INTRODUCTION
pakistan is a
major participant in the global efforts to curb transnational terrorism
initiated after the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001.
This enhanced Pakistan's strategic relevance for the major powers, especially
the United States, which cultivated Pakistan for combating terrorism and
ensuring peace and stability in the post-Taliban Afghanistan. They also wanted
that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda activists, formerly based in Afghanistan, did not
create safehavens in Pakistani territory with the support of their Pakistani
sympathisers.Pakistan has not always been so relevant to global politics. Its
strategic relevance has varied over time which had implications for Pakistan's
role at the international level and the foreign policy options available to its
policy makers.
This briefing paper
examines the changing patterns of Pakistan's foreign policy and how its
position and role in international and regional politics has varied over time.
Pakistan recognises that it is neither possible nor advisable to stay in
isolation in the present day interdependent and complex international system.
It needs to interact with other states, international and regional
organisations and supranational actors in order to protect and promote its
national interests and sovereign identity. Pakistan also collaborates with
other states in order to cope with the issues of global dimensions like
environment, population, poverty and underdevelopment, energy, human migrations
and refugees, drugs, and terrorism.
Despite pursuing a
pro-active foreign policy Pakistan does not have the ambition and capacity to
assume the role of a global or regional power. Its activism reflects a
realisation that such a policy facilities the mobilisation of International
support and resources for its domestic socio-economic development, helps to
regulate the inputs from the external environment into the internal context,
and contributes to strengthening security and territorial integrity which are
the principal concerns of Pakistan's foreign policy.
The major focus of
Pakistan's foreign policy is security against external and internal challenges
to its national identity, territorial integrity and independence. Another
foreign policy interest is the cultivation of close and brotherly relations
with the Muslim states. Pakistan highlights sovereign equality of states,
bilateralism, mutuality of interests, and non-interference in each other's
domestic affairs as the cardinal features of its foreign policy. Pakistan
firmly believes that it has to work within the norms and institutions of the
international system but it supports their restructuring for brining them in
line with the realities currently obtaining in the International system.
Pakistan,
therefore, maintains a strong faith in the principles enunciated in the United
Nations Charter and takes an active part in the deliberations of the UN and
other International and regional organisations. Pakistan also identifies with
the political and economic concerns of the developing countries. Other leading
foreign policy goals include support to the right of self determination for the
subjugated nations, oppositions to apartheid and the remnants of colonialism,
peaceful resolution of inter-state disputes, arms control and nuclear
non-proliferation, and promotion of peace and stability through international
and regional cooperation.
The
principal strategies and mechanisms to pursue these foreign policy goals have
varied over time. These changes help to identity the major phases in Pakistan's
foreign policy. Though each phase is characterised by a set of major themes and
operational strategies, these overlap and reflect continuity and change.
PAKISTAN
AND AMERICA
The first known inhabitants of the modern-day Pakistan region are believed to
have been the Soanian - Homo
erectus, who settled in the Soan Valley and Riwat almost 2 million years
ago. Over the next several thousand years, the region would develop into
various civilizations like Mehrgarh and the Indus Valley Civilization.
Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Pakistan was part of the medieval and subsequently of colonial India. Throughout its
history, the region has been also been a part of various other kingdoms like Indian, Greek, Mongol, Persian, Turkic, Arab and British. The region's ancient history also includes some of the
oldest empires from the subcontinent[1] and some of its major civilizations.[2][3][4][5]
The political history of the nation began with the birth of the All India Muslim League in 1906 to protect Muslim interests, amid
fears of neglect and under-representation of Muslims, in case the British Raj decided to grant local self-rule. On the 29 December 1930, Sir Muhammad Iqbal called for an autonomous state in
"northwestern India for Indian Muslims".[6]
The
Muslim League rose to popularity in the late 1930s. Muhammad Ali Jinnah espoused the Two Nation Theory and led the Muslim League to adopt the Lahore Resolution[7] of 1940, demanding the formation of independent states for
Muslims in the East and the West of British India. Eventually, a united Pakistan with there
wings-Pakistan]] and East Pakistan - gained independence from the British, on 14 August 1947.
CENTO and SEATO
The United States and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1947. The U.S. agreement to provide economic and military assistance to Pakistan and the latter's partnership in the Baghdad Pact/CENTO and SEATO strengthened relations between the nations. However, the U.S. suspension of military assistance during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war generated a widespread feeling in Pakistan that the United States was not a reliable ally. Even though the United States 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 United States cut off economic assistance to Pakistan, except food assistance, as required under the Symington Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, due to concerns about Pakistan's nuclear program.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 highlighted the common interest of Pakistan and the United States in peace and stability in South Asia. In 1981, the United States and Pakistan agreed on a $3.2 billion military and economic assistance program aimed at helping Pakistan deal with the heightened threat to security in the region and its economic development needs.
The United States and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1947. The U.S. agreement to provide economic and military assistance to Pakistan and the latter's partnership in the Baghdad Pact/CENTO and SEATO strengthened relations between the nations. However, the U.S. suspension of military assistance during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war generated a widespread feeling in Pakistan that the United States was not a reliable ally. Even though the United States 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 United States cut off economic assistance to Pakistan, except food assistance, as required under the Symington Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, due to concerns about Pakistan's nuclear program.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 highlighted the common interest of Pakistan and the United States in peace and stability in South Asia. In 1981, the United States and Pakistan agreed on a $3.2 billion military and economic assistance program aimed at helping Pakistan deal with the heightened threat to security in the region and its economic development needs.
Pak india issue
Independence from the British Raj witnessed unprecedented and prolonged
communal riots eventually resulting in millions of Muslims migrating to
Pakistan and millions of Hindus and Sikhs migrating to India.
The Hindu Maharaja of princely state of Kashmir which itself is a Muslim-majority
region was hesitant to accede to India or Pakistan although negotiations
continued between Maharaja and both India and Pakistan.
The Maharaja started unarming the Muslim soldiers in his militia and the
police. Foreseeing the results of this, a group of Kahmiri muslims took up arms
against the Maharaja. As they ran short of weapons the freedom fighters asked
the Pashtun tribals for help. Maharaja requested India for forces to help crush
the rebellion however India refused to send forces until Maharaja decided on
accession. On 25 October the tribals were close to the capital Srinagar hence Maharaja signed instrument of accession with India.
Based on instrument of accession Kashmir became part of India and on 26 October
the Indian forces were airlifted to Srinagar to defend it from foreign militia.
Since the armed rebellion was unlikely to succeed in face of Indian army
Pakistan decided to send its regular forces, however the British General of
Pakistan armed forces refused to send regular troops saying that he was subject
to permission from Mountbatten the Governer General of India, the unorganized
tribals were forced out of Srinagar by the heavilly armed Indian forces,
whereas they retained control of what became Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
Pakistan refused to grant General Gracey an extension and percieved it good to
appoint a Pakistani General as head of the armed forces. LOC demarcation done
in 1949 stopped till point NJ 9842 shot of marking position around the Siachen
Glacier. In 1984, backed by the Soviet Union to exert pressure on Pakistan stop
the assistance to Afghan Mujahideen, India sent forces in Siachen Glacier,
where they remain to this day.
India controls 80% of Siachen Glacier while the other 20% of Siachen Glacier
and the whole of Baltoro Glacier is controlled by Pakistan. Siachen is the
highest battleground in the world.
Pakistan declared itself an Islamic republic on adoption of a constitution in 1956, but the
civilian rule was stalled by the 1958 military coup d'etat by Ayub Khan, who ruled during a period of
internal instability and a second war with India in 1965.
Modern-day Pakistan came in existence in 1971, after a civil war in the distant
East Pakistan and emergence of an independent Bangladesh.
Economic grievances and political dissent in East Pakistan led to violent
political tensions and army repression, escalating into civil war[8] followed by the third war with India. Pakistan's
defeat in the war ultimately led to the secession of East Pakistan and the
birth of Bangladesh.[9]
Civilian rule resumed from 1972 to 1977 under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, until he was deposed by General Zia-ul-Haq, who became the country's third
military president. Pakistan's secular policies were replaced by the Islamic Shariah legal code, which increased religious influences on the civil
service and the military. With the death of Zia-ul-Haq in 1988, Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto, was elected as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Over the next decade, she
alternated power with Nawaz Sharif, as the
country's political and economic situation worsened. Military tensions in the Kargil conflict[10] with India were followed by a 1999 coup d'état in which General Pervez Musharraf assumed executive powers. This occurred due to
the defeat of Pakistan by India in Kargil and the economic hardship that
followed after the Kargil conflict.[11]
In 2001, Musharraf named himself President after the resignation
of Rafiq Tarar. In the 2002 Parliamentary
Elections, Musharraf transferred executive powers to newly elected Prime
Minister Zafarullah Khan
Jamali, who was succeeded in the 2004 by Shaukat Aziz.
On 15 November 2007 the National Assembly completed its term and a caretaker government
was appointed with the former Chairman of The Senate, Muhammad Mian Soomro as Prime Minister. Following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, that resulted
in a series of important political developments, her husband Asif Ali Zardari was eventually elected as the new President in 2008.
World Trade Organization
Despite its economic and political difficulties, Pakistan has taken some steps over the years to liberalize its trade and investment regimes, either unilaterally or in the context of commitments made with the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank. Pakistan has received significant loan/grant assistance from international financial institutions (e.g., the IMF, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)) and bilateral donors, particularly after it began using its military/financial resources in counterterrorism efforts.
In 2000, the government made significant macroeconomic reforms: privatizing Pakistan's state-subsidized utilities, reforming the banking sector, instituting a world-class anti-money laundering law, cracking down on piracy of intellectual property, and moving to quickly resolve investor disputes. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and Pakistan's proclaimed commitment to fighting terror, many international sanctions, particularly those that had been imposed by the United States, were lifted. Pakistan's economic prospects began to increase significantly due to unprecedented inflows of foreign assistance at the end of 2001, and the trend was expected to continue through 2009. In 2002, the United States led Paris Club efforts to reschedule Pakistan's debt on generous terms, and in April 2003 the United States reduced Pakistan's bilateral official debt by $1 billion. In 2004, approximately $500 million more in bilateral debt relief was granted. Foreign exchange reserves and exports grew to record levels after a sharp decline. The IMF lauded Pakistan for its commitment in meeting lender requirements for a $1.3 billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility loan, which it completed in 2004, forgoing the final permitted tranche. The Government of Pakistan was successful in issuing sovereign bonds; it issued $600 million in Islamic bonds, putting Pakistan back on the investment map.
On October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad. An estimated 75,000 people were killed and 2.5 million people were left homeless. The disaster of such a huge magnitude galvanized an international rescue and reconstruction effort in support of the affected region. The earthquake cost Pakistan $1.1 billion in resettling those affected. Despite the 2005 earthquake, GDP growth remained strong at 6.6% in fiscal year 2005-2006. Consumer price inflation eased slightly to an average of 8% in 2005-2006 from 9.3% in 2004-2005.
In 2008, the ratio of total debt and liabilities to GDP, a broad measure of the country's capacity to sustain debt, saw an end to a 7-year declining trend, rising in FY 2008 to 60%. The stock of Pakistan's total debt and liabilities increased by 27% year on year in 2008, to PKR 6,417.4 billion (U.S. $80.7 billion at 79.5 rupees per dollar), with a commensurate deterioration in debt sustainability indicators. The fiscal deficit widened from 5.6% of GDP in 1994-95, to 7.7% in 1997-98, and to 5.4% in 2008-2009. Support for loss-making, state-owned enterprises; fuel subsidies; and a weak domestic tax base have been critical elements in the recurring fiscal deficits.
In October 2008, Pakistan entered into a 23-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in order to keep the country solvent and to support its foreign exchange reserves, which had fallen to precariously low levels. The $11.3 billion IMF loan supports two key objectives of restoring macroeconomic stability and confidence in the economy through a significant tightening of macroeconomic policies and ensuring social stability and adequate support for the poor. Other reforms include improvements in banking and tax legislation, phasing out electricity subsidies, and reducing foreign exchange market intervention by the State Bank of Pakistan. A contingency plan for handling problem banks has been prepared and is being strengthened; an action plan to reform tax policy and administration has been adopted and will be implemented with technical assistance from the IMF and the World Bank.
Pakistan remains dependent on IMF and other international assistance for budgetary support and to keep the country more or less solvent. So far, Pakistan has met some of the IMF benchmarks, most recently implementing a 13.6% increase in electricity prices in January 2010. In 2009, Pakistan also received $2.11 billion in aid from the “Friends of Pakistan” group of allies, who pledged $5.7 billion in total.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Pakistan's principal natural resources are arable land, water, hydroelectric potential, and natural gas reserves. About 28% of Pakistan's total land area is under cultivation and is watered by one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. Agriculture accounts for about 21% of GDP and employs about 42% of the labor force. The most important crops are cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, which together account for more than 75% of the value of total crop output. Despite intensive farming practices, Pakistan remains a net food importer. Pakistan exports rice, fish, fruits, and vegetables and imports vegetable oil, wheat, cotton (net importer), pulses, and consumer foods.
The economic importance of agriculture has declined since independence, when its share of GDP was around 53%. Following the poor harvest of 1993, the government introduced agriculture assistance policies, including increased support prices for many agricultural commodities and expanded availability of agricultural credit. From 1993 to 1997, real growth in the agricultural sector averaged 5.7% but declined to 4.7% in FY 2008-2009.
Pakistan has extensive energy resources, including fairly sizable natural gas reserves, some proven oil reserves, coal, and large hydropower potential. However, exploitation of energy resources has been slow due to a shortage of capital and domestic and international political constraints. For instance, domestic gas and petroleum production totals only about half the country's energy needs, and dependence on imported oil contributes to Pakistan's persistent trade deficits and shortage of foreign exchange.
Industrial
Pakistan's manufacturing sector accounts for about 25% of GDP. Cotton textile production and apparel manufacturing are Pakistan's largest industries, accounting for about 51.4% of total exports. Other major industries include food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, and paper products. Manufacturing sector growth has slowed in the last 2 years due to energy shortages and capacity constraints. However, the sector is forecast to grow 5.5% for FY 2010. Despite government efforts to privatize large-scale parastatal units, the public sector continues to account for a significant proportion of industry. The government seeks to diversify the country's industrial base and bolster export industries. Net foreign investment in Pakistani industries is only 0.5% of GDP. Pakistan's search for additional foreign direct investment has been hampered by concerns about the security situation, domestic and regional political uncertainties, and questions about judicial transparency.
Foreign Trade
Weak world demand for its exports and domestic political uncertainty have contributed to Pakistan's high trade deficits. In FY 2008, the trade deficit was over $15 billion. In the 2008-2009 budget, the Government of Pakistan raised the maximum tariffs from the 20%-25% range to the 30%-35% range on 300 luxury items due to the large trade gap and growing current account deficit. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, Pakistan’s trade deficit decreased to $10.92 billion as a result of a decline in imports and a slight increase in exports.
