Foreign Policy Challenges for

Pakistan
PAKISTAN AFFAIRS
CURRENT AND PAKISTAN AFFAIRS WITH CSP WAQAR HASSAN
03159009887

Overview
Pakistan has, since birth, been faced with one crisis after another. Tense geo-
political environment created by hostile India and unfriendly Afghanistan was the
motivating factor which impelled our leaders to accord preference to security over
developing institutions and strengthening the economy. Security concerns
governed our foreign policy.
Pakistan joined western pacts mainly to find an umbrella to mitigate its
security concerns. But the US never became a trustworthy and sincere ally, as was
the case of former Soviet Union with India. The western pacts proved elusive when
Pakistan was truncated in 1971.

India’s role in Bangladesh

India had been working upon East Bengal since 1948 with the aim of subverting the
minds of Bengalis and poisoning their minds against people of West Pakistan
through an orchestrated subversion plan. It wanted to disprove Two-Nation theory.
India in collusion with former Soviet Union and supported by several other
countries hatched the plan of dismemberment of Pakistan. After nine months
insurgency, Indian military jumped in to cut Pakistan to size and create Bangladesh.
Indira Gandhi chortled that Two-Nation theory had been sunk into the Bay of
Bengal. Contrary to some opinion, in 1947-8, the US and UK governments tried their
best to shore up Pakistan.
POST 9/11 SCENARIO
In the aftermath of 9/11, another international conspiracy was hatched to
dismember Pakistan. This time the conspiracy was much larger in scope and more
dangerous in intent. Pakistan was to be befriended and then cut into four quasi
states. In this, India is being supported by USA, Afghanistan, Britain, Israel and the
West in general. The tools in use are TTP, BLA, BRA, BLF, MQM and segment of
media bolstered by bloggers, foreign paid NGOs and international media. Daesh is
the latest group added to their arsenal.
The goals are to destabilize, de-Islamise, denuclearize and balkanize Pakistan
using covert means and psychological operations. Pakistan was made to fight
terrorism on its soil, then accused of harboring terrorists in safe havens in
FATA and aiding cross border terrorism in Afghanistan, occupied
Kashmir and India, and then constantly pressed to do more. The terrorist groups
in FATA, Baluchistan were funded, equipped and trained to fight and exhaust
Pak security forces. MQM was funded and its militants trained in India to make
Karachi lawless.

PROXY WAR THROUGH AFGHANISTAN

India and Afghanistan were projected as victims of terrorism and Pakistan as an
incubator of terrorism. Covert war launched from Afghan soil in 2002 has
incurred a loss of 70,000 fatalities, injuries to tens of thousands, destruction of
property, $ 118 billion financial loss and immense social trauma. Pakistan has come
under foreign debt of $100 billion.
The US imposed War on Terror has heightened ethnicity, sectarianism,
extremism, provincialism, political instability, economic fragility and moral
degeneration of society as a whole.

NUCLEAR POWER
As a result of these frailties, Pakistan which is a nuclear power with robust armed
forces that are second to none, has abundant resources and resilient manpower, it
has become vulnerable to foreign coercion, manipulation and aggression.
Of all the crisis faced by Pakistan in its 70 years history, the present one is perhaps
the most dangerous, both in terms of its nature and its possible consequences.
Without doubt, Pakistan is in the vortex of grave dangers and the country today
stands at the cusp of survival and disaster. The Titans that have marked Pakistan
as a target are impatient to fragment it.

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Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
Quaid-e-Azam MA Jinnah had spelt out Pakistan’s foreign policy soon after the
birth of Pakistan in these words:

"Our objective should be peace within and peace without. We want to live peacefully and
maintain cordial and friendly relations with our immediate neighbors and with world at
large. We have no aggressive designs against any one. We stand by the United Nations
Charter and will gladly make our contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world."

