The Foreign policy of Pakistan

Quaid’s Vision

The three super powers- USA, USSR and China

1. Pakistan and USA established their respective embassies within months. USSR did not take
any interest for two years even after Pakistani Foreign Minister’s request. (Soviet
ambassador arrived in Karachi on 18 March 1950.)
2. Quaid and other early leaders looked towards West for development of relations, openly
commented against communism. On 9 September 1947 while speaking to a delegation
Quaid said, “Pakistan was a democracy and communism did not flourish in the soil of Islam.
It was clear therefore that our interests lay more with the two great democratic countries,
namely the UK and the USA rather than with Russia.” Similar statements were made by
Liaquat Ali Khan, Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy. Soviets responded by calling Pakistan a
consequence of British policy of divide and rule.
3. Pakistan requested US for a $2 billion loan in October 1947 which was turned down. When
Pakistanis requested for stores and medicines required for refugees worth 45 million
dollars, they were asked to provide a proper list of the required items for 10 million dollars
only.
4. PM Liaquat Ali Khan visited USA in May 1950. Situation changed in 1953 when M A Bogra
and Eisenhower governments decided to form military alliances. A mutual Defence
Assistance agreement was signed in 1954. Pakistan joined SEATO and Baghdad pact (later
CENTO) in 1954 and 1955 respectively. Initially Pakistan was offered $30 million package.
 Later USA agreed to equip 4 Pak Infantry divisions, 1.5 armour divisions, 6 air force
squadrons, and to provide 12 naval vessels.
5. Reaction from India was that they refused to negotiate for plebiscite in Kashmir. Soviet
Union vetoed every resolution on Kashmir from 1955 onwards. Khrushchev declared
Kashmir an integral part of India. Arab world especially Egypt made statements of anger
against Pakistan.
6. Pakistan in the mean time maintained good relations with China. (Chinese Civil War ended
in 1949 September with victory for Chinese Communist Party. They declared themselves
The Peoples Republic of China on 1st October 1949 and celebrated 1st October 1950 as the
country’s first national day). Pakistan was amongst the first countries to recognize it and
opened its diplomatic mission in Beijing in 1950.
7. China did not adopt any hostile attitude towards Pakistan after it joined SEATO or it
supported Western sponsored resolutions in UN in favour of Republic of China (Taiwan)
instead of PRC. From 1960 Pakistan started supporting Peoples Republic of China in and
outside the UN which disturbed Americans who were themselves giving more aid to India
than Pakistan along with helping them in development of their nuclear capability.
8. In 1962 Pakistan and China started border demarcation negotiations which resulted in 1963
agreement. Border agreement was followed by air agreement.
9. American support for India and Pakistan’s closeness to China brought Pak-US relations to
such a low that Eisenhower in 1957 declared alliances with Pakistan ‘a terrible error’. It
changed to a high note again when a Pak-US bilateral defense accord was signed in March
1959 with Pakistan giving them Peshawar base facility to fly U-2 spy planes against Soviet
Union and US providing Pakistan with substantial military aid (including Starfighters F-104 A
and C-130 cargo planes).
10. During 1960s when Kennedy took over the presidency USA tilt was clearly towards India.
USA massively supported India with military and economic aid against China during their
1962 conflict. Indian army was expanded from 11 to 22 divisions. In 1965 they put off
Ayub’s visit to USA, arranged to postpone World Bank Consortium meeting for Pakistan but
allowed it for India, and put an embargo on all aid to Pakistan.
11. Pakistan, in these years moved closer to USSR and China. In 1961 March agreement
between USSR and Pakistan for oil exploration was signed giving Pakistan technical
assistance and a loan of $ 30 million. It was followed by cultural exchange and air
agreements, mechanization of agriculture, building of power projects, training of Pakistani
engineers etc. In 1966 a barter agreement was made, for Pakistani rice, cotton and jute
Soviets were to provide vehicles and agricultural machinery. They also agreed to build a
steel mill in Pakistan. In 1965 war USSR did not support India. Between 1968-1970 USSR
agreed to sell some weapons and military equipment to Pakistan despite Indian protests (12
 MI 8 helicopters, 150 T54/T55 tanks,20 PT-76 tanks). Pakistan agreed to terminate
Peshawar base facility given to Americans.
12. China fully supported Pakistan during 1960s period. Chinese tanks and aircraft were