Major imports, which fell to $28.4 billion in 2009, include petroleum and petroleum products, edible oil, wheat, chemicals, fertilizer, capital goods, industrial raw materials, and consumer products. Energy imports account for nearly 30% of Pakistan's imports, and the total gap between electricity supply and demand in Pakistan is over 4,800 megawatts (MW). The ongoing energy crisis and security concerns, together with a decline in global demand, have hampered Pakistan’s textile-reliant export base. Pakistan's exports continue to be dominated by cotton textiles and apparel, despite government diversification efforts.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
After September 11, 2001, Pakistan's prominence in the international community increased significantly, as it pledged its alliance with the U.S. in counterterrorism efforts and made a commitment to eliminate terrorist camps on its territory. Historically, Pakistan has had difficult and volatile relations with India, long-standing close relations with China, extensive security and economic interests in the Persian Gulf, and wide-ranging bilateral relations with the United States and other Western countries. It expresses a strong desire for a stable Afghanistan.
India Question
Since partition, relations between Pakistan and India have been characterized by rivalry and suspicion. Although many issues divide the two countries, the most sensitive one since independence has been the status of Kashmir.
At the time of partition, the princely state of Kashmir, though ruled by a Hindu king, had an overwhelmingly Muslim population. When the king hesitated in acceding to either Pakistan or India in 1947, some of his Muslim subjects revolted in favor of joining Pakistan. In exchange for military assistance in containing the revolt, the Kashmiri ruler offered his allegiance to India. Indian troops occupied the eastern portion of Kashmir, including its capital, Srinagar, while the western part came under Pakistani control.
India submitted this dispute to the United Nations on January 1, 1948. One year later, the UN arranged a cease-fire along a line dividing Kashmir but leaving the northern end of the line not demarcated and the Valley of Kashmir (with the majority of the population) under Indian control. India and Pakistan agreed to a UN-supervised plebiscite to determine the state's future. This plebiscite has not occurred because the main precondition, the withdrawal of both nations' forces from Kashmir, has failed to take place. Pakistan has since fought three wars with India over Kashmir, in 1948, 1965, and the Kargil conflict in 1999.
In July 1972, following the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, which resulted in the creation of an independent Bangladesh, President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi met in the hill station of Shimla, India, and agreed to a line of control in Kashmir. Both leaders endorsed the principle of settlement of bilateral disputes through peaceful means. In 1974, Pakistan and India agreed to resume postal and telecommunications linkages and to enact measures to facilitate travel. Trade and diplomatic relations were restored in 1976 after a hiatus of 5 years.
India's nuclear test in 1974 generated great uncertainty in Pakistan and is generally acknowledged to have been the impetus for Pakistan's nuclear weapons development program. In 1983, the Pakistani and Indian Governments accused each other of aiding separatists in their respective countries--Sikhs in India's Punjab state and Sindhis in Pakistan's Sindh province. In April 1984, tensions erupted after troops were deployed to the Siachen Glacier, a high-altitude, desolate area close to the Chinese border not demarcated by the cease-fire agreement (Karachi Agreement) signed by Pakistan and India in 1949.
Tensions diminished after Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in November 1984 and after a group of Sikh hijackers was brought to trial by Pakistan in March 1985. In December 1985, President Zia and Prime Minister Gandhi pledged not to attack each other's nuclear facilities. A formal "no attack" agreement was signed in January 1991. In early 1986, the Indian and Pakistani Governments began high-level talks to resolve the Siachen Glacier border dispute and to improve trade.
Bilateral tensions increased in early 1990, when Kashmiri militants began a campaign of violence against Indian Government authority in Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequent high-level bilateral meetings relieved the tensions between India and Pakistan, but relations worsened again after the destruction of the Ayodhya mosque by Hindu extremists in December 1992 and terrorist bombings in Bombay in March 1993. Talks between the Foreign Secretaries of both countries in January 1994 ended in deadlock.
The relationship improved markedly when Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee traveled to Lahore for a summit with Nawaz Sharif in February 1999. There was considerable hope that the meeting could lead to a breakthrough. However, any breakthrough that was made was negated when in spring 1999, infiltrators from Pakistan occupied positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control in the remote, mountainous area of Kashmir near Kargil. By early summer, serious fighting flared in the Kargil sector of Kashmir. The infiltrators withdrew following a meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and President Bill Clinton in July. Subsequently, relations between India and Pakistan became particularly strained during the 1999 coup in Islamabad. Then, on December 13, 2001 just weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, an attack on India's Parliament further strained this relationship.
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 President Musharraf. Both leaders agreed to reestablish the Composite Dialogue to resolve their bilateral disputes. The Composite Dialogue focuses on eight issues: confidence building measures, Kashmir, Wullar barrage, promotion of friendly exchanges, Siachen glacier, Sir creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, and economic and commercial cooperation. The first round in this renewed 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. In a further display of improved relations, bus service commenced from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to Srinagar in April 2005. After a destructive earthquake hit the Kashmir region in October 2005, the two countries cooperated with each other to deal with the humanitarian crisis.
However, the July 2008 bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, followed in November 2008 by terrorist attacks in Mumbai, brought the bilateral Composite Dialogue to a halt. Pakistan agreed to foreign secretary-level talks in New Delhi, which occurred February 25, 2010. On April 29, 2010, Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met on the sidelines of the 16th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit and signaled they would work toward resuming dialogue. Following the meeting, Pakistani officials assured India that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for terrorist activity directed against India. Pakistan also said it would expedite the trial of suspects implicated in the Mumbai attacks.
Afghanistan
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 U.S. 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 and coordination along their shared rugged border.
China
In 1950, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.). 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. Favorable relations with China have been a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy. The P.R.C. strongly supported Pakistan's opposition to Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and is perceived by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to India and Russia.
Iran
Historically, Pakistan has had close geopolitical and cultural-religious linkages with Iran. However, strains in the relationship appeared following the Iranian revolution. Pakistan and Iran supported different factions in the Afghan conflict. Also, some Pakistanis suspect Iranian Government support for the sectarian violence that has plagued Pakistan. However, relations between the countries have improved since their policies toward Afghanistan have converged with the fall of the Taliban. Both countries contend that they are on the road to strong and lasting friendly relations.
Pakistan has also provided military personnel to strengthen Gulf-state defenses and to reinforce its own security interests in the area.
Drone attacks in Pakistan
Despite its economic and political difficulties, Pakistan has taken some steps over the years to liberalize its trade and investment regimes, either unilaterally or in the context of commitments made with the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank. Pakistan has received significant loan/grant assistance from international financial institutions (e.g., the IMF, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)) and bilateral donors, particularly after it began using its military/financial resources in counterterrorism efforts.
In 2000, the government made significant macroeconomic reforms: privatizing Pakistan's state-subsidized utilities, reforming the banking sector, instituting a world-class anti-money laundering law, cracking down on piracy of intellectual property, and moving to quickly resolve investor disputes. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and Pakistan's proclaimed commitment to fighting terror, many international sanctions, particularly those that had been imposed by the United States, were lifted. Pakistan's economic prospects began to increase significantly due to unprecedented inflows of foreign assistance at the end of 2001, and the trend was expected to continue through 2009. In 2002, the United States led Paris Club efforts to reschedule Pakistan's debt on generous terms, and in April 2003 the United States reduced Pakistan's bilateral official debt by $1 billion. In 2004, approximately $500 million more in bilateral debt relief was granted. Foreign exchange reserves and exports grew to record levels after a sharp decline. The IMF lauded Pakistan for its commitment in meeting lender requirements for a $1.3 billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility loan, which it completed in 2004, forgoing the final permitted tranche. The Government of Pakistan was successful in issuing sovereign bonds; it issued $600 million in Islamic bonds, putting Pakistan back on the investment map.
On October 8, 2005, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad. An estimated 75,000 people were killed and 2.5 million people were left homeless. The disaster of such a huge magnitude galvanized an international rescue and reconstruction effort in support of the affected region. The earthquake cost Pakistan $1.1 billion in resettling those affected. Despite the 2005 earthquake, GDP growth remained strong at 6.6% in fiscal year 2005-2006. Consumer price inflation eased slightly to an average of 8% in 2005-2006 from 9.3% in 2004-2005.
In 2008, the ratio of total debt and liabilities to GDP, a broad measure of the country's capacity to sustain debt, saw an end to a 7-year declining trend, rising in FY 2008 to 60%. The stock of Pakistan's total debt and liabilities increased by 27% year on year in 2008, to PKR 6,417.4 billion (U.S. $80.7 billion at 79.5 rupees per dollar), with a commensurate deterioration in debt sustainability indicators. The fiscal deficit widened from 5.6% of GDP in 1994-95, to 7.7% in 1997-98, and to 5.4% in 2008-2009. Support for loss-making, state-owned enterprises; fuel subsidies; and a weak domestic tax base have been critical elements in the recurring fiscal deficits.
In October 2008, Pakistan entered into a 23-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in order to keep the country solvent and to support its foreign exchange reserves, which had fallen to precariously low levels. The $11.3 billion IMF loan supports two key objectives of restoring macroeconomic stability and confidence in the economy through a significant tightening of macroeconomic policies and ensuring social stability and adequate support for the poor. Other reforms include improvements in banking and tax legislation, phasing out electricity subsidies, and reducing foreign exchange market intervention by the State Bank of Pakistan. A contingency plan for handling problem banks has been prepared and is being strengthened; an action plan to reform tax policy and administration has been adopted and will be implemented with technical assistance from the IMF and the World Bank.
Pakistan remains dependent on IMF and other international assistance for budgetary support and to keep the country more or less solvent. So far, Pakistan has met some of the IMF benchmarks, most recently implementing a 13.6% increase in electricity prices in January 2010. In 2009, Pakistan also received $2.11 billion in aid from the “Friends of Pakistan” group of allies, who pledged $5.7 billion in total.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Pakistan's principal natural resources are arable land, water, hydroelectric potential, and natural gas reserves. About 28% of Pakistan's total land area is under cultivation and is watered by one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. Agriculture accounts for about 21% of GDP and employs about 42% of the labor force. The most important crops are cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, which together account for more than 75% of the value of total crop output. Despite intensive farming practices, Pakistan remains a net food importer. Pakistan exports rice, fish, fruits, and vegetables and imports vegetable oil, wheat, cotton (net importer), pulses, and consumer foods.
The economic importance of agriculture has declined since independence, when its share of GDP was around 53%. Following the poor harvest of 1993, the government introduced agriculture assistance policies, including increased support prices for many agricultural commodities and expanded availability of agricultural credit. From 1993 to 1997, real growth in the agricultural sector averaged 5.7% but declined to 4.7% in FY 2008-2009.
Pakistan has extensive energy resources, including fairly sizable natural gas reserves, some proven oil reserves, coal, and large hydropower potential. However, exploitation of energy resources has been slow due to a shortage of capital and domestic and international political constraints. For instance, domestic gas and petroleum production totals only about half the country's energy needs, and dependence on imported oil contributes to Pakistan's persistent trade deficits and shortage of foreign exchange.
Industrial
Pakistan's manufacturing sector accounts for about 25% of GDP. Cotton textile production and apparel manufacturing are Pakistan's largest industries, accounting for about 51.4% of total exports. Other major industries include food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, and paper products. Manufacturing sector growth has slowed in the last 2 years due to energy shortages and capacity constraints. However, the sector is forecast to grow 5.5% for FY 2010. Despite government efforts to privatize large-scale parastatal units, the public sector continues to account for a significant proportion of industry. The government seeks to diversify the country's industrial base and bolster export industries. Net foreign investment in Pakistani industries is only 0.5% of GDP. Pakistan's search for additional foreign direct investment has been hampered by concerns about the security situation, domestic and regional political uncertainties, and questions about judicial transparency.
Foreign Trade
Weak world demand for its exports and domestic political uncertainty have contributed to Pakistan's high trade deficits. In FY 2008, the trade deficit was over $15 billion. In the 2008-2009 budget, the Government of Pakistan raised the maximum tariffs from the 20%-25% range to the 30%-35% range on 300 luxury items due to the large trade gap and growing current account deficit. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, Pakistan’s trade deficit decreased to $10.92 billion as a result of a decline in imports and a slight increase in exports.
Major imports, which fell to $28.4 billion in 2009, include petroleum and petroleum products, edible oil, wheat, chemicals, fertilizer, capital goods, industrial raw materials, and consumer products. Energy imports account for nearly 30% of Pakistan's imports, and the total gap between electricity supply and demand in Pakistan is over 4,800 megawatts (MW). The ongoing energy crisis and security concerns, together with a decline in global demand, have hampered Pakistan’s textile-reliant export base. Pakistan's exports continue to be dominated by cotton textiles and apparel, despite government diversification efforts.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
After September 11, 2001, Pakistan's prominence in the international community increased significantly, as it pledged its alliance with the U.S. in counterterrorism efforts and made a commitment to eliminate terrorist camps on its territory. Historically, Pakistan has had difficult and volatile relations with India, long-standing close relations with China, extensive security and economic interests in the Persian Gulf, and wide-ranging bilateral relations with the United States and other Western countries. It expresses a strong desire for a stable Afghanistan.
India Question
Since partition, relations between Pakistan and India have been characterized by rivalry and suspicion. Although many issues divide the two countries, the most sensitive one since independence has been the status of Kashmir.
At the time of partition, the princely state of Kashmir, though ruled by a Hindu king, had an overwhelmingly Muslim population. When the king hesitated in acceding to either Pakistan or India in 1947, some of his Muslim subjects revolted in favor of joining Pakistan. In exchange for military assistance in containing the revolt, the Kashmiri ruler offered his allegiance to India. Indian troops occupied the eastern portion of Kashmir, including its capital, Srinagar, while the western part came under Pakistani control.
India submitted this dispute to the United Nations on January 1, 1948. One year later, the UN arranged a cease-fire along a line dividing Kashmir but leaving the northern end of the line not demarcated and the Valley of Kashmir (with the majority of the population) under Indian control. India and Pakistan agreed to a UN-supervised plebiscite to determine the state's future. This plebiscite has not occurred because the main precondition, the withdrawal of both nations' forces from Kashmir, has failed to take place. Pakistan has since fought three wars with India over Kashmir, in 1948, 1965, and the Kargil conflict in 1999.
In July 1972, following the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, which resulted in the creation of an independent Bangladesh, President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi met in the hill station of Shimla, India, and agreed to a line of control in Kashmir. Both leaders endorsed the principle of settlement of bilateral disputes through peaceful means. In 1974, Pakistan and India agreed to resume postal and telecommunications linkages and to enact measures to facilitate travel. Trade and diplomatic relations were restored in 1976 after a hiatus of 5 years.
India's nuclear test in 1974 generated great uncertainty in Pakistan and is generally acknowledged to have been the impetus for Pakistan's nuclear weapons development program. In 1983, the Pakistani and Indian Governments accused each other of aiding separatists in their respective countries--Sikhs in India's Punjab state and Sindhis in Pakistan's Sindh province. In April 1984, tensions erupted after troops were deployed to the Siachen Glacier, a high-altitude, desolate area close to the Chinese border not demarcated by the cease-fire agreement (Karachi Agreement) signed by Pakistan and India in 1949.
Tensions diminished after Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in November 1984 and after a group of Sikh hijackers was brought to trial by Pakistan in March 1985. In December 1985, President Zia and Prime Minister Gandhi pledged not to attack each other's nuclear facilities. A formal "no attack" agreement was signed in January 1991. In early 1986, the Indian and Pakistani Governments began high-level talks to resolve the Siachen Glacier border dispute and to improve trade.
