC provides useful framework to its seven member states (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan) collectively to promote peace, stability, cooperation and progress in South Asia. At all SAARAC gathering, Pakistan has advocated its conviction that a peaceful and secure environment in the region is indispensable for the promotion of economic development, progress and prosperity. Pakistan believes that SAARC would receive a tremendous boost were the underlying causes of tension removed.

Pakistan, Iran and Turkey are the founding members of ECO, the successor organization of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). ECO has played an important role in the strengthening and promotion of multi-dimensional cooperation and sustained socioeconomic growth among the member states. The other members are Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyza republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Besides strengthening the centuries old ties that exist between the people of these countries, ECO is intended to build infrastructural links and promote business exchanges and economic development. In terms of infrastructure the ECO is focusing on the development of a modern transport and communications system, a network of gas and oil pipeline and interconnection of power grids within the region.

Pakistan’s interest in ECO reflects its belief in regional cooperative arrangements, which foster regional development and economic progress and prosperity through collective endeavours. Pakistan aspires to make ECO an effective instrument of regional cooperation serving the needs of 340 million people in the ten member states spread over an area of over 7 million square kilometres (UNPAN 2004).

SOURCES

Gilani, Tariq (2006) US-Pakistan Relations: The Way Forward. Parameters: US Army War College Vol. 36, Issue 4, p. 84−102. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=8&hid=105&sid=54698bb5-22d8-468f-bf53-03d96e961d85%40sessionmgr103 (30 October 2007)

Halpern, A. M. (1965) Policies toward China: View from Six Continents. McGraw-Hill Book Company: New York.

United Nations Public Administration Network − UNPAN (2004) Pakistan Foreign Policy. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN018848.pdf (29 October 2007)

US Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (2007) Background Note: Pakistan. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3453.htm (3 November 2007).

Talbot, Ian (1998) Pakistan: A Modern History. St. Martin’s Press: New York.

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