See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/349105200

Geographical and Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan in Global Perspective

Article · November 2020

CITATIONS READS

0 29,965

1 author:

Muhammad Mohsin
Govt. Sadiq Egerton College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
46 PUBLICATIONS   337 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Diurnal Temperature Range (DTR) Assessment in Punjab View project

Impacts of population growth View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Muhammad Mohsin on 05 April 2021.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND GEOSTRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF
PAKISTAN IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Muhammad Mohsin
Assistant Professor

Introduction
Geographical attributes of a state bring it both, some opportunities
to avail and some risks to evade. Pakistan availed the opportunities from
its geography but could escape the risks it posed. When a state learns
how to exploit its geography to the best of its political and strategic
interests the study which comes in shape is called geostrategic and
geopolitics. Pakistan’s geography where brought the country countless
material benefits but there its unwise exploitation also invited the chaos in
the region. Being the gateway to Central Asia and a suitable route of
access of World Powers into land-locked Afghanistan, the geography of
Pakistan suffered from the side effects of the ‘New Great Game’ and the
‘Global War on Terrorism’. But things are in transformation today. The
Northern border with China where gets ready to bring billion dollars
investment in the wake of CPEC there the Western border with
Afghanistan is seeking TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India)
Gas Pipeline. Similarly, the South Western boundary with Iran will sooner
or later be flexible for Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline. Pakistan's newly functional
port of Gwadar and the strategic importance it has concerning its proximity
to the Gulf States are some new aspects of Pakistan's geographical
importance. We shall evaluate all these aspects in this article after going
through a brief description of country's geography.

4
Location of Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a country in South Asia extending from

24° 35’ to 37° degree 05’ north latitudes and from 60° 50’ to 77° 50’ east
longitudes. Pakistan is a land of plains, mountain ranges, deserts and
coastal belt. The total population of Pakistan is over 212 million in 2018
and it is 6th largest country in the world in terms of population. The total
area of Pakistan is 796,095 sq. km and it is the 36rd largest country with
respect to land area. The country shares its eastern border called
‘Radcliffe Line’ with India. On its northern side, it has Sino-Pak Border with
China. Its western fronts include the boundaries of ‘Durand Line’ with
Afghanistan (the longest boundary line) and ‘Gold Smith Line’ with Iran.
The Arabian Sea has limited the South of the country (Figure 1). Pakistan
emerges to be one of the most significant geographical patches of Asia.
We can divide the importance of geography into two parts;

 Traditional Geographical Importance of Pakistan

 Modern Geographical Importance of Pakistan

Traditional Geographical Importance of Pakistan

1. Traditionally, Pakistan's geographical importance is multifold and
channels but has been defined in following ways;
Pakistan’s north-western border can be used as an access to the
Central Asian Republics (CARs) rich in natural resources. Wakhan,
the narrow strip of Afghanistan is between Tajikistan and Pakistan
which if used as a transit route can benefit all the countries in trade.
2. Pakistan’s south western Border with Iran is of great significance in
a trade with this oil and gas-rich country.

5
3. Eastern border of Pakistan with India has been quite less utilized
than the potential it carries. This can be a free trade route with India
if the major conflicts between both the states are resolved (e.g. The
Kashmir Issue).
4. Northern border of Pakistan with China provides another important
route for access of Chinese products in Pakistan.
5. Pakistan is the 7th world’s recognized and the only nuclear power in
Islamic world.
6. Pakistan is located almost in the centre of the Islamic block
stretches from Indonesia in the east to Morocco in the west.
7. Pakistan possesses the most fertile agricultural lands and one of
world’s best canal irrigation systems.
8. In terms of various agricultural crops, Pakistan is ranked in top ten
countries i.e. Wheat, Cotton, and Sugarcane etc.
9. The army of the Pakistan is the 6th most equipped and powerful
army of the world and serving on various missions and
rehabilitation and peacemaking activities throughout of the world.

Fig.1: Location Map of Pakistan

Source: Ziring and Burki (2019)

6
2. Modern Geographical Importance of Pakistan
Though the geography of the country is same, the interpretations of
interests linked with it have improved a bit with the changing regional and
international dynamics. This can be evaluated under the following new
heads;

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

The worth of $46 billion ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’

scheme, which is being demonstrated as a ‘Game-Changer’ is more than
a network of roads to link Chinese city of Kashgar with the Gulf States via
Gwadar of Pakistan. CPEC is a complete package of energy projects and
trade opportunities for Pakistan. It is the most cherished fruit of Pakistan’s
geographical importance the country ever had. However, some credit also
goes to the foreign policy makers of Pakistan who always kept into
considerations the Sino-Pak mutual interests.
In the wake of CPEC, China is going to have the shortest route-
access ever available to the Middle Eastern, African, and European
markets. For Pakistan, it might be a new gain but to China, this access is
a link to it long term strategic plan to take over US control in the said
regions.