Bilateral tensions increased in early 1990, when Kashmiri militants began a campaign of violence against Indian Government authority in Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequent high-level bilateral meetings relieved the tensions between India and Pakistan, but relations worsened again after the destruction of the Ayodhya mosque by Hindu extremists in December 1992 and terrorist bombings in Bombay in March 1993. Talks between the Foreign Secretaries of both countries in January 1994 ended in deadlock.
The relationship improved markedly when Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee traveled to Lahore for a summit with Nawaz Sharif in February 1999. There was considerable hope that the meeting could lead to a breakthrough. However, any breakthrough that was made was negated when in spring 1999, infiltrators from Pakistan occupied positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control in the remote, mountainous area of Kashmir near Kargil. By early summer, serious fighting flared in the Kargil sector of Kashmir. The infiltrators withdrew following a meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and President Bill Clinton in July. Subsequently, relations between India and Pakistan became particularly strained during the 1999 coup in Islamabad. Then, on December 13, 2001 just weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, an attack on India's Parliament further strained this relationship.
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 President Musharraf. Both leaders agreed to reestablish the Composite Dialogue to resolve their bilateral disputes. The Composite Dialogue focuses on eight issues: confidence building measures, Kashmir, Wullar barrage, promotion of friendly exchanges, Siachen glacier, Sir creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, and economic and commercial cooperation. The first round in this renewed 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. In a further display of improved relations, bus service commenced from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to Srinagar in April 2005. After a destructive earthquake hit the Kashmir region in October 2005, the two countries cooperated with each other to deal with the humanitarian crisis.
However, the July 2008 bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul, followed in November 2008 by terrorist attacks in Mumbai, brought the bilateral Composite Dialogue to a halt. Pakistan agreed to foreign secretary-level talks in New Delhi, which occurred February 25, 2010. On April 29, 2010, Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met on the sidelines of the 16th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit and signaled they would work toward resuming dialogue. Following the meeting, Pakistani officials assured India that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for terrorist activity directed against India. Pakistan also said it would expedite the trial of suspects implicated in the Mumbai attacks.
Afghanistan
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 U.S. 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 and coordination along their shared rugged border.
China
In 1950, Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.). 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. Favorable relations with China have been a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy. The P.R.C. strongly supported Pakistan's opposition to Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and is perceived by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to India and Russia.
Iran
Historically, Pakistan has had close geopolitical and cultural-religious linkages with Iran. However, strains in the relationship appeared following the Iranian revolution. Pakistan and Iran supported different factions in the Afghan conflict. Also, some Pakistanis suspect Iranian Government support for the sectarian violence that has plagued Pakistan. However, relations between the countries have improved since their policies toward Afghanistan have converged with the fall of the Taliban. Both countries contend that they are on the road to strong and lasting friendly relations.
Pakistan has also provided military personnel to strengthen Gulf-state defenses and to reinforce its own security interests in the area.
Drone attacks in Pakistan
The United States government, led by the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division, has made a series
of attacks on targets in northwestPakistan since 2004 using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles).[2] Under theGeorge W. Bush administration, these
attacks are part of the US' War on Terrorism and sought to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants who have found a safe haven in
Pakistan.[2] Most of these attacks
are on targets in theFederally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Northwest Pakistan.
These strikes are carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated
remotely from Creech Air Force Base located in Nevada, U.S.A. and have increased
substantially under the Presidency of Barack
Obama.[3][4] Generally the UAVs
used are MQ-1 Predator and more recently MQ-9 Reaper firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The drones have become a weapon of
choice for the United States in the fight against al-Qaeda.[5] Some media refer to the series of attacks as a "drone war".[6][7] Pakistan's government publicly condemns these
attacks but has secretly shared intelligence with Americans[8] and also allegedly allowed the drones to
operate from Shamsi Airfield in Pakistan.[9]
The Brookings Institution suggests that drone strikes may kill "10 or so civilians" for every militant killed.[10] The Pakistani military has stated that most of
those killed were hardcore Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.[11] However Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said "Drone missiles cause collateral damage. A few
militants are killed, but the majority of victims are innocent citizens,"[12]
US Drone Strike Statistics[1]
|
|||
Year
|
Number of Drone Strikes
|
Number Killed (Min)
|
Number Killed (Max)
|
2004
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
2005
|
2
|
6
|
7
|
2006
|
2
|
23
|
23
|
2007
|
4
|
56
|
77
|
2008
|
33
|
273
|
313
|
2009
|
53
|
368
|
724
|
2010
|
118
|
607
|
993
|
2011
|
22
|
102
|
148
|
Total
|
234
|
1,439
|
2,290
|
Pakistani response
Shamsi airbase in
2006, reported to show three Predator drones.
Pakistan
has repeatedly protested these attacks as they are an infringement of its sovereigntyand because civilian deaths have
also resulted, including women and children, which has further angered the
Pakistani government and people.
General David Petraeus was told in November
2008 that these strikes were unhelpful.[363] However on October 4, 2008 The Washington Post reported that there was a secret deal between
the US and Pakistan allowing these drone attacks.[364] US Senator Dianne Feinstein said in February 2009:
“As I understand it, these are flown out of a Pakistani base.”[365] Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshidenied that this was true.[366]
Between November 2008 and January 2009 Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy(AIRRA), a
think tank of researchers and activists from FATA and NWFP conducted a survey
of the public opinion about the drone strikes in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Five teams of five
researchers each interviewed 550 people from all walks of life.[351] Based on the responses the researchers
concluded 'The popular notion outside the Pakhtun belt that a large majority of
the local population supports the Taliban movement lacks substance'. Most
people thought that the drone attacks were accurate and did not lead to
anti-American sentiment and were effective in damaging the militants. In
addition the locals wanted the Pakistani forces to also target the militants.[367] According to Farhat Taj a member of AIRRA the
drones have never killed any civilians. Some people in Waziristan compare the
drones to Ababils , the holy swallows sent by God to avenge Abraha, the invader of the Khana Kaaba.[368]
On September 28, a spokesman for the Pakistani army condemned Washington's
killing of Pakistani civilians and warned of retaliatory action: "Border
violations by US-led forces in Afghanistan, which have killed scores of
Pakistani civilians, would no longer be tolerated, and we have informed them
that we reserve the right to self defense and that we will retaliate if the US
continues cross-border attacks."[369]When the Soviets were in
Afghanistan, the potent Pakistani Air Force shot down any Soviet aircraft that
strayed into Pakistan.[370] When an Indian drone strays into Pakistani Airspace, it is also
promptly dispatched by Pakistani Air Defences. [371]
The British newspaper The Times stated on February 18, 2009 that the CIA was
using Shamsi Airfield, 190 miles (310 km)
southwest ofQuetta and 30 miles
(48 km) from the Afghan border, as its base for drone operations. Safar Khan, a journalist based in the area
near Shamsi, told the Times, "We can see the planes flying from the
base. The area around the base is a high-security zone and no one is allowed
there."[372] [372] Top US officials confirmed to Fox News Channel that Shamsi Airfield had been used by the CIA to launch the
drones since 2002.[359]
The drone attacks continue, despite repeated requests made by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari through different channels.[373][374]Baitullah Mehsud while claiming responsibility for the 2009 Lahore police academy attacks, stated
that it was in retaliation for the drone attacks.[375] According to The Daily Telegraph, Pakistani
intelligence has agreed to secretly
provide information to the United States on Mehsud's and his militants'
whereabouts while publicly the Pakistani government will continue to condemn
the attacks.[376]
On April 28, 2009 Pakistan's consul general to the US, Aqil Nadeem, asked the US to hand over control
of its drones in Pakistan to his government. Said Nadeem, "Do we want to
lose the war on terror or do we want to keep those weapons classified? If the
American government insists on our true cooperation, then they should also be
helping us in fighting those terrorists."[377] President Zardari has also requested that
Pakistan be given control over the drones but this has been rejected by the US
who are worried that Pakistanis will leak information about targets to
militants.[72] In December 2009
Pakistan's Defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar acknowledged that Americans were using Shamsi
Airfield but stated that Pakistan was not satisfied with payments for using the
facility.[378]
In an analysis published in Daily Times on January 2, 2010 author Farhat Taj
challenged the view that the local people of Waziristan were against the drone
attacks. Author states on the basis of personal interviews with people in
Waziristan that the locals in Waziristan support the attacks and see the drones
as their 'liberators' from the clutches of Taliban and Pakistan's Intelligence
agencies. She further challenged the government of Pakistan to provide accurate
figures about the 'civilian' casualties and tell what methodology was used to
collect this data. According to her 'The people of Waziristan are suffering a
brutal kind of occupation under the Taliban and al Qaeda. It is in this context
that they would welcome anyone, Americans, Israelis, Indians or even the devil, to rid them of the Taliban and al
Qaeda.'[379]
In response to this analysis Irfan Husain writing in Dawn agreed with her assessment and called for more
drone attacks. He wrote 'We need to wake up to the reality that the enemy has
grown very strong in the years we temporized and tried to do deals with them.
Clearly, we need allies in this fight. Howling at the moon is not going to get
us the cooperation we so desperately need. A solid case can be made for more
drone attacks, not less.[380]
In December 2010 the CIA's Station Chief in Islamabad operating under the alias
Jonathan Banks was hastily pulled from the country.[381][382] Lawsuits filed by families of victims of drone
strikes had named Banks as a defendant, he had been receiving death threats,
and a Pakistani journalist whose brother and son died in a drone strike called
for prosecuting Banks for murder.
In
March 2011 the General Officer
Commanding of 7th division of Pakistani Army, Major
General Ghayur Mehmood delivered a briefing "Myths and rumours about US
predator strikes" in Miramshah. He said that most of those who were killed
by the drone strikes were Al-qaeda and Taliban terrorists. Military’s official
paper on the attacks till March 7, 2011 said that between 2007 and 2011 about
164 predator strikes had been carried out and over 964 terrorists had been
killed. Those killed included 793 locals and 171 foreigners. The foreigners
included Arabs, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Chechens, Filipinos and Moroccans.
History
Born out from the furnace of animosity, India and Pakistan, the twin brothers have a history of unique relations. There is much in common between Republic of India and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Born out from the furnace of animosity, India and Pakistan, the twin brothers have a history of unique relations. There is much in common between Republic of India and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The diplomatic
relations developed soon after independence but these relations did not ensure
good friendship. The blaming process started soon after the inception of
Pakistan when during the world’s biggest mass migration both states were unable
to provide security to minorities. At that time there were 680 princely states
and their future was to be decided according to their own will. Junagadh and
Kashmir are two of these states which are still a bone of contention between
India and Pakistan.
Junagadh was composed of 88% Hindu Majority with a Muslim ruler named Nawab
Mahabat Khan. The ruler voted for Pakistan but India did not accept it on the
plea of heavy Hindu majority. The other reason projected by India was that the
state of Junagadh was encircled by Indian state and giving it to Pakistan would
contradict the two nation theory. The stand of Pakistan was on the basis of the
Muslim ruler and the maritime link of Pakistan with junagadh coastal line.
One the other hand, the ruler of Kashmir, Hair Singh, wanted to join India but the majority of Muslim population was in the favour of Pakistan. Maharaja Hair Singh made a “stand still agreement” with the Government of Pakistan. However, the rumoures spread in Pakistan that Mahraja Hari Singh was going to accede with India. The forces of Pakistan invaded in Kashmir in 1947 and Hari Singh asked India for help.
One the other hand, the ruler of Kashmir, Hair Singh, wanted to join India but the majority of Muslim population was in the favour of Pakistan. Maharaja Hair Singh made a “stand still agreement” with the Government of Pakistan. However, the rumoures spread in Pakistan that Mahraja Hari Singh was going to accede with India. The forces of Pakistan invaded in Kashmir in 1947 and Hari Singh asked India for help.
Indian
Armed forces violating the provision of their constitution entered into the
jurisdiction of Kashmir. In 1957, Pakistan acquired Azad Kashmir and India
captured state of Jammu and Kashmir. Both of these parts are being held by the
same countries which occupied these states forcefully.
In 1965 India launched operation Meghdoot and captured 80% of Siachen Glacier.
1971 was a black year in the history of Pakistan as she lost its eastern wing
as India intervened to favour Bengali people and seized the Qasim part. 90, 000
Pakistani soliders surrendered in Bangladesh. In July 1972 P.M India Gandhi and
PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto met in Indian Hill station of Simla and signed an
agreement to return 90, 000 Pak personnel, and that India would get its
captured territory in the west. They also agreed that from then on, they would
settle their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations. Eventually, the
trade relation restarted in 1976 but the Afghan crisis of 1979 again disrupted
the peaceful process started in 1976.
Pakistan supported Taliban and India favoured Soviet Union. India was also worried about US military aid to Pakistan, Pakistan’s purchase of arms from us and the advancement in her nuclear programme. The change in leadership brought a new era of relation between the two rivals. In Dec 1988 Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and Rajiv Gandhi resumed talks on different issues melding cultured exchange, civil aviation and not to attack each other nuclear facilities. At that time BB said.
Pakistan supported Taliban and India favoured Soviet Union. India was also worried about US military aid to Pakistan, Pakistan’s purchase of arms from us and the advancement in her nuclear programme. The change in leadership brought a new era of relation between the two rivals. In Dec 1988 Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and Rajiv Gandhi resumed talks on different issues melding cultured exchange, civil aviation and not to attack each other nuclear facilities. At that time BB said.
“Burry the Hatchet;
we have had enough of it. Let’s start a new chapter. India has a new generation
leadership. Rajiv & I belong to a new generation. We have some kinship. He
father was assassinated and so was my father. He lost his brother and so have I
we both can start from clean state.”
In 1997, high level talks were resumed after 3
years. Prime Minister of India and Pakistan met twice and foreign secretaries
conducted 3 rounds of talks in which they identified 8 outstanding issues to
focuss. These 8 issues were
Kashmir issue Water crisis Sir creek issue Rann of kutch MFN status Siachen issue State sponsored issue Nuclear Deterrence
In September 1997 the talks broke down on
structural issue where as in May 1998 the situation became harder because of
nuclear experiment conducted by Pakistan. The environment further became
deplorable when Indian Air lines Flight IC 814 was hijacked in 24 Dec 1999. The
plan landed in Lahore for refuelling but the final destination was Kandhar,
Afghanistan. Rivalry increased when attack was conducted on Indian parliament
on Dec 2001. India blamed Jash-e-Mohammad for that act. The Samjhota express
carnage of 18th February 2007 added fuel to fire. The series of blaming each
other started again where as Pakistan tried to project cordial relations.
In Nov, 2008, a series of ten co-ordinated attacks were committed by terrorist
which began across Mumbai which is the Indian financial capital and the largest
city. The attack was started on 26 November 2008 and ended on 29 November 2008.
In these attacks 173 people were killed including 35 foreigner where as 38 were
wounded. India blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba and gave evidences that weapon, candy
wrappers, telephone sets and branded milk Packets used by the terrorists
belonged to Pakistan. But it was also found that the terrorist were drunk as
the Lashkar-e-Taiba elements did not drink, and were speaking Hyderabadi
language.