displayed for first time on 23rd March 1966 parade. It helped Pakistan in building an
ordinance factory at Dhaka and a Mechanical Complex at Taxila. Karakorum Highway was
built by 1971 and many cultural delegations were exchanged.
13. USSR propounded the idea of regional economic grouping often called Asian Collective
Security System to contain China. Kosygin met Yahya on 25 March 1970 but Pakistan
refused to become part of alliance against China.
14. When Pakistan facilitated in rapprochement of Sino-US relations in 1970-71, USSR reaction
was furious. After signing a treaty of friendship and cooperation with India it provided them
with tanks, aircrafts, missiles, submarines, missile boats, SAMs with instructors, MIG 23
fighter bombers, MIG 21s and TU 16 bombers. It also gave India assurance against US 7 th
fleet and China. In Security Council it blocked every resolution aimed at peaceful solution of
East Pakistan crisis.
15. After 1971 Pakistan pulled itself out of SEATO and Commonwealth. (CENTO ended in 1979).
16. From 1972-1977 Bhutto twice visited USSR for normalization of relations with some positive
outcome.
17. India carried out its nuclear explosion in 1974. When Pakistan decided to acquire the same
capability and signed an agreement with France for a reprocessing plant in 1976, USA did
everything to stop it and ultimately succeeded in making France go back from the
agreement in 1978. France paid $ 118 million to Pakistan for not keeping its promise.
18. Pak-US relations were extremely tense when the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in
December 1979 changed it all. Carter administration offered $400 million for Pak
cooperation in Afghan war which was turned down by Pakistan. When Reagan took over in
January 1981 a deal was made for $ 3.2 billion economic and military sales spread over a six
year period. 40 F-16s were also sold to Pakistan outside of the assistance package. USA also
decided to look the other way so far as the Pak nuclear pursuit was concerned. Pakistan was
also offered one million tons of wheat, economic assistance from the World Bank and from
Aid to Pakistan Consortium. A second 6 year (1987-1993) package was approved in 1987 for
$ 4.02 billion.
19. Geneva accord was signed on 14 April 1988. Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan was
completed by February 1989. In 1990 USA suspended all economic assistance and military
sales to Pakistan citing Pak nuclear program as the cause. It also stopped the sale of F 16s
for which Pakistan had made the payment. It also pressurized Benazir (1993-1996 tenure) to
cap Pak nuclear program.
20. USA put economic and military aid sanctions on Pakistan after 1998 nuclear explosions,
while at the same time extending cooperating hand towards India. Economic assistance was
further curtailed when Musharraf took over in 1999.
21. Situation changed after 11 September 2001. Pakistan decided to accept US demands for
over flights and transit facilities as well as two bases Shahbaz in Sindh and Shamsie in
Balochistan.
22. Pakistan arrested 1000 Al-Qaida and Taliban intruders. 300 were transferred to CIA.
Pakistan deployed 200,000 troops in tribal areas.
23. US assured long term commitment, political support and military assistance. Democratic
sanctions were lifted, nuclear sanctions were eased to allow financial aid. In 2004 Pakistan
was declared ‘a major non-NATO ally. International financial institutions and donor states
increased economic aid and debt relief. In 2006, Bush pledged ‘strategic partnership’ with
Pakistan in defense, trade, education and science and technology. In 2009, Kerry, Lugar and
Barman sponsored bill named ‘Enhanced partnership with Pakistan Act’ increased yearly
grant aid from $ 600 to $ 1.5 billion for next five years.
24. Meanwhile USA announced in 2006 Civilian Nuclear Cooperation with India. Restrictions
were maintained on Pakistan. Dr A Q Khan was accused of nuclear proliferation.
25. On Afghan policy, Pakistan was put in trouble when US favoured Northern warlords against
Pashtun Taliban and started counter insurgency operations. Taliban sympathizers in FATA
declared Jihad against Pakistan for collaborating with USA. Pakistan had to deploy 250,000
soldiers to counter it. At the same time USA started blaming Pakistan of a double game.
Defense secretary Robert Gates said ‘Pakistan was really no ally at all’. Aid to Pakistan was
curtailed again.
26. In 2011 three incidents affected Pak-US relations:
i) Raymond Davis, a CIA contractor killed two Pakistanis on 27 January. America paid $ 2.4
million Diyyat for his release.
ii) Osama bin Laden raid on 2 May 2011.
iii) On November 26, 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a US air strike at Salala.