2. Gwadar port is the nearest warm-water port to energy-rich Central

Asian Countries

Bought from Oman in 1958, Gwadar has been developed into a

warm-water seaport which now operated by a Chinese company named
‘China Overseas Port Holding Company’ under a 43 years agreed lease.
The port is the soul of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Being

7
the nearest deep-sea port to the landlocked Central Asian Republics,
Gwadar is another manifestation of Pakistan's geographical importance.

3. The Persian Gulf and Pars Gas Field

Pakistan’s Gwadar Port provides access to the ‘Gulf of Oman’

which extends via ‘Strait of Hormuz’ to form the ‘Persian Gulf’. This gulf is
surrounded by Iran, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar,
Kuwait and Iraq. Access to the Persian Gulf via Gwadar port means
access to all these countries most of which are rich in energy resources.
The Persian Gulf also has the world’s largest natural gas reservoir ‘Pars
Gas Field’ shared by Iran and Qatar. Pakistan's geographic importance
increases due to its proximity to such mega-fields of natural resources
when the country has been suffering from energy starvation for long
periods of time.

4. Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline (TAPI)

The Asian Development Bank’s funded the project of TAPI which is

the name of a gas pipeline. Its aims to supply natural gas from the
Caspian Sea to the four countries mentioned above. Pakistan due to its
geographical nearness to this Central Asian Republic is seeking benefit
from the project. It also reflects the dependence of India on Pakistan for
having access to the natural resources of Central Asian Republics
(CARs). The construction of the project commenced in December 2015,
and it will be functional by 2019.

5. Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline

Also known as the ‘Peace Pipeline’ the project is another fruit of

8
Pakistan's geographic importance. The pipeline project was formally
inaugurated in 2013, but it's far from being operational due to several
controversies. Particularly the anti-Iran stance of the USA influenced
Pakistan to abandon the project. Things, however, have changed after the
US-Iran Nuclear Deal and Iran is no more under enormous sanctions.
Pakistan at the same time never utterly gave up the project. Good hopes
are apparent for the future of this project.

6. Pakistan shares Marine Border with Oman

Pakistan and Oman settled their maritime conflict under an

agreement in 2000; adhering to the International Law of Sea. This sharing
of a maritime boundary with the brotherly country of Oman can interpret
Pakistan’s geographical importance in the sense of access to Oman’s
undersea energy resources. The sea route can also be used to have
access to the Persian Gulf and its littoral states.

Conclusion

In short, it can be concluded that the geographical and geostrategic

importance of Pakistan is obvious, multifold and will increase on the global
horizon in forthcoming years. This can be achieved and hoped by the new
government in the country to take strong steps against corruption,
terrorism, social anarchy, economic development, and the provision of
better and accessible facilities of health, education, sanitation etc.

References

Dawn News. (2009). Geography: The borders of Pakistan. Accessed from

https://www.dawn.com/news/884966 (5 Jan. 2019).

9
 Jaffry, Q. R. (2016). The Emerging, Geostrategic and Economic
Importance of CAR’s. MARGALLA PAPERS 2016, pp. 167-183.
Khan, F. K. (2016). Pakistan: Geography, Economy, and People (4th
Edition). Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan.
Kureshy, K.U. (1977). Geography of Pakistan (4th Edition). Oxford
University Press, Pakistan.
Ullah, S., Hafeez, M., Aziz, B., & Ahmad, H. (2018). Pakistan-China
Regional Trade Potentials in the light of CPEC. The Pakistan Journal of
Social Issues, (Special Issue, June 2018), 109-118.
Worldatlas. (2019). The Largest Countries in the World. Accessed from
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-countries-in-the-world-the-
biggest-nations-as-determined-by-total-land-area.html (7 Jan. 2019).
Ziring, L., & Burki, S. J. (2019). Pakistan. Encyclopedia of Britannica.
Accessed from
https://www.britannica.com/place/Pakistan/media/438805/208683 (9 Jan.
2019).

10

View publication stats