Additionally, Hermant Kurkure was the first man to be murdered in that attack.
He was the man who was on the hit list of Indian Dons because he arrested
General Parohit, who was the master mind of Samjhota Carnage. Another reason
was that Obama Discussed to solve Kashmir issue to bring stability in the South
Asian region. This attack was done to divert his attention. The lok sbha
election could not be ignored as the current government needed the Pakistan
card to flame the sentiments of Indian masses.
In spite of this deteriorated situation Pakistan did not give up to create friendly atmosphere. Currently, the government of India is not that much brutal. Recently Indian minister of state for external affairs said they were not worried about Pakistan purchasing of armaments but if these weapons will be used against India, they were ready to fight. In addition, Pakistan nukes were unsafe.
Bit recently the statement of Indian Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor regarding his army’s capacity to fight on two fronts, upset a lots of people in Pakistan. This also shows that there is a conflict of interest between Indian army and Indian Government.
India and Pakistan must work jointly to coeate a peaceful atmosphere. Sharing a long border with common geographic importance can increase to their worth if the joint venture is adopted
In spite of this deteriorated situation Pakistan did not give up to create friendly atmosphere. Currently, the government of India is not that much brutal. Recently Indian minister of state for external affairs said they were not worried about Pakistan purchasing of armaments but if these weapons will be used against India, they were ready to fight. In addition, Pakistan nukes were unsafe.
Bit recently the statement of Indian Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor regarding his army’s capacity to fight on two fronts, upset a lots of people in Pakistan. This also shows that there is a conflict of interest between Indian army and Indian Government.
India and Pakistan must work jointly to coeate a peaceful atmosphere. Sharing a long border with common geographic importance can increase to their worth if the joint venture is adopted
1971 Bangladesh
Liberation War
Main articles: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War
Pakistan, since independence, was
geo-politically divided into two major regions, West Pakistan and East Pakistan. East Pakistan was occupied mostly by Bengali people. In December 1971, following a
political crisis in East Pakistan, the situation soon spiralled out of control
in East Pakistan and India intervened in favour of the rebelling Bengali
populace. The conflict, a brief but bloody war, resulted in an independence of
East Pakistan. In the war, the Pakistani army swiftly fell to India, forcing
the independence of East Pakistan, which separated and became Bangladesh. The Pakistani military, being a
thousand miles from its base and surrounded by enemies, was forced to give in.
Shimla Agreement
Since the 1971 war, Pakistan and India have
made only slow progress towards the normalisation of relations. In July 1972,
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto met in the Indian hill station of Simla. They signed the Simla Agreement, by which India would return
all Pakistani personnel (over 90,000) and captured territory in the west, and
the two countries would "settle their differences by peaceful means
through bilateral negotiations." Diplomatic and trade relations were also
re-established in 1976
Afghanistan crisis
After the 1979 Soviet war in Afghanistan where Soviet Union military Occupied
Afghanistan, new strains appeared in Indo-Pakistani relations. Pakistan
actively supported the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union, which was a close ally of India,
which brought opposing political opinions.
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan
was strongly supported by Pakistan – one of the few countries to do so – before
the September 11 attacks. India, on the other
hand, firmly opposed the Taliban and criticised Pakistan for supporting it.
Gujarat Earthquake in India
Pakistani President Pervez Mushrraf sent a plane load of relief supplies to India
from Islamabad to Ahmedabad.[9] That carried 200 tents and more than 2,000
Blankets.[10] Furthermore the
President called Indian PM to express his 'sympathy' over the loss from the
earthquake.[11]
Earth quake in Pakistan
India offered generous aid to Pakistan in response to the 2005 Earthquake.
Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners consulted with one another regarding
cooperation in relief work. India sent 25 tonnes of relief material to Pakistan including food, blankets and medicine. Large Indian companies
such as Infosys have offered aid up to $226,000. On October
12, an Ilyushin-76 cargo plane ferried across seven truckloads
(about 82 tons) of army medicines,
15,000 blankets and 50 tents and returned to New Delhi. A senior airforce
official also stated that they had been asked by the Indian government to be
ready to fly out another similar consignment.[12] On October 14, India dispatched the second
consignment of relief material to Pakistan, by train through the Wagah Border.
The consignment included 5,000 blankets, 370 tents, 5 tons of plastic sheets
and 12 tons of medicine. A third consignment of medicine and relief material
was also sent shortly afterwards by train.[13] India also pledged $25 million as aid to
Pakistan.[14] India opened the first of three points at Chakan Da
Bagh, in Poonch, on the Line of
Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for the 2005 Kashmir earthquake relief work. (Rediff) Such generous gestures signalled a new age in confidence,
friendliness and cooperation between both India and Pakistan.
Samjhauta Express
bombings
Main article: 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings
The 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings was a terrorist attack targeted on the Samjhauta Express train on the 18th of February. The Samjhauta
Express is an international train that runs from New Delhi, India to Lahore,
Pakistan, and is one of two trains to cross the India-Pakistan border.
Mumbai attacks
Main article: 2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks by ten terrorists killed over 173 and wounded
308. The sole surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab who was arrested during the attacks was found
to be a Pakistani national. This fact was acknowledged by Pakistani
authorities.[15] In May 2010, an Indian
court convicted him on four counts of murder, waging war against India, conspiracy and terrorism offences, and sentenced him to death.
India blamed the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a
Pakistan-based militant group, for planning and executing the attacks.
Islamabad resisted the claims and demanded evidence. India provided evidence in
the form of interrogations, weapons, candy wrappers, Pakistani Brand Milk
Packets, and telephone sets.[17] Indian officials demanded Pakistan extradite suspects for trial.
They also said that, given the sophistication of the attacks, the perpetrators
"must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan".
Kargil crisis
Attempts to restart dialogue between the two nations were given a major boost
by the February 1999 meeting of both Prime Ministers in Lahore and their signing of three agreements.These efforts have since
been stalled by the intrusion of Pakistani forces into Indian territory
near Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir in May 1999. This resulted in intense
fighting between Indian and Pakistani forces, known as the Kargil conflict. Backed by the Indian Air
Force, the Indian Army successfully regained Kargil. A subsequent military coup
in Pakistan that overturned the democratically elected Nawaz Sharif government in October of the same year also
proved a setback to relations.
In 2001, a summit was called in Agra; Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf turned up to meet
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The talks fell
through.On June 20, 2004, with a new government in place in India, both
countries agreed to extend a nuclear testing ban and to set up a hotline between their foreign secretaries aimed at preventing
misunderstandings that might lead to a nuclear war.As of early 2005, both countries are committed to a
process of dialogue to solve all outstanding issues. Baglihar Dam issue was a new issue raised by Pakistan in
2005.
Newly
independent
1947-48 - Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal bloodshed
after partition. 1948 - Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Hindu extremist. 1948 - War with Pakistan over disputed territory of Kashmir. 1951-52 - Congress Party wins first general elections under leadership
of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Regional tensions 1962 - India loses brief border war with China. 1964 - Death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. 1965 - Second war with Pakistan over Kashmir. 1966 - Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister. 1971 - Third war with Pakistan over creation of Bangladesh, formerly
East Pakistan. 1971 - Twenty-year treaty of friendship signed with Soviet Union. 1974 - India explodes first nuclear device in underground test.
Democratic strains 1975 - Indira Gandhi declares state of emergency after being found
guilty of electoral malpractice. 1975-1977 - Nearly 1,000 political opponents imprisoned and programme of
compulsory birth control introduced. 1977 - Indira Gandhi's Congress Party loses general elections. 1980 - Indira Gandhi returns to power heading Congress party splinter
group, Congress (Indira). 1984 - Troops storm Golden Temple - Sikhs' most holy shrine - to
flush out Sikh militants pressing for self-rule. 1984 - Indira Gandhi assassinated by Sikh bodyguards, following which
her son, Rajiv, takes over. 1984 December - Gas leak at Union Carbide pesticides plant in Bhopal.
Thousands are killed immediately, many more subsequently die or are left
disabled. 1987 - India deploys troops for peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka's
ethnic conflict. 1989 - Falling public support leads to Congress defeat in general
election. 1990 - Indian troops withdrawn from Sri Lanka. 1990 - Muslim separatist groups begin campaign of violence in
Kashmir. 1991 - Rajiv Gandhi assassinated by suicide bomber sympathetic to Sri
Lanka's Tamil Tigers. 1991 - Economic reform programme begun by Prime Minister PV Narasimha
Rao. 1992 - Hindu extremists demolish mosque in Ayodhya, triggering
widespread Hindu-Muslim violence. BJP to the fore 1996 - Congress suffers worst ever electoral defeat as Hindu
nationalist BJP emerges as largest single party. 1998 - BJP forms coalition government under Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee. 1998 - India carries out nuclear tests, leading to widespread
international condemnation. 1999 February - Vajpayee makes historic bus trip to Pakistan to meet
Premier Nawaz Sharif and to sign bilateral Lahore peace declaration. 1999 May - Tension in Kashmir leads to brief war with Pakistan-backed
forces in the icy heights around Kargil in Indian-held Kashmir. 1999 October - Cyclone devastates eastern state of Orissa, leaving at
least 10,000 dead. Population: 1 billion 2000 May - India marks the birth of its billionth citizen. 2000 - US President Bill Clinton makes a groundbreaking visit to
improve ties. 2001 January - Massive earthquakes hit the western state of Gujarat,
leaving at least 30,000 dead. 2001 April - 16 Indian and three Bangladeshi soldiers are killed in
border clashes. A
high-powered rocket is launched, propelling India into the club of countries
able to fire big satellites deep into space. 2001 July - Vajpayee meets Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in
the first summit between the two neighbours in more than two years. The meeting
ends without a breakthrough or even a joint statement because of differences
over Kashmir. 2001 July - Vajpayee's BJP party declines his offer to resign over a
number of political scandals and the apparent failure of his talks with
Pakistani President Musharraf. 2001 September - US lifts sanctions which it imposed against India
and Pakistan after they staged nuclear tests in 1998. The move is seen as a
reward for their support for the US-led anti-terror campaign. Kashmir tensions rise 2001 October - India fires on Pakistani military posts in the
heaviest firing along the dividing line of control in Kashmir for almost a
year. 2001 December - Suicide squad attacks parliament in New Delhi,
killing several police. The five gunmen die in the assault. 2001 December - India imposes sanctions against Pakistan, to force it
to take action against two Kashmir militant groups blamed for the suicide
attack on parliament. Pakistan retaliates with similar sanctions, and bans the
groups in January. 2001 December - India, Pakistan mass troops on common border amid
mounting fears of a looming war. 2002 January - India successfully test-fires a nuclear-capable
ballistic missile - the Agni - off its eastern coast. 2002 February - Inter-religious bloodshed breaks out after 59 Hindu
pilgrims returning from Ayodhya are killed in a train fire in Godhra, Gujarat.
More than 1,000 people, mainly Muslims, die in subsequent riots. (Police and
officials blamed the fire on a Muslim mob; a 2005 government investigation said
it was an accident.) 2002 May - Pakistan test-fires three medium-range surface-to-surface
Ghauri missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. War of
words between Indian and Pakistani leaders intensifies. Actual war seems
imminent. 2002 June - UK, US urge their citizens to leave India and Pakistan,
while maintaining diplomatic offensive to avert war. 2002 July - Retired scientist and architect of India's missile
programme APJ Abdul Kalam is elected president. 2003 August - At least 50 people are killed in two simultaneous bomb
blasts in Bombay. Kashmir Ceasefire 2003 November - India matches Pakistan's declaration of a Kashmir
ceasefire. 2003 December - India, Pakistan agree to resume direct air links and
to allow overflights. 2004 January - Groundbreaking meeting held between government and
moderate Kashmir separatists. 2004 May - Surprise victory for Congress Party in general elections.
Manmohan Singh is sworn in as prime minister. 2004 September - India, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan,
launches an application for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. 2004 November - India begins to withdraw some of its troops from
Kashmir. Asian tsunami 2004 December - Thousands are killed when tidal waves, caused by a
powerful undersea earthquake off the Indonesian coast, devastate coastal
communities in the south and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2005 7 April - Bus services, the first in 60 years, operate between
Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir and Muzaffarabad in
Pakistani-administered Kashmir. 2005 July - More than 1,000 people are killed in floods and
landslides caused by monsoon rains in Mumbai (Bombay) and Maharashtra region. 2005 October - An earthquake, with its epicentre in
Pakistani-administered Kashmir, kills more than 1,000 people in
Indian-administered Kashmir. Bombs
kill 62 people in Delhi. A little-known Kashmiri group says it is behind the
attacks. 2006 February - India's largest-ever rural jobs scheme is launched,
aimed at lifting around 60 million families out of poverty. Nuclear deal 2006 March - US and India sign a nuclear agreement during a visit by
US President George W Bush. The US gives India access to civilian nuclear
technology while India agrees to greater scrutiny for its nuclear programme. 14
people are killed by bomb blasts in the Hindu pilgrimage city of Varanasi. 2006 May - Suspected Islamic militants kill 35 Hindus in the worst
attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir for several months. 2006 11 July - More than 180 people are killed in bomb attacks on
rush-hour trains in Mumbai. Investigators blame Islamic militants based in
Pakistan. 2006 8 September - Explosions outside a mosque in the western town of
Malegaon kill at least 31 people. 2006 November - Hu Jintao makes the first visit to India by a Chinese
president in a decade. 2006 December - US President George W Bush approves a controversial
law allowing India to buy US nuclear reactors and fuel for the first time in 30
years. Train attack 2007 18 February - 68 passengers, most of them Pakistanis, are killed
by bomb blasts and a blaze on a train travelling from New Delhi to the
Pakistani city of Lahore. 2007 February - India and Pakistan sign an agreement aimed at
reducing the risk of accidental nuclear war. 2007 March - Maoist rebels in Chhattisgarh state kill more than 50
policemen in a dawn attack. 2007 April - India's first commercial space rocket is launched,
carrying an Italian satellite. 2007 May - At least nine people are killed in a bomb explosion at the
main mosque in Hyderabad. Several others are killed in subsequent rioting. 2007 May - Government announces its strongest economic growth figures
for 20 years - 9.4% in the year to March. 2007 July - India says the number of its people with HIV or AIDS is
about half of earlier official tallies. Health ministry figures put the total
at between 2 million and 3.1 million cases, compared with previous estimates of
more than 5 million. First woman president 2007 July - Pratibha Patil becomes first woman to be elected
president of India. 2008 July - Congress-led governing coalition survives vote of
confidence brought after left-wing parties withdraw their support over
controversial nuclear cooperation deal with US. After the vote, several
left-wing and regional parties form new alliance to oppose government, saying
it has been tainted by corruption. 2008 July - Series of explosions kills 49 in Ahmedabad, in Gujarat
state. The little-known group Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility. 2008 October - Following approval by the US Congress, President
George W Bush signs into law a nuclear deal with India, which ends a
three-decade ban on US nuclear trade with Delhi. India
successfully launches its first mission to the moon, the unmanned lunar probe
Chandrayaan-1. Mumbai attacks 2008 November - Nearly 200 people are killed and hundreds injured in
a series of co-ordinated attacks by gunmen on the main tourist and business
area of India's financial capital Mumbai. India blames militants from Pakistan
for the attacks and demands that Islamabad take strong action against those
responsible. 2008 December - India announces "pause" in peace process
with Pakistan. Indian cricket team cancels planned tour of Pakistan. 2009 February - India and Russia sign deals worth $700m, according to
which Moscow will supply uranium to Delhi. 2009 April - Trial of sole surviving
suspect in Mumbai attacks begins. 2009 May - Resounding general election victory gives governing
Congress-led alliance of PM Manmohan Singh an enhanced position in parliament,
only 11 seats short of an absolute majority. 2009 July - Pakistani, Indian premiers pledge to work together to
fight terror irrespective of progress on improving broader ties. A Dehli
court rules that homosexual intercourse between consenting adults is not
criminal, overturning a 148-year-old colonial law. 2009 December - The federal government says it will allow a new
state, called Telangana, to be carved out of part of the southern state of
Andhra Pradesh. Violent protests both for and against the new state break out. 2010 February - Bomb explosion in a restaurant popular with tourists
in Pune, in the western state of Maharashtra, kills 16 people, sparking
security fears. 2010 May - The solve surviving gunman of the 2008 Mumbai attacks,
Ajmal Amir Qasab, is convicted of murder, waging war on India and possessing
explosives. 2010 June - A court in Bhopal sentences eight Indians to two years
each in jail for "death by negligence" over the 1984 Union Carbide
gas plant leak. Thousands died in this, the world's worst industrial accident. 2010 September - Allahabad High Court rules that disputed holy site
of Ayodhya should be divided between Hindus and Muslims; the destruction of a
mosque on the site by Hindu extremists in 1992 led to rioting in which about
2,000 people died. 2010 October - Delhi Commonwealth Games go ahead despite widespread
criticism of the state of the facilities and claims of poor organisation. 2011 February - Prime Minister Singh denies he is a lame duck leader
and vows to carry on in office after a run of debilitating scandals, including
a parliamentary decision to investigate a costly telecoms deal.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3537954/Mumbai-attacks-Indias-relationship-with-Pakistan-in-the-balance.html
By Imdad Hussain
ISLAMABAD, May 1 After two years' interval, Pakistani and Indian
leadership agreed in Bhutan Thursday, once again, to start peace process.