"Our foreign policy is one of the friendliness and goodwill towards all the nations of the
world. We do not cherish aggressive designs against any country or nation. We believe in
the principle of honesty and fair-play in national and international dealings, and are
prepared to make our contribution to the promotion of peace and prosperity among the
nations of the world. Pakistan will never be found lacking in extending its material and
moral support to the oppressed and suppressed peoples of the world and in upholding the
principles of the United Nations Charter."
Pakistan opened diplomatic relations with all the countries of the world except
Israel owing to Palestinian dispute. Successive regimes made concerted efforts to
normalize relations with India but failed because of unresolved Kashmir dispute
and India not reconciling to the existence of Pakistan. In its desire to become the
unchallenged big power of South Asia, India whipped up frenzy against all its
neighbors. It applied multiple pressures on Pakistan and went to war thrice so as
to force Pakistan to accept its hegemony and become its vassal state.

Pakistan in search of security and recognition

Pakistan started its journey as a non-aligned nation and remained the member of
Non-Aligned Movement from 1947 till 1954. In the first 15 years of Pakistan’s life,
the founding leaders remained deeply engrossed in establishing credentials
of Pakistan’s statehood in the face of massive propaganda of India that
Pakistan was a monstrosity. It was described as a phenomenon and Indian
economic wizards had given six months life to Pakistan. International
recognition was sought and obtained in those agonizing years.
In its formative years, Pakistan attached importance to relations with Muslim
countries and championed Muslim causes. Its efforts to build Muslim unity
couldn’t make any headway. It cultivated special ties with Iran, Turkey and Saudi
Arabia.

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Pakistan joined western pacts
Aggressive posturing of India, its expansionist designs and intentions to absorb
Kashmir, together with Afghanistan’s enmity, former USSR’s heavy tilt towards
India, deepening economic crisis in early 1950s, sense of isolation, and the UN
and Commonwealth failing to resolve the Kashmir dispute were some of the
reasons which impelled Pakistan to join the US created SEATO and Baghdad
Pact/CENTO in 1954/55. Thereon, its foreign policy was governed by the US
interests.
Pakistan became part of the US defensive arc stretching to Iran and Turkey
to contain spread of communism in South Asia and Middle East. Pakistan did so
despite the fact that it had no direct clash with USSR, and had to pay a heavy price
for it. When Pakistan acted as a conduit in 1971 to bring China closer to USA,
it further antagonized Moscow and it decided to teach Pakistan a lesson.

Alignment with USA however, helped Pakistan in improving its economy and
defence capability phenomenally during the 10-year Ayub’s golden era.

Tilt towards China

After the Indo-Sino border clash in 1962, in the wake of Moscow, Washington and
the West providing arms to India at the cost of disturbing the regional military
balance, Ayub Khan started tilting towards China and Russia. This move was seen
as an act of defiance by USA and it decided to penalize him. The US discriminatory
attitude was discernible in the 1965 War with India when it stopped extending
economic and military assistance including supply of spare parts, whereas Russia
kept supplying arms to India.
It is believed that both ZA Bhutto and Sheikh Mujib were cultivated to trigger
agitations in both the wings to bring down Ayub regime and then pave the way for
dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971.

Southwestern Asian Identity and policy of Bilateralism

After the 1971 tragedy, ZA Bhutto scrapped SEATO pact and membership of
Commonwealth stating that those had proved worthless. He then tried to carve
out Southwest Asian identity so as to draw economic strength and security
from oil rich Arab States. This tilt towards the Gulf States brought in financial

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bonanza and job opportunities for Pakistan in 1970s and also gave an
opportunity to Pak military to make inroads into GCC States. Saudi Arabia never
hesitated to extend financial support to Pakistan in its testing times.
Another change in Pakistan’s foreign policy was affected after the Simla
agreement in 1972 which led to policy of bilateralism and non-alignment.
Ceasefire line in Kashmir was renamed as LoC and Kashmir issue put on the
backburner. India however, maintained its belligerent policy and carried out
nuclear test at Pokhran in August 1974, which impelled ZA Bhutto to go
nuclear.