27. 522 drone strikes killed 3852 persons between 2004 and 2015, in which were only 22 Al-
Qaida leaders as per the USA claims.
28. Obama spoke of ties with India as ‘the defining partnership of 21st Century’. PM Modi also
reciprocated. Bilateral trade between the two rose to $107 billion in 2015. US permitted its
Westing House Corporation to build a big nuclear project in India with six nuclear reactors.
US also supported Indian bid for joining Nuclear Supply Group.
29. After facing opposition from US, Pakistan turned towards China for development of its
nuclear and conventional military weaponry. In 1986 Pakistan signed agreement with China
for cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy. Heavy Mechanical complex was
modernized in 1987. Karachi shipyard was given contract to fabricate two heavy cargo ships
for China. During 90s cooperation in projects of HMC Taxila, Aeronautical Complex Kamra,
nuclear and missile technology continued.

The latest venture has been the JF-17 multi-role combat aircraft which will allow Pakistan
to move away from its F-16 dependency. The two countries have also cooperated to
develop the K-8 Karakoram advance training aircraft, as well as in the production of the Al-
Khalid tank, Babar cruise missiles and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).
Like most of China’s weapons transfers to Pakistan, technology transfer has been a
substantial component. Pakistan is also planning to purchase six new submarines from
China.
In the field of space technology also, China helped launch Pakistan’s first communications
satellite (PAKSAT-IR) in August 2011.

The Pakistan-China Comprehensive Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed in 1986

for an initial period of thirty years to be followed by an automatic extension for five years
each time unless either side gives a notice of termination. It became operational in
November 1986 and is intended for peaceful nuclear energy cooperation. Article II of the
Agreement states that the two sides will cooperate in “design, construction and operation
of nuclear research and power reactors and associated facilities and other fields as may be
mutually agreed upon.” The four Chashma power plants are also part of this agreement.
Even though the Pak-China nuclear deal was signed before China acceded to the NPT (which
it did in 1992), the Chashma power plants provided under the Agreement, are subject to
IAEA safeguards. When China joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2004 it informed
it of its peaceful nuclear cooperation commitments with Pakistan. It is important to
remember that the NSG is a Suppliers’ Cartel and not an international treaty organisation.
Equally important is to recall the NSG country-specific exception made for India at US
insistence in 2011, so as to allow NSG members to export dual use nuclear technology to it
despite NPT provisions to the contrary (NPT Articles I and II). Even earlier, NSG guidelines
were violated by Russia in 2001 to accommodate transfer of nuclear fuel to India despite 32
member states stating that this was against NSG commitments.

GAWADAR

China has acknowledged the strategic significance of Gwadar no less than that of the
Karakoram Highway. This will further strengthen the relations between Pakistan and China.
China is also interested to turn Gwadar into an energy-transport hub by building an oil
pipeline from Gwadar into China's Province of Xinjiang. The proposed pipeline will carry
crude oil from Arab and African states. It is expected that the Gwadar Port would generate
billions of dollars in revenues and create at least two million jobs for the uneducated youth
of the country.
Gwadar provides China a transit terminal for crude-oil imports from Iran and Africa to
China’s Xinjiang province. Gwadar's strategic advantage to China is due to its close
proximity with the Strait of Hormuz. The presence of the US forces in the region poses not
only a threat to Chinese navy but, also, to its commercial interest. Gwadar provides China
with a strong base where it can monitor US naval activity in the Persian Gulf, India in the
Arabian Sea, and the future of US-Indian maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean. China
has already set up electronic posts at Gwadar for monitoring maritime traffic through the
Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. The port of Gwadar is also a part of the China’s
“String of Pearls Strategy”. The US presence in the Gulf and its control over the Malacca
Strait challenges China’s interests. She fears that in case of US-Chinese hostilities over
Taiwan, the former can stop the supply of oil and energy resources to China. China is an
emerging economic super power in the near future. Despite occupying a huge area of the
World’s land, it does not have any hot water port, which can be used throughout the year.
The distance of Chinese industrial approach to Shanghai Port is approximately 16000 km
and the sea travel takes 2-3 months. It consumes much time, costs heavy taxes and duties.
As compared, Gawadar port is situated at a distance of 2500 km from China and is in
operation throughout the year. In fact, the development of the Gwadar port is in the
supreme interest of Chinese economy.
China wants to invest $12 billion in multiple projects in Pakistan, including the country’s
largest oil refinery at Gwadar. The Gwadar oil refinery, which is being planned and
designed, is expected to produce a daily oil output of 60,000 barrels. China is also planning
to foster its active participation in Pakistan’s long-term economic development by investing
$500 million in a joint venture investment company. Beijing is also investing billions of
dollars in Western China, a grand five-year plan to develop it, and Gwadar is a necessary
part of that five-year plan. Gwadar port has a great strategic advantage for Pakistan also. It
provides Pakistan with strategic depth vis-a vis India in the Arabian Sea. A strong Indian
navy and its presence in the Arabian Sea poses threat to Pakistan’s security.