After
returning from Bhutan, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a
press conference Friday that he would meet his Indian counterpart as soon as
possible to form the modalities of the future interaction between the two
countries.The history of Pakistan-India relations had ups and downs. Now the
ice between the two South Asian rivals becomes to thaw.
Since 1947
Pakistan and India had been in bad relations with each other. Having long
standing disputes, like Kashmir, water, Kargil and so on, the two countries
fought three major wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971. A partial war, known as Kargil
war, between the two countries took place in 1999. In 1998 both Pakistan
and India carried out successful tests of nuclear arsenal. So the two rivals
and warring neighbor countries became nuclear armed entities. After 1998, the
world was intensely focusing on relations of the two countries.
After the 9/11
attack, the international scenario changed and a new concept known as "war
on terror" emerged. Pakistan, whose role U.S. considered important in the
fight against terrorism, became the frontline state in the war on terror.
However, Pakistan always complained that it couldn't fully focus on its western
border along with Afghanistan as long as its eastern border with India is not
secured.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/database/2010-05/01/c_13275364.htm
After the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team I can not see any
country will be keen to send their cricket team to Pakistan for a few years, it
is okay for the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers to sit and watch a game of
cricket together in Mohali but it is much more difficult for the Indian cricket
team to travel to Pakistan so soon after the Pakistani terrorist attack in
Mumbai . f such a series is
planned, it will most likely be played at a neutral venue, although PCB
Chairman Ijaz Butt ruled out the option, saying Pakistan wants to host India on
its soil.
“The prime minister has directed us to host this series in Pakistan so we are
not looking at the option of a neutral venue,” Butt told reporters. Primer
ministers of both countries met and held talks at the Mohali semi-final,
showing signs of revival of ties between the arch-rivals.
THAT the two prime
ministers met at Mohali on Wednesday in an environment enlivened by what by any
standards was a carnival is itself an achievement. Their second meeting since
February in Thimphu, this get-together should serve to help revive the
‘composite dialogue’ so rudely shattered by the Mumbai episode. A breakthrough
was never expected, and nobody seemed to share the misplaced optimism generated
by some TV channels on both sides. Nevertheless, we can detect a modest diplomatic
gain: an invitation was sent by India, and Pakistan accepted it, the grace
being mutual. This should be a matter of satisfaction seen against the
background of the mistrust that has characterised India-Pakistan ties for six
decades. More significantly, the Mohali meeting is a clear indication of the
two prime ministers’ resolve to pursue the peace process despite the hurdles in
the way, not the least of which is the opposition from the hawks in Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet to a soft line towards Pakistan, and his
weakened position because of the corruption scandals now rocking Indian
politics. The interior secretaries’ accord in New Delhi must have gladdened the
two chief executives, because they agreed to set up a ‘terror hotline’, coupled
with the declaration in the joint statement that they will “remain engaged on
outstanding issues
History
· Since
establishing diplomatic ties in 1951, China and Pakistan have enjoyed a close
and mutually beneficial relationship. Pakistan was one of the first countries
to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1950 and remained a steadfast
ally during Beijing's period of international isolation in the 1960s and early
1970s.
· China
has long provided Pakistan with major military, technical, and economic
assistance, including the transfer of sensitive nuclear technology and
equipment. Some experts predict growing relations between the United States and
rival India will ultimately prompt Pakistan to push for even closer ties with
its longtime strategic security partner, China. Others say China's increased
concern about Pakistan-based insurgency groups may cause Beijing to proceed
with the relationship in a more cautious manner.
The India Question
China and Pakistan have traditionally valued one another as a strategic hedge
against India. "For China, Pakistan is a low-cost secondary deterrent to
India," current Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani
told CFR.org in 2006, when he was a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace. "For Pakistan," he said, "China is a
high-value guarantor of security against India.
" Mutual enmity between India and Pakistan dates to partition in August
1947, when Britain relinquished its claim over the Indian subcontinent and
divided its former colony into two states. Since then Pakistan and India have
fought three wars and a number of low-level conflicts. Tensions remain high
over the disputed territory of Kashmir with periodic military posturing on both
sides of the border.
India has long been perturbed by China's military aid to Pakistan. K. Alan
Kronstadt, a specialist in South Asian affairs at the nonpartisan Congressional
Research Service, writes (PDF) that observers in India see Chinese
support for Pakistan as "a key aspect of Beijing's perceived policy of
'encirclement' or constraint of India as a means of preventing or delaying New
Delhi's ability to challenge Beijing's region-wide
influence."
China and India fought a border war in 1962, and both still claim the other is
occu-pying large portions of their territory. "The 1962 Sino-Indian border
conflict was a watershed moment for the region," says John W. Garver,
professor of international relations at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
"Both China and India incurred heavy costs on their economic development,
and both sides shifted their policy over time to become more accommodating to
growth."
Military Bond
China's role as a major arms supplier for Pakistan began in the 1960s and included
assistance in building a number of arms factories in Pakistan and supplying
complete weapons systems. "Until about 1990," write South Asia
experts Elizabeth G. M. Parker and Teresita C. Schaffer in a July 2008 CSIS
newsletter (PDF), "Beijing clearly sought to build up Pakistan to keep
India off balance.
" After the 1990 imposition of U.S. sanctions on Pakistan, China became
the country's leading arms supplier. Collaboration now includes personnel
training, joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism
efforts. While the relationship is not quite balanced, it has been critically
important to Pakistan. "Pakistan needs China more than China needs
Pakistan," says Huang Jing, a China expert at the National University
of Singapore. Pakistan has benefited from China's assistance with the following
defense capabilities:
Missile: Pakistan's army has both short-
and medium-range ballistic missiles, such as the Shaheen missile series, that
experts say are modifications of Chinese imports. Aircraft: The current fleet of the
Pakistani Air Force includes Chinese interceptor and advanced trainer aircraft,
as well as an Airborne Early Warning and Control radar system used to detect
aircraft. Pakistan is producing the JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft
jointly with China. The K-8 Karakorum light attack aircraft was also
coproduced. Nuclear Program: China supplies Pakistan
with nuclear technology and assistance, including what many experts suspect was
the blueprint for Pakistan's nuclear bomb. Some news reports suggest Chinese
security agencies knew about Pakistani transfers of nuclear technology to Iran,
North Korea, and Libya. China was also accused of having long-standing ties
with Abdul Qadeer Khan (A.Q. Khan), known as the father of the Pakistani
nuclear program and head of an international black market nuclear network.
Bolstering Ties
Since the late 1990s, economic concerns have gained prominence alongside the
military-strategic aspect of the relationship; specifically, trade and energy
have taken precedence. Over the years, frequent exchanges of high-level visits
and contacts between the two countries have resulted in a number of bilateral
trade agreements and investment commitments.
Trade relations began shortly after the establishment of diplomatic ties in the
early 1950s, and the two countries signed their first formal trade agreement in
1963. A comprehensive free trade agreement was signed in 2008, giving each
country unprecedented market access to the other. Trade between Islamabad
and Beijing now hovers around $7 billion a year, and both sides are set on
raising the figure to $15 billion by 2010.
The two countries have cooperated on a variety of large-scale infrastructure
projects in Pakistan, including highways, gold and copper mines, major
electricity complexes and power plants, and numerous nuclear power projects.
With roughly ten thousand Chinese workers engaged in 120 projects in Pakistan,
total Chinese investment--which includes heavy engineering, power generation,
mining, and telecommunications--was valued at $4 billion in 2007 and is
expected to rise to $15 billion by 2010. One of the most significant joint
development projects of recent years is the major port complex at the naval
base of Gwadar, located in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.
The complex, inaugurated in December 2008 and now fully operational, provides a
deep-sea port, warehouses, and industrial facilities for more than twenty
countries. China provided much of the technical assistance and 80 percent of
the funds for the construction of the port. In return for providing most of the
labor and capital for the project, China gains strategic access to the Persian
Gulf: the port is just 180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz, through
which 40 percent of all globally traded oil is shipped. This enables China to
diversify and secure its crude oil import routes and provides the landlocked
and oil and natural gas-rich Xinjiang Province with access to the Arabian Sea.
As Pakistan continues to face economic woes with falling foreign investment, a
weakening currency, and an underperforming stock market, securing closer
economic cooperation with Beijing is seen as vital. Pakistan currently faces a
growing balance of payments deficit, and China's capacity as a creditor may be
able to correct Islamabad's urgent predicament. "China's huge
foreign-exchange reserves," writes Kronstadt, "are a potential source
of a major cash infusion."
Regional Cooperation
Experts say all countries in the region are reevaluating their traditional
positions. "Everyone in the region has learned to [develop] a relatively
non-ideological set of policies," says Kenneth G. Lieberthal, a noted
China expert and professor at the University of Michigan. As CSIS's Parker and
Schaffer note, China has taken a more neutral position on India-Pakistan issues
such as Kashmir in the past decade and a half, and has "begun to take the
relationship with India more seriously." A case in point, they say, was
China's dissatisfaction with Pakistani military action across the Line of Control,
which separates India- and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, during the 1999 Kargil
conflict.
Pakistan is also not the only South Asian nation China is interested in
strengthening ties with: Beijing has expanded its relations with Myanmar,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives. "China has a
clear-cut strategy for using its leverage in the region," says Ganguly of
Indiana University. "They're going to continue to work with India's
neighbors as a strategic hedge against New Delhi, but Pakistan will remain
central to this strategy."
Experts believe that any confrontation between India and Pakistan is not in
China's interest and would put Beijing in the position of having to choose
between the two countries and draw the United States further into the region.
"In this sense," writes Kronstadt, "peace between India and
Pakistan is in China's interest."
Agreements
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Friday inked 13 agreements and Memoranda of
Understanding on cooperation in economy, energy, banking, security and
technology.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the signing of documents as the respective ministers and officials of Pakistan and China inked them.
Educational
The Agreements and MoUs were signed to expand cooperation in the utilization, management, training, educational programmes and modernization of railways and to establish a long-term cooperative relationship on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.
The first Memorandum of Understanding on Reciprocal Establishment of Cultural Centers was signed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu.
Technical
Second MoU on Strengthening Technical Cooperation and Pak-China Road Transport Activities between Ministry of Transport of China and Ministry of Communications of Pakistan was signed by Minister of Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Chinese Minister of Transport Li Shenglin.
An Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Pakistan and Government of China, for grant of RMB 200 Million for flood reconstruction projects) Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Chinese Minister and China International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng.
Exchange Commission
The Agreement on launching of Urdu Program of China Radio International in Pakistan between China Radio International (CRI) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was signed for broadcast on FM 93 (Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Kohat) and the programmes shall be in Urdu and English. The Agreement was inked by Director General PBC Ghulam Murtaza Solangi and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian.
The MoU on Cooperation between Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Securities Regulatory Commission of China (SRCC) was inked by Commissioner SECP Tahir Mahmood and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the signing of documents as the respective ministers and officials of Pakistan and China inked them.
Educational
The Agreements and MoUs were signed to expand cooperation in the utilization, management, training, educational programmes and modernization of railways and to establish a long-term cooperative relationship on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.
The first Memorandum of Understanding on Reciprocal Establishment of Cultural Centers was signed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu.
Technical
Second MoU on Strengthening Technical Cooperation and Pak-China Road Transport Activities between Ministry of Transport of China and Ministry of Communications of Pakistan was signed by Minister of Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Chinese Minister of Transport Li Shenglin.
An Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Pakistan and Government of China, for grant of RMB 200 Million for flood reconstruction projects) Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Chinese Minister and China International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng.
Exchange Commission
The Agreement on launching of Urdu Program of China Radio International in Pakistan between China Radio International (CRI) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was signed for broadcast on FM 93 (Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Kohat) and the programmes shall be in Urdu and English. The Agreement was inked by Director General PBC Ghulam Murtaza Solangi and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian.
The MoU on Cooperation between Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Securities Regulatory Commission of China (SRCC) was inked by Commissioner SECP Tahir Mahmood and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Liu Jian.
Natural Resources
The MoU on Establishment of Energy Working Group between National Energy Administration of China and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources of Pakistan was signed by Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Imtiaz Kazi and Vice Minister and Deputy Director Head of National Energy Administration Qian Zhimin.
Loan Agreement
A Government Concessional Loan Agreement on the Safe City Islamabad Project was also signed between Pakistan and EXIM bank of China and it was inked by Secretary EAD Sibtain Fazal Haleem and Vice President, China Exports and Import Bank Li Jun.
An agreement for National Electronics Complex of Pakistan was signed by Chairman, NESCOM Irfan Burney and President, CETC Yan Lijin.
Agriculture & Industrial
An agreement to provide License to establish Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) by the State Bank of Pakistan was signed by Governor SBP Shahid Hafeez Kardar and President ICBC Yang Kaisheng.
The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Government of Pakistan and Government of China for the grant of RMB 200 Million for Agriculture related projects was inked by Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Chinese Minister and China International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng.