Afghan war (1980-1989)

Pakistan-US relations nosedived when Pakistan under Gen Ziaul Haq was put
under sanctions in April 1979 by Carter regime on account of suspicion that
it was pursuing nuclear program covertly. However, the Afghan war in 1980s
once again made Pakistan a close ally of USA and was bestowed with $3.5 billion
assistance and F-16 jets.

Pakistan’s challenges in Post-cold war era

After the breakup of USSR in 1991 and end of Cold War era, Pakistan was faced
with multiple foreign policy issues. The US abandoned Pakistan, imposed
sanctions on it under Pressler Amendment and befriended India.
Pakistan was up against Indo-US-Israeli nexus geared toward destroying
Kahuta plant.
The other issue was the fallout effects of Afghan war in the form of Kalashnikov
and drug cultures, load of 3.5 million refugees, radicalization of the society
and sectarianism fomented by Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The other was the armed uprising in occupied Kashmir which forced India to
pump in 750,000 security forces to quell the insurgency and to propagate that
Pakistan was abetting it.

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Impact of 9/11

9/11 changed the global politics and Pakistan was once again befriended by USA
and made a coalition partner to fight global war on terror as a frontline state.
Pakistan for a second time shifted all its eggs in the basket of USA.
Between 2004 and 2008, Indo-Pak relations improved as a result of peace treaty
and resumption of dialogue, giving rise to optimism that core disputes will be
resolved. Euphoria died down after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008
when India blamed Pakistan. Indo-Pak relations have hit rock bottom after Modi
led BJP regime espousing Hindutva came to power in June 2014.
Ongoing fast changing global dynamics and ever-growing strategic partnership
between USA and India has impelled Pakistan policy makers to revisit foreign
policy and suitably modify it to meet the future challenges.

Pakistan’s current challenges

India has not reconciled to the existence of Pakistan and strives to reduce it to the
status of a Satellite State.
India is strategic partner of the US, Israel, Afghanistan and is the darling of the
west. The trio is pursuing common objective of destroying Pakistan.
India is making concerted efforts to destabilize Pakistan through covert war,
encircle Pakistan by consolidating its presence in Afghanistan, Central Asian
Republics (CARs), building North-South Corridor linking Mumbai with Bandar
Abbas; and connecting Chabahar with Afghanistan-CARs.
India is working hard to isolate Pakistan by tarnishing its image and spoiling its
relations with Afghanistan, Iran, Gulf States and the US.
Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute but India stubbornly maintains
that it is its integral part well knowing that the Kashmiris hate Indians and want
freedom at all cost.
To keep Pakistan on the defensive and force it to forget Kashmir, India is playing
terrorism card, Baluchistan and Sindh cards, and water terrorism to bend
Pakistan on its knees.

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Upturn of Pakistan’s sunk economy and its image, control over energy crisis
and terrorism coupled with development works and fast progressing CPEC have
increased the anxieties of India. To give vent to its frustrations, it is carrying
out unprovoked firing across the LoC and working boundary in Kashmir
relentlessly.
For all practical purposes, Pakistan has fallen from the grace of USA and time is
not far when it will be once again be ditched and put under harsh sanctions.
Indo-US-Israel agenda of disabling Pakistan’s nuclear program, or as a
minimum curtailing its minimum deterrence capability remain unchanged.
Afghanistan under Hamid Karzai remained aligned with India and hostile to
Pakistan. Afghan Unity government under Ghani-Abdullah is far worse.
Pak-Iran relations are frosty and practically, Iran is closer to India and
Afghanistan.