Finance
The Framework Agreement between China and Pakistan on Provisioning of Concessional loan by China to Pakistan - Non Intrusive vehicle X-ray Inspection System Project and was also signed by Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Chinese Minister and China International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng.
Government Concessional Loan Agreement on the Safe City Islamabad Project was also signed between Pakistan and EXIM bank of China and was inked by Secretary EAD Sibtain Fazal Haleem and Vice President, China Exports and Import Bank Li Jun.
The MoU on Establishment of Energy Working Group between National Energy Administration of China and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources of Pakistan was signed by Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Imtiaz Kazi and Vice Minister and Deputy Director Head of National Energy Administration Qian Zhimin.
Loan Agreement
A Government Concessional Loan Agreement on the Safe City Islamabad Project was also signed between Pakistan and EXIM bank of China and it was inked by Secretary EAD Sibtain Fazal Haleem and Vice President, China Exports and Import Bank Li Jun.
An agreement for National Electronics Complex of Pakistan was signed by Chairman, NESCOM Irfan Burney and President, CETC Yan Lijin.
Agriculture & Industrial
An agreement to provide License to establish Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) by the State Bank of Pakistan was signed by Governor SBP Shahid Hafeez Kardar and President ICBC Yang Kaisheng.
The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between Government of Pakistan and Government of China for the grant of RMB 200 Million for Agriculture related projects was inked by Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Chinese Minister and China International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng.
Finance
The Framework Agreement between China and Pakistan on Provisioning of Concessional loan by China to Pakistan - Non Intrusive vehicle X-ray Inspection System Project and was also signed by Minister of Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Chinese Minister and China International Trade Representative Gao Hucheng.
Government Concessional Loan Agreement on the Safe City Islamabad Project was also signed between Pakistan and EXIM bank of China and was inked by Secretary EAD Sibtain Fazal Haleem and Vice President, China Exports and Import Bank Li Jun.
Relations summary
Chinese President Hu Jintao, making the
first visit to Pakistan by a Chinese president in a decade, promised to bolster
his country's ties with its old ally to a new level. Following are some of the
most important events in relations between the two neighbours.
1950 - Pakistan becomes third non-communist country, and
first Muslim one, to recognize China. 1951 - Beijing and at the time Karachi established
diplomatic relations between themselves in the month of May. 1970 - Pakistan helps US make contacts with China that result
in visit to China by then US National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger in 1971. 1978 - Karakoram Highway linking mountainous Northern
Pakistan with Western China officially opens. 1980s - China and US supply help through Pakistan to Afghan guerrillas
fighting Soviet occupational forces. 1986 - China and Pakistan reach comprehensive nuclear
Co-operation Agreement. 1996 - Chinese President Jiang Zemin pays state visit
to Pakistan. 1999 - A 300-megawatt nuclear power plant, built with Chinese
help in Punjab province, is completed. China is helping to build a second
300-megawatt nuclear plant due to be finished by 2010. 2001 - A joint-ventured Chinese-Pakistani tank, the MBT-2000 (Al-Khalid)
MBT, comes into full production. 2002 - Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangguo attends
ground-breaking ceremony for Pakistan's Gwadar deep-sea port. China
provides $198 million for $248 million joint project. 2003 - Pakistan and China signed a $110 million contract for
the construction of a housing project on Multan Road in Lahore[28] 2007 - Sino- became Pakistan's biggest arms supplier
with no strings attached, a true "strategic partnership". 2007 - Sino-Pakistani joint-ventured multirole fighter
aircraft - JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Fierce Dragon) is formally rolled
out. 2008, Pakistan starts mass production of the aircraft. 2008 - China warns US of war against Pakistan, during
which former president, Pervez Musharraf, visits China, Musharraf raised
issues of US attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan's foreign office (the first foreign
issue to speak of Tibet) speaks for more than three times per month on the
Tibet issue, calling for the world to stop opposing China and the Olympic
Games. Pakistan welcomes China's Olympic Torch
warmly, and did not protest against Tibet when the torch arrived. In fact, when
the torch passed through the rural hinterland of the capital Islamabad, local
villagers showered rose petals upon the procession. As a result, China thanked
Pakistan for its continuous support. 2008 During the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, Pakistan almost
emptied its national storage of tents to support China. 2008 China and Pakistan sign an FTA (free trade agreement). It
is the first such agreement signed by the two countries. As a direct result
China has opened new industries in Pakistan and Pakistan has been given free
trade zones in China. 2008 China vows to help Pakistan in civil nuclear technology by
building and helping in the Khusab Nuclear Programme providing technology to
Pakistan for better maintenance of civil nuclear plants. 2008 Pakistan and China to build first ever train route through
the Karakoram Highway, ultimately linking China's rail route-net to Gwadar
Port. 2008 The F-22P frigate, comes into service with the Pakistani
Navy. The first frigate was inducted in Pakistani Navy in July 2009 and last
one is expected to be in 2013.[29] 2009 Pakistani intelligence agencies helped the Chinese
government of catching several suspected Uyghur terrorists seeking
haven in Pakistan and planning to launch illegal operations. 2009 Growing military ties between China and Pakistan are a
serious concern to India, Defense Minister A.K. Antony said on Friday, in the
latest display of a prickly rivalry between New Delhi and its neighbors. India
worries about China's rising influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean
region, a neighborhood New Delhi has traditionally considered as its sphere of
influence.[30] 2010 Pakistan and China have a joint military drill for anti
terrorism. China donates $260 million (USD) to flood hit Pakistan and further
sends 4 military rescue helicopters to Pakistan to assist in rescue operations,
it was the first time China has ever sent such rescue operations overseas.
Sino-Pak relations proved to be "All-Weathered-Friends". 2010 On 6th July, 2010, President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in
China on a five days official visit. Besides attending Shinghai Expo, the
largest business festival ever, he also met Chinese President and strengthened
bilateral ties to promote more trade between the two states. 2010 Wen Jiabao visited Pakistan. More than 30 billion US
dollars of deals were signed. Pakistan China friendship center was inaugurated
in Islamabad by Prime Minister of China Wen Jiabao.[31]
History
In September, 1947, Afghanistan became the only nation in the world to oppose
Pakistan’s entry into the United Nations
citing the Pashtunistan debate. This
opposition did much to jaundice relations
between the two states early in
Pakistan’s life. It was seen as particularly
hurtful coming from a fellow Muslim
country, given Pakistan’s difficult transition
into statehood and the existential
threat it faced then from India.
Further, Afghanistan’s posture added to the
Afghanistan–Pakistan relations began in 1949 after British India was partitioned into the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan are usually described as inseparable states due to their historical, religious, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic ties, as well as their
multiple trade and economic ties.[1] Both neighbouring states are Islamic republics and part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. However, the
relationship between the two has been affected by the Durand Line, the issues of Pashtunistan and Balochistan, the 1980s Soviet war, the rise of the Taliban, the 2001-present war in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan's relations with India and Shia Iran.
The Durand Line
The Afghan government does not recognize the Durand Line as
the official border between the two states, claiming that the Durand Line
Agreement has been void in the past due to violations by
Pakistan as well as other reasons. Pakistan, on the other side, issued a
warning to Afghanistan that it would not "tolerate any violations of its
borders".[6]
Relations have continued to be strained, as several top Afghan officials stated
that they are weary of Pakistan's negative influence in the country. The Afghan
government usually accuses Pakistan of using its intelligence agency, the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI), in aiding the Taliban militants. Pakistan has denied the
allegations but has said it does not have full control of the actions of the
ISI. Relations became even more strained as the United States supports an
Afghan invasion of rogue tribal regions.[7]
Other contemporary issues
Further information: Afghan civil war and Afghan
refugees
Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Pakistani government
played a vital role in supporting the Mujahideen and assisting Afghan
refugees. Pakistan absorbed an estimated 3 million refugees and provided
shelter, education, and places to work. After the Soviet withdrawal in February
1989, Pakistan, with cooperation from the world community, continued to provide
extensive support for displaced Afghans. In 1999, the United States provided
approximately $70 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Afghan
refugees in Pakistan, mainly through multilateral organizations and Non-governmental
organizations (NGOs).
Afghan President Hamid Karzai with U.S.
President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali
Zardari during a US-Afghan-Pakistan Trilateral meeting at the White
House in Washington, DC.
Pakistani strategists view Afghanistan as
providing "strategic depth" in the event of a war with neighboring
India. In the event that the Indian Army crosses into Pakistan, the Pakistan
Army would temporary locate supplies in Afghanistan and prepare for a
counter-offensive. Furthermore, many Pakistanis see in Afghanistan and Afghans
a common bond based on religion, history, culture, language and ethnic ties. At
various times, Pakistan backed the mujahideen against the Soviets, mujahideen
against each other and the Taliban against the Iranian-backed Northern
Alliance.
The overthrow of the Taliban regime in November 2001 has seen somewhat strained
relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The present Karzai
administration in Kabul feels that the remnants of the former
Taliban government are being supported by factions within Pakistan for the same
above reasons. However, Pakistan has said the government cannot control all
elements of its intelligence agency, the ISI, which several countries accuse of
contributing to instability in Afghanistan. In 2006 Afghan President Hamid
Karzai warned that "Iran and Pakistan and others are not fooling
anyone" when it come to interfering in his country.
"If
they don’t stop, the consequences will be … that the region will suffer with us
equally. In the past we have suffered alone; this time everybody will suffer
with us.… Any effort to divide Afghanistan ethnically or weaken it will create
the same thing in the neighboring countries. All the countries in the
neighborhood have the same ethnic groups that we have, so they should
know that it is a different ball game this time
Other contemporary issues
Further information: Afghan civil war and Afghan
refugees
Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Pakistani government
played a vital role in supporting the Mujahideen and assisting Afghan
refugees. Pakistan absorbed an estimated 3 million refugees and provided
shelter, education, and places to work. After the Soviet withdrawal in February
1989, Pakistan, with cooperation from the world community, continued to provide
extensive support for displaced Afghans. In 1999, the United States provided
approximately $70 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Afghan
refugees in Pakistan, mainly through multilateral organizations and Non-governmental
organizations (NGOs).
Afghan President Hamid Karzai with U.S.
President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali
Zardari during a US-Afghan-Pakistan Trilateral meeting at the White
House in Washington, DC.Pakistani strategists view Afghanistan as
providing "strategic depth" in the event of a war with neighboring
India. In the event that the Indian Army crosses into Pakistan, the Pakistan
Army would temporary locate supplies in Afghanistan and prepare for a
counter-offensive. Furthermore, many Pakistanis see in Afghanistan and Afghans
a common bond based on religion, history, culture, language and ethnic ties. At
various times, Pakistan backed the mujahideen against the Soviets, mujahideen
against each other and the Taliban against the Iranian-backed Northern
Alliance.
The overthrow of the Taliban regime in November 2001 has seen somewhat strained
relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The present Karzai
administration in Kabul feels that the remnants of the former
Taliban government are being supported by factions within Pakistan for the same
above reasons. However, Pakistan has said the government cannot control all
elements of its intelligence agency, the ISI, which several countries accuse of
contributing to instability in Afghanistan. In 2006 Afghan President Hamid
Karzai warned that "Iran and Pakistan and others are not fooling
anyone" when it come to interfering in his country.
"If
they don’t stop, the consequences will be … that the region will suffer with us
equally. In the past we have suffered alone; this time everybody will suffer
with us.… Any effort to divide Afghanistan ethnically or weaken it will create
the same thing in the neighboring countries. All the countries in the
neighborhood have the same ethnic groups that we have, so they should
know that it is a different ball game this time
The tribal territories bounded by the
Durand Line and the limits of the NWFP
were not included in the partition referendum
as technically they were
autonomous from British control. Therefore,
all quasi‐constitutional
arrangements between the tribes and the
British government lapsed on August
14, 1947, as an Pakistan was proclaimed.
However, a tribal Jirga11 was held in
November and December of 1947. All major
tribes at the Jirga decided to transfer
their allegiance to the new state of Pakistan,
particularly in view of a greater
grant of autonomy and the withdrawal of all
Pakistani military presence12. This
was followed by written confirmations and
treaties.
A measure of the thaw in relations between the two countries was evident in
Kabul’s military restraint in this period.
Pakistan and India had gone to war in
1965 and 1971. Pakistan’s forces were spread
deadly thin during both conflicts.
However, Kabul refrained from taking advantage of its weakness and in fact,
provided both material and moral support to
Pakistan52.
Unfortunately, Islamabad has failed to see the
historical, and indeed, historic
lesson inherent in Kabul’s support during its
wars with India. Seeking good
terms with a government in Kabul eased
Pakistan’s security concerns against
India in a more substantial way than its quest
for a pliable government has been
able to to‐date.
Mutual Intervention
Relations again cooled when Daud Khan returned to power in a leftist inspired
military coup in 1973 that abolished the
monarchy and established the Republic
of Afghanistan. The change in state structures
was cosmetic; as before Daud
ruled through coercive military strength and
in consultation with a Loya Jirga that
had no power to bind him. Pashtunistan was
part of the justification provided for
the coup; Daud claimed that the King had not
sufficiently exploited Pakistan’s
military and political weakness to its
advantage, particularly after the 1971 loss
of East Pakistan53.
Trade
Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has come to a standstill
after the provincial government of north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa imposed a
ban on animal export, followed immediately by the Federal Board of Revenue’s
(FBR) decision to block over 10,000 Afghanistan-bound trucks at the Karachi
Port, said an official requesting anonymity. “FBR officials had stopped many
trucks at the Karachi Port for the past three months without any reason, said
Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Group Senior Vice-President Abdul Hamid Gorwara.
Traders and customs clearing agents of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have also launched a
protest campaign in Peshawar
National
Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski writes a memo to President Jimmy Carter
about the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which has just begun (see December 8, 1979). Brzezinski focuses on fears
that success in Afghanistan could give the Soviets access to the Indian Ocean,
even though Afghanistan is a landlocked country. He suggests the US should
continue aid to the Afghan mujaheddin, which actually began before the war and
spurred the Soviets to invade (see 1978 and July 3, 1979).
He says, “This means more money as well as arms shipments to the rebels and
some technical advice.” He does not give any warning that such aid will
strengthen Islamic fundamentalism. He also concludes, “[W]e must both reassure
Pakistan and encourage it to help the rebels. This will require a review of our
policy toward Pakistan, more guarantees to it, more arms aid, and alas, a
decision that our security problem toward Pakistan cannot be dictated by our
nonproliferation policy.” Carter apparently accepts Brzezinski’s advice. Author
Joe Trento will later comment, “With that, the United States agreed to let a
country admittedly in turmoil proceed to develop nuclear weapons.” [TRENTO,
2005, PP. 167-168]
Trento and fellow author David Armstrong will add: “Once [Pakistan] became a
partner in the anti-Soviet Afghan campaign and the Carter administration
adopted a more lenient view of Pakistan’s nuclear activities,.
Pakistan And Russia
History
Pakistan–Russian relations (Russian: Российско-пакистанские отношения) refers to the bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Russian Federation. The countries established diplomatic relations on 1 May 1948. Relations between the two countries have been strained in the past because of Russia's strong relations with India, Pakistan's arch-rival and also because of Pakistan's foundation and support of Mujahideen rebels during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Pakistan–Russian relations (Russian: Российско-пакистанские отношения) refers to the bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Russian Federation. The countries established diplomatic relations on 1 May 1948. Relations between the two countries have been strained in the past because of Russia's strong relations with India, Pakistan's arch-rival and also because of Pakistan's foundation and support of Mujahideen rebels during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Under military leader Ayub Khan, Pakistan
sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union; trade and cultural exchanges between two countries
increased between 1966 and 1971. However, Soviet criticism of Pakistan's
position in the 1971 war with India weakened bilateral relations, and many Pakistanis believed that the August 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship,
Peace and Cooperation encouraged Indian belligerency. Subsequent Soviet arms
sales to India, amounting to billions of dollars on concessional terms,
reinforced this argument.
Saqib Riaz 
Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hearts Posts: 656 Thanks: 406 Thanked 761 Times in 406 Posts 
Relations summary
Pakistan’s
relations with the Russian Federation, which emerged as the successor state to
the USSR after its dissolution in December 1991, are quite naturally
inseparable from the legacy of more than four decades of Pak-Soviet relations.
Historically these relations were unsatisfactory. USSR perceived Pakistan in
the military aspects sponsored by the US and Pakistan’s friendship with China
in the context of the Cold War, while Pakistan felt threatened due to USSR
close relations with India.
The Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan once again dealt a serious blow to Pak-Soviet relations. Pakistan felt a direct threat to its security from the presence of Soviet forces in Afghanistan while USSR demanded accommodation in Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan and predicated the entire bilateral relationship on its response. The collapes of Soviet Union provided an opportunity for a new beginning in Pak-Russia relations, which was taken up by both sides. High-level bilateral contacts took place between Pakistan and the Russian Federation immediately thereafter. In November 1991. Pakistan’s minister of state for economics affairs visited Moscow followed by his well-Known tour of the Central Asian States. It was the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to the Russian Federation after years of neglect by past government and contributed significantly to the opening a new chapter of relations with Russia.
The Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan once again dealt a serious blow to Pak-Soviet relations. Pakistan felt a direct threat to its security from the presence of Soviet forces in Afghanistan while USSR demanded accommodation in Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan and predicated the entire bilateral relationship on its response. The collapes of Soviet Union provided an opportunity for a new beginning in Pak-Russia relations, which was taken up by both sides. High-level bilateral contacts took place between Pakistan and the Russian Federation immediately thereafter. In November 1991. Pakistan’s minister of state for economics affairs visited Moscow followed by his well-Known tour of the Central Asian States. It was the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to the Russian Federation after years of neglect by past government and contributed significantly to the opening a new chapter of relations with Russia.
Several high-level exchanges of trips have taken place between the two sides since then, which include the visits of the vice-president (December 1991), foreign minister (July 1993) and first deputy foreign minister (May 1994) to Pakistan and those of Pakistan’s then secretary-general of foreign affairs (September 1992) and the foreign minister (July 1994). A broad range of bilateral issues was discussed during these visits, which, besides other areas of co-operation, also included collaboration in the fields of defense outer space technology and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The exchange of these visits in indicated the Russian desire to upgrade relations with Pakistan and was a radical departure from the previous Soviet policy.
There are several other indication to show that Pakistan’s desire for a normal relation-ship with Russia, which is also reciprocated by Russian Federation. Pakistan had been appreciative of Russian balanced approach towards South Asia and attached independence significance “to its relations with Pakistan.” While Russian tried to maintain its traditionally close cooperation with India, it may not have a special relationship with that country at the expense to its ties with Pakistan. The Indians were not pleased with the development but the fact was that India has lost it strategic value. After the end of the cold war and the normalization of china-Russia relations, India no longer enjoyed the importance.
The relation between Pakistan and Russia began to develop, when Russia made concern on Kashmir issue, non-proliferation or the sale of defense equipment by Russia to Pakistan. Russia had moved away from its unconditional support to India on these issues. Russia’s expression of deep concern in October 1993 over the aggravation of the human rights situation in connection with the Hazartbal siege and its call upon all sides to work for a positive solution through peaceful means. This new development received the considerable concern in India. The Indians were also disappointed when the Russian leader made no statement on the Kashmir issue during Indian Prime Minister visit to Moscow in July 1994.
The Russian Federation did not oppose Pakistan’s resolution in the UN General Assembly on the nuclear-free zone in South Asia for the first time in 17 years in 1991. But it voted in favour of the proposal of Pakistan for first time in history Pakistan and Russia also pleaded for promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Russia demanded for the containment of turmoil to Central Asian States. Pakistan also sought tranquility and peace and to develop mutually beneficial co-operation with Afghanistan and Central Asian States.
Pakistan and Russia co-operated in the UN-sponsored talks on Tajikistan. Russia had been using its influence over the Tajik government while Pakistan doing the same. These rounds of talks held in Tehran and Islamabad in 1994. The Russian president extended the invitation to Pakistan’s Premier to visit Russia, which showed a balanced approach for the established of good relation with Pakistan.
At minister level many trips visited both the countries for normalization of relations between Russia and Pakistan. New era of co-operation of scholars had played an important role in normalization of relations between the both countries. Leader of the Russian Parliament visited Pakistan in September 1998 and disclosed that Russia was ready to supply military hardware to Pakistan. He also said the Russian technology could find its way into many fields of Pakistan markets.
In April 1999 the Pakistan Prime Minister visited Moscow, which was the first visit to Russia by a Pakistani Head of Government after twenty five years and the first ever between Pakistan and the Russian Federation. During the visit many important bilateral issues, as well as a whole range of regional and global issues of common concern, came under discussion. Some important documents were signed. Inter-Governmental Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation and an agreement on co-operation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries were concluded. It was also agreed to establish a Joint Inter-Government Ministerial Commission on Economic. Trade, Scientific and Technological Co-operation.
Recently Pakistan purchased transport helicopters from Russia. Another big deal involving “Kamaz” trucks in the being negotiated while a joint venture for producing small cars is in the offing. Although, trade between Pakistan and Russia has declined in recent years owing to the economic crises in both the countries, serious efforts are being made to revive the bilateral trade as well.
Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Russia, which it feels has an important role to play in peace and stability in Asia and particularly in South Asia. It is desirous of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia in all spheres, which can contribute to the peace and stability of region. Russia shares this desire and also recognize the importance of Pakistan in peace and stability of south Asia and South Central Asia. Based on their keenness for close and cooperative relations, the two countries are moving towards a more fruitful relationship. Pakistan welcomes the fact that Russia is in the process of evolving a more even handed approach towards the major countries in South Asia and believes that Russia could act as a mediator for the establishment of a congenial atmosphere in South Asia conducive to the economic development of the region.
Realizing the importance of Pakistan in the region. Russia intended to improve relations with Pakistan by offering help to ailing economic condition of Pakistan. It also offered to Pakistan to sell its armaments. The danger of National Missile Defense programme of United States also made Russia closer to Pakistan along with China.On the invitation of Russian Government the President of Pakistan visited Russia on an official visit in February 2003 and concluded many pacts of friendship and mutual understanding. Thus Pakistan began to enjoy a pivotal position in the region.
Pakistan and War on Terror
Later on, Government of Pakistan changed its policy towards Taliban when it joined U.S. forces in helping to overthrow them
following the September 11 attacks in the U.S. in 2001. The Decision of Pakistan
to join the international struggle against terrorism has led to Russia-Pakistan
relations being greatly improved.
Soviet-Pakistan tensions
The U-2
incident in 1960 severely compromised Pakistan security and worsened
relations between the Soviet Union and Pakistan. As an attempt to put up a bold
front, Pakistani General Khalid Mahmud Arif while commenting on the incident
stated that, "Pakistan felt deceived because the US had kept her in the
dark about such clandestine spy operations launched from Pakistan’s
territory." During the 1980s, tensions increased between the Soviet Union
and Pakistan because of the latter's key role in helping to organize political
and material support for the Afghan rebel forces.
The withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan and the collapse of
the former Soviet Union resulted in significantly improved bilateral relations,
but Pakistan's support for and recognition of the Taliban regime in
neighboring Afghanistan remained an ongoing source of tension. Since
the 1990s Pakistan always backed the Tatars for their independence as per
recognition of Republic of Tatarstan and the Caucasus Emirates as
separate nation-states from the USSR as un-finished business.
Improvement in relations
Vladimir Putin (left) meeting Pervez
Musharraf (right) in 2002
1985-04-26, at about 18:00 pm, a group of captives (Soviet and DRA) rose in
rebellion against their captors. They used the moment when only two of 70
mujahideen were guarding the prison, since the other personnel were gathered on
the drill square to perform the evening prayers known as namaz. The captives penetrated the armoury, took weapons and
ammunition and tried to escape. (Some sources say that the main objective was
to capture the fortress' radio center and go on-air and report the prison's
location.)[1]
The escape was sabotaged when Haist Gol, the Badaber lead guard, came to know
about it and raised the alarm in the base. He took all possible measures to
prevent the escape of the captives.[3] The captives were forced to stay in the base and seized the key
points in the fortress. Mujahideen detachments, as well as infantry, tank and
artillery units of 11th Pakistan Army Corps quickly blocked the fortress area.
Several attempts to recapture the fortress were repelled by the defending
captives.
Burhanuddin Rabbani, then leader of Jamiat-e Islami, arrived at the base on 21:00
pm and began negotiations. He proposed that the captives surrender and promised
their lives would be spared. The defending captives put forth demands to meet
with a Soviet or Afghanistan ambassador in Pakistan and representatives from
the Red Cross. They threatened to blow up the armoury if their demands were not
met. Rabbani rejected these demands, fuelling attacks that continued all night.[1]
By 08:00 am on 1985-04-27, it became clear that the revolt would not end.
Rabbani missed being hit by deadly rockets shots from the fortress, but his
bodyguard received serious shrapnel wounds in the attack.[1] The Jamiat-e Islami leader decided to finish
the battle with an all-out assault on the fort. He drew on artillery units, in
particular rocket systems 9K51 Grad, tanks and
even Pakistan Air Force helicopters to use against the defenders.
How
the revolt ended is viewed differently by each side. Some say that one of the
artillery shells struck the armoury building, setting off an overwhelming
explosion. The series of explosions practically levelled the prison at Badaber.
Three wounded and shell-shocked survivors were dragged to the walls and blown up
by attackers using hand grenades.
Russia vowed its support for Pakistan as Pakistan fight against the Taliban
militants. In 2007, the relations between Pakistan and the Russian
Federation were reactivated after the 3-day official visit of Russian
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. He was the first Russian prime minister to
visit Pakistan in the post Soviet Union era in 38 years. He had
"in-depth discussions" with President Pervez Musharraf and
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The
major focus of the visit was to improve bilateral relations with particular
emphasis on ways and means to enhance economic cooperation between the two
countries. Under the Presidency of Asif Ali Zardari and Prime
Minister Yousef Raza Gilani relations between Pakistan and Russia
have improved significantly. In 2010, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin stated that Russia was against developing strategic and military
ties with Pakistan
Other sources
said that the defenders blew the armoury up themselves, after it became clear
that the battle was in vain.
Petroleum and Natural
Resources
ISLAMABAD, May 1 Asia Pulse - Pakistan's
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Nouraiz Shakoor has invited RNGS,
a Russian company privatised as a joint stock company with worldwide
activities, to participate in oil and gas exploration activities in Pakistan.
The minister made this
offer to a six-member delegation of RNGS, led by its managing director, Ms.
Elena Badamiants, who called on him in Islamabad.
Nouraiz Shakoor
informed the delegation that the government has been offering an attractive
package of incentives to foreign investors in oil and gas exploration and
production activities envisaged in the Petroleum
Pakistan and Russia
deals:-
These are as under:-
Census(section Pakistan)
o Pakistan: The first Pakistan i census after
the proclamation of independence was conducted in 1951. ... Russia
and USSR: In Russia , the first .
Timeline of Indian history(section Dominion
of Pakistan)
o 2009: February - India and Russia sign deals worth
$700m, according ... 1971: East Pakistan attempts to secede,
leading to civil war; India ...
Public university(section Pakistan)
o the government, but with the University Grants
Commission , which in turn deals with the government. ... Pakistan:
List of universities in Pakistan ...
Bachelor's degree(section Pakistan)
o and in Maltese , Singapore an, Australia n,
Pakistan i, New Zealand , Scottish , Sri Lanka n, ... Russia
and Ukraine: The Specialist's degree ...
Chevrolet(section Pakistan)
o Pakistan ... Also, a joint
venture between GM and Russian AvtoVAZ from 2002 makes the Chevrolet Niva, an
SUV especially for Russian market and ...
Illegal immigration(section Pakistan)
o Brazil had last legalized all immigrants in
1998; bilateral deals, one of which ... Pakistan: Immigration
to Pakistan#Illegal immigration ...
Ombudsman(section Pakistan)
o law number 13/1987, which deals with
complaints against the government. ... Pakistan: In Pakistan,
the establishment of the institution of ...
Nuclear proliferation(section Pakistan)
o acquired, nuclear weapons: India , Pakistan ,
North Korea , and Israel . ... In 2001 a final agreement was
signed with Russia for the ...
Foreign relations of India(section Pakistan)
o other Nuclear Suppliers Group members to sign
similar deals with India. ... Despite reports of atrocities in
East Pakistan , and being told, ...
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)(section Coalition
issues with Pakistan)
o troops apparently landed on Pakistani soil to
carry out an operation ... China, and Russia, Afghanistan also
holds strategic significance ...
Health care system(section Pakistan)
o It deals with the resources, devices and
methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage, retrieval and ... Pakistan:
Health in Pakistan ...
Foreign relations of Israel(section Pakistan)
o belief that should diplomatic relations with
Pakistan be established, then Pakistan could ... Russia and
the Soviet Union: Israel–Russia relations ...
Secondary education(section Pakistan)
o Pakistan: Education in Pakistan. Secondary
education in Pakistan... Russia: Education in Russia#Secondary
school | l1 Secondary education in Russia ...
Fiat(section Pakistan)Italy , France , Turkey , India , Pakistan ,
China , Serbia and Russia . ... company that also deals with
the management of real estate properties. ... Iran–Pakistan relations
o Relations between Pakistan and Iran date back
to the common prehistoric Indo- ... Pakistan became
intermediary in several of defense deals of ...
International Financial Reporting
Standards(section Pakistan)
o Pakistan , GCC countries , Russia, South
Africa, Singapore and Turkey . ... Pakistan: abeyance by State
Bank of Pakistan for Banks and DFIs IFRS- ...
Foreign relations of Turkmenistan(section Pakistan)
o Pakistan... Recently,
Russian-Turkmenistan relations have revolved around Russia's efforts to secure
natural gas export deals from ...
Constitutional crisis(section Pakistan)
o Pakistan... The constitutional
crisis of 1993 : a conflict between Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the Russian parliament led by Ruslan ...