Pakistan foreign policy makers are faced with perpetually hostile India, near
hostile Afghanistan, and the changed attitude of the US. Washington has callously
whipped Pakistan under its ‘do more’ policy and is now hurling warnings. Its heavy
tilt towards India is a matter of anxiety for Pakistan.
Iran nurtures grouses on account of Pakistan’s closeness with Saudi Arabia, and for
sending Gen Raheel to Riyadh to head 41-member Sunni Muslim States Alliance.
Warmth in relationship with GCC States has diluted because of Pakistan not
agreeing to send troops to Saudi Arabia to ward off threat from Yemen. Saudi-
Qatar tiff is another challenge faced by Pakistan since it cannot afford to take
sides.
Pakistan has been deliberately kept politically unstable by making it play the game
of ladder and snake so that it remains economically dependent. It was pulled down
whenever it grew economically strong. That is why it has been lurching from one
crisis to another in its 70 years checkered history.
Pakistan can ill-afford political disharmony and disunity at this critical juncture
when black clouds are hovering over its horizon.

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Geo-political realities
Pakistan is faced with multiple threats of Indo-US-Afghan covert war.
The threat to its security has heightened after the signing of three Indo-US
defense agreements in 2016 and the US openly expressing its enmity against
Pakistan and love for India.
India is getting unnerved on account of high intensity freedom struggle in
occupied Kashmir, which is slipping out of its hands and is endangering the
unity of India. India has no other choice except to keep persecuting the Kashmiris
ruthlessly, keep the LoC on fire and to diplomatically place Pakistan on back foot.
Muslim Pakistan, laced with nuclear/missile power and now getting economically
strong due to CPEC is unacceptable to USA, India and Israel. The trio may go to
any extent to disrupt CPEC.
Pakistan is faced with the threat of two-front war from east and west,
inauspicious southwestern backyard, vulnerable seacoast, not so friendly Gulf
States, together with internal war on terror and political instability.
Pakistan’s viable nuclear cum missile capability deters India from waging an open
war.
Nuclear factor has compelled India to resort to indirect strategy to weaken
Pakistan from within through unrelenting covert war, discredit and isolate it
through propaganda and diplomacy, extract its nuclear teeth clandestinely, and
then apply the military instrument through Cold Start doctrine.
Having tried out all possible means short of war, the only other option left with
enemies of Pakistan is to create political chaos and logjam, paralyze the
government machinery and then trigger civil war as in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya
and Syria. Many are suspecting a game plan behind the current political imbroglio.
Success of $21 trillion One-Road-One-belt project of China hinges on successful
completion of CPEC. In view of China’s ambition to become leading economic
power and its heavy economic stakes in CPEC, it is bound to come to the aid of
Pakistan whenever its security is threatened.
Pakistan is a target and not an ally of USA. Earlier Pakistan gets out of the
enchantment of USA, better it will be.

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CONCLUSION
Foreign policy instead of being defensive, apologetic and reactive, should be infused
with dynamism and pro-activeness.
The change in foreign policy should not be abrupt, but gradual and orderly without
violent fluctuations. The change should be akin to autumn changing into winter, or
winter into spring.
While maintaining working relationship with USA, Pakistan should draw closer to
China, Russia, Central Asia, SCO, and ASEAN.
Pakistan should work hard to bring Iran in the loop of China-Russia peace-talks
initiative, possibly draw in Turkey and conjointly work to restore peace in war torn
Afghanistan.
Pakistan must strive to establish a friendly regime in Kabul.
Surging Afghan Taliban and not the corrupt and inept unity government in Kabul
toeing Indo-US agenda should be kept in the loop.
Pakistan should continue to play a mediatory role in Iran-Saudi ideological rivalry
and in Saudi-Qatar tiff to narrow down their differences and also allay the
misperceptions of Gulf States on account of Yemen crisis.
CPEC should be made use of as a strong magnet by our foreign policy makers to
attract as many nations from Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Africa and
Europe to ward off Indian inspired threat of isolation.
Gwadar-Chahbahar economic rivalry should be converted into an opportunity to
complement each other’s strength.
Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan. Comprehensive and pragmatic Kashmir
policy should be devised to keep the cause of Kashmir alive.
While many developing countries have raced ahead, Pakistan is still struggling and
has neither become an Asian tiger or a secure country. Political parties are behaving
irresponsibly and are advised to shun politics of agitation and division and promote
concept of “Unity in Diversity”. Strong and united home front is the best defence
against internal and external challenges.

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