Pakistan and
saarc
Saarc countries:-
Afghanistan
Following the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan in 1979, the Pakistani government played a vital role in supporting
the Mujahideen and assisting Afghan refugees. Pakistan absorbed
an estimated 3 million refugees and provided shelter, education, and places to
work. After the Soviet withdrawal in February 1989, Pakistan, with cooperation
from the world community, continued to provide extensive support for displaced
Afghans. In 1999, the United States provided approximately $70 million in
humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in Pakistan, mainly
through multilateral organizations and Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs).
Afghan President Hamid Karzai with U.S.
President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali
Zardari during a US-Afghan-Pakistan Trilateral meeting at the White
House in Washington, DC.
Pakistani strategists view Afghanistan as
providing "strategic depth" in the event of a war with neighboring
India. In the event that the Indian Army crosses into Pakistan, the Pakistan
Army would temporary locate supplies in Afghanistan and prepare for a
counter-offensive. Furthermore, many Pakistanis see in Afghanistan and Afghans
a common bond based on religion, history, culture, language and ethnic ties. At
various times, Pakistan backed the mujahideen against the Soviets, mujahideen
against each other and the Taliban against the Iranian-backed Northern
Alliance.
The overthrow of the Taliban regime in
November 2001 has seen somewhat strained relations between Afghanistan and
Pakistan. The present Karzai administration in Kabul feels
that the remnants of the former Taliban government are being supported by
factions within Pakistan for the same above reasons. However, Pakistan has said
the government cannot control all elements of its intelligence agency, the ISI,
which several countries accuse of contributing to instability in Afghanistan.
In 2006 Afghan President Hamid Karzai warned that "Iran and
Pakistan and others are not fooling anyone" when it come to interfering in
his country.
"If they don’t stop, the consequences will be … that the
region will suffer with us equally. In the past we have suffered alone; this
time everybody will suffer with us.… Any effort to divide Afghanistan
ethnically or weaken it will create the same thing in the neighboring
countries. All the countries in the neighborhood have the same ethnic
groups that we have, so they should know that it is a different ball game
this time
India
Born out from the furnace
of animosity, India and Pakistan, the twin brothers have a history of unique
relations. There is much in common between Republic of India and Islamic
Republic of Pakistan.
The diplomatic
relations developed soon after independence but these relations did not ensure
good friendship. The blaming process started soon after the inception of
Pakistan when during the world’s biggest mass migration both states were unable
to provide security to minorities. At that time there were 680 princely states
and their future was to be decided according to their own will. Junagadh and
Kashmir are two of these states which are still a bone of contention between
India and Pakistan.
Junagadh was composed of 88% Hindu Majority with a Muslim ruler named Nawab
Mahabat Khan. The ruler voted for Pakistan but India did not accept it on the
plea of heavy Hindu majority. The other reason projected by India was that the
state of Junagadh was encircled by Indian state and giving it to Pakistan would
contradict the two nation theory. The stand of Pakistan was on the basis of the
Muslim ruler and the maritime link of Pakistan with junagadh coastal line.
One the other hand, the ruler of Kashmir, Hair Singh, wanted to join India but the majority of Muslim population was in the favour of Pakistan. Maharaja Hair Singh made a “stand still agreement” with the Government of Pakistan. However, the rumoures spread in Pakistan that Mahraja Hari Singh was going to accede with India. The forces of Pakistan invaded in Kashmir in 1947 and Hari Singh asked India for help.
One the other hand, the ruler of Kashmir, Hair Singh, wanted to join India but the majority of Muslim population was in the favour of Pakistan. Maharaja Hair Singh made a “stand still agreement” with the Government of Pakistan. However, the rumoures spread in Pakistan that Mahraja Hari Singh was going to accede with India. The forces of Pakistan invaded in Kashmir in 1947 and Hari Singh asked India for help.
Indian
Armed forces violating the provision of their constitution entered into the
jurisdiction of Kashmir. In 1957, Pakistan acquired Azad Kashmir and India
captured state of Jammu and Kashmir. Both of these parts are being held by the
same countries which occupied these states forcefully.
In 1965 India launched operation Meghdoot and captured 80% of Siachen Glacier.
1971 was a black year in the history of Pakistan as she lost its eastern wing
as India intervened to favour Bengali people and seized the Qasim part. 90, 000
Pakistani soliders surrendered in Bangladesh. In July 1972 P.M India Gandhi and
PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto met in Indian Hill station of Simla and signed an
agreement to return 90, 000 Pak personnel, and that India would get its
captured territory in the west. They also agreed that from then on, they would
settle their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations. Eventually, the
trade relation restarted in 1976 but the Afghan crisis of 1979 again disrupted
the peaceful process started in 1976.
Pakistan supported Taliban and India favoured Soviet Union. India was also worried about US military aid to Pakistan, Pakistan’s purchase of arms from us and the advancement in her nuclear programme. The change in leadership brought a new era of relation between the two rivals. In Dec 1988 Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and Rajiv Gandhi resumed talks on different issues melding cultured exchange, civil aviation and not to attack each other nuclear facilities. At that time BB said.
Pakistan supported Taliban and India favoured Soviet Union. India was also worried about US military aid to Pakistan, Pakistan’s purchase of arms from us and the advancement in her nuclear programme. The change in leadership brought a new era of relation between the two rivals. In Dec 1988 Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and Rajiv Gandhi resumed talks on different issues melding cultured exchange, civil aviation and not to attack each other nuclear facilities. At that time BB said.
“Burry the Hatchet;
we have had enough of it. Let’s start a new chapter. India has a new generation
leadership. Rajiv & I belong to a new generation. We have some kinship. He
father was assassinated and so was my father. He lost his brother and so have I
we both can start from clean state.”
In 1997, high level talks were resumed after 3
years. Prime Minister of India and Pakistan met twice and foreign secretaries
conducted 3 rounds of talks in which they identified 8 outstanding issues to
focuss. These 8 issues were
- Kashmir
issue
- Water
crisis
- Sir
creek issue
- Rann
of kutch
- MFN
status
- Siachen
issue
- State
sponsored issue
- Nuclear
Deterrence
In September 1997 the talks broke down on
structural issue where as in May 1998 the situation became harder because of
nuclear experiment conducted by Pakistan. The environment further became
deplorable when Indian Air lines Flight IC 814 was hijacked in 24 Dec 1999. The
plan landed in Lahore for refuelling but the final destination was Kandhar,
Afghanistan. Rivalry increased when attack was conducted on Indian parliament
on Dec 2001. India blamed Jash-e-Mohammad for that act. The Samjhota express
carnage of 18th February 2007 added fuel to fire.
Bangladesh
After
the independence of Bangladesh, Pakistan reluctantly recognized the country in
1974 under pressure of other Islamic nations. In that year, the Pakistani Prime
Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Bangladesh. But due to his arrogant
attitude bilateral relations between the countries could not improve. Full
diplomatic relations were established only in 1976 during Khondaker Mostaque
Ahmed's regime. At that time, a very senior retired civil servant M. Khurshid
who had experience of working in East Pakistan was appointed as Pakistan’s
first Ambassador.
The
establishment of diplomatic relations also started exchanges at the highest
political level. From Bangladesh side the first visit was undertaken by
President Ziaur Rahman to Pakistan in September 1977. Begum Zia herself had
visited Pakistan in January 2004 to attend the 12th SAARC summit. Pakistan's
military President Pervez Musharraf visited Bangladesh in July 2002. Its Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz paid a bilateral visit to Bangladesh in November 2004 and
also attended the 13th SAARC summit in Dhaka in November 2005.
History
plays a crucial role in Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. Bangladesh had won its
independence from Pakistan after waging the War of Liberation in 1971.
Bangladeshi population which has suffered a lot during that period expects an
unconditional apology from Pakistan for the action of its army.
General
Niazi who had surrendered to Joint Indian and Bangladeshi forces on December
16, 1971, reportedly accepted in an interview in 1998 that approximately thirty
thousand Hindus were killed and many more Bangladeshi freedom fighters in 1971.
General Rao Forman Ali who is also considered as one of the architects of the
military action on Bangladeshi people on March 26, 1971 acknowledged that
between 40,000 to 50,000 Bangladeshis were killed. Though Pakistani leaders
accept this now in a roundabout way they still give the impression that both
sides were at fault. As army has always ruled Pakistan either directly or
indirectly, an apology against the acts of army has been difficult to get.
Bangladeshis
also want the government of Pakistan to release the Report of the Hamoodur
Rahman Commission on the 1971 tragedy. Along with them many people in Pakistan
are also interested in knowing about the people who were responsible for the
tragic events in 1971. The writ petition filed by a senior retired Pakistani
civil servant Syed Alamdar Raza to the High Court some years ago for release of
the report has not yet been disposed of. The reluctance of the Pakistani
government to make this report public has not helped the bilateral relations.
History
has left other unresolved issues as well. Most important of them are division
of assets of united Pakistan, and repatriation of stranded Pakistanis
(so-called "Biharis") to Pakistan. Bangladesh claims that Pakistan
should pay at least $4 billion as its share. Successive Pakistani governments
have been reluctant to discuss the issue of division of assets. They think that
with the passage of time this issue will die down.
Dhaka
also wants Pakistan to release US$200 million which was received by Pakistan as
donation from different countries for the 1970 cyclone victims of the then East
Pakistan.
bhuton
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan
and Bhutan on Saturday agreed to further boost their bilateral ties in trade
and tourism and continue supporting each other at international forums.
The decision came during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoezer Thinley at the Prime Minister House on Saturday.
The hour-long exclusive and delegation level talks covered a whole range of bilateral issues besides regional situation.
Thinley who is here on a three-day visit to Pakistan on the invitation of the prime minister was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival with a guard of honour by a contingent of armed forces.
During the meeting Gilani stressed the imperative that Pakistan and Bhutan must strengthen their bilateral ties on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit. He called for enhanced political contacts including parliamentary exchanges and invited the speaker of Bhutan’s parliament on behalf of the speaker National Assembly to visit Pakistan. He proposed that Pakistani parliamentarians should visit Bhutan to study the Bhutanese development model especially its concept of gross national happiness based on more holistic and natural development rather than on the economic index.
The prime minister said that both countries should explore possibilities of sharing information and good practices as both of them have huge potential of hydropower generation as well as on preservation of environmental and natural disaster management.
He expressed his earnest hope that the goodwill existing between the governments and people of Pakistan and Bhutan would be translated into substantive economic and commercial investment as well as educational and cultural links.
Noting that the most revered Guru Padma Sambahawa, the ‘second Buddha,’ was born in Swat, Gilani urged his guest to consider religious tourism from Bhutan to Pakistan and invited him to visit Swat in his next official visit.
He also stressed need for exchange of cultural entourage, youth groups as well as tourists and research scholars between the two countries on discovering the common historical and cultural heritage. He offered Pakistan’s cooperation to Bhutan in the fields of education and human development by offering increased number of scholarships for the Bhutanese students particularly in medicine and engineering fields. He reiterated Pakistan’s standing offer for the training of Bhutanese diplomats in Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy.
Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan greatly appreciated the eminent role played by Bhutan, its government and people in steering regional cooperation towards its objectives under the Prime Minister of Bhutan’s Chairmanship of Saarc, adding that Saarc spirit must be carried forward for promoting peace, stability and well being of the people of South Asia for which Pakistan would be happy to work closely with Bhutan to realize the vision of Saarc Charter.
The decision came during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoezer Thinley at the Prime Minister House on Saturday.
The hour-long exclusive and delegation level talks covered a whole range of bilateral issues besides regional situation.
Thinley who is here on a three-day visit to Pakistan on the invitation of the prime minister was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival with a guard of honour by a contingent of armed forces.
During the meeting Gilani stressed the imperative that Pakistan and Bhutan must strengthen their bilateral ties on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit. He called for enhanced political contacts including parliamentary exchanges and invited the speaker of Bhutan’s parliament on behalf of the speaker National Assembly to visit Pakistan. He proposed that Pakistani parliamentarians should visit Bhutan to study the Bhutanese development model especially its concept of gross national happiness based on more holistic and natural development rather than on the economic index.
The prime minister said that both countries should explore possibilities of sharing information and good practices as both of them have huge potential of hydropower generation as well as on preservation of environmental and natural disaster management.
He expressed his earnest hope that the goodwill existing between the governments and people of Pakistan and Bhutan would be translated into substantive economic and commercial investment as well as educational and cultural links.
Noting that the most revered Guru Padma Sambahawa, the ‘second Buddha,’ was born in Swat, Gilani urged his guest to consider religious tourism from Bhutan to Pakistan and invited him to visit Swat in his next official visit.
He also stressed need for exchange of cultural entourage, youth groups as well as tourists and research scholars between the two countries on discovering the common historical and cultural heritage. He offered Pakistan’s cooperation to Bhutan in the fields of education and human development by offering increased number of scholarships for the Bhutanese students particularly in medicine and engineering fields. He reiterated Pakistan’s standing offer for the training of Bhutanese diplomats in Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy.
Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan greatly appreciated the eminent role played by Bhutan, its government and people in steering regional cooperation towards its objectives under the Prime Minister of Bhutan’s Chairmanship of Saarc, adding that Saarc spirit must be carried forward for promoting peace, stability and well being of the people of South Asia for which Pakistan would be happy to work closely with Bhutan to realize the vision of Saarc Charter.
Nepal
Nepal established diplomatic relations with
India after the latter's independence in 1947, but did not do so with Pakistan.
In 1950, Nepal signed a Treaty of Peace and
Friendship with India, creating an extensive relationship of
economic, strategic and defence cooperation. Nepal thus remained aloof from
Pakistan, which was at conflict with India.[2][3][4] However, Nepal's resentment of Indian
influence perceived to be excessive prompted the Nepalese government to develop
relations with the People's Republic of
China and Pakistan
Nepal and Pakistan signed a protocol for establishing diplomatic relations in
1962 and exchanged ambassadors and set up embassies in 1963, when Ayub Khan, the President of Pakistan made a special visit to Nepal.[1] Both nations also signed agreements to
reciprocate the "Most Favored Nation" status of importance for
developing trade and cooperation.[1] In 1963, Pakistan agreed to provide Nepal with free trade access
and transport facilities through the port of Chittagong in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and
established an air link. This arrangement reduced Nepal's dependence on India
for trading privileges.[1] Although Nepal officially maintained neutrality during the Indo-Pakistani War of
1971, it was one of the first to recognise the independence of Bangladesh.
In recent years, both countries began developing military cooperation, with
Nepal importing arms from Pakistan.[7] Condemned and isolated from India, Great Britain and the United States between 2004 and 2006 for repressing democracy, the Nepalese
monarchy developed military cooperation with China and Pakistan, who offered
extensive military support, arms and military equipment to Nepal for the
monarchy to stay in power and fight the Maoist insurgency.[8][7]. Both Pakistan and China have provided medium-tech weapons to Nepal.
Despite an extensive 1982 trade agreement, the volume of bilateral trade
remains comparatively small at USD 4.8 million.[9] Pakistan's total exports to Nepal are worth
USD 1.631 million while Nepal's exports to Pakistan tally USD 3.166 million.[9] Both countries have recently stepped up
efforts to promote bilateral trade, especially in textiles, oilseeds, extraction of oil and tourism; Pakistan also offered a USD 5 million line of credit to Nepal.[10][9][8] Nepal and Pakistan are signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and members of the South Asian Economic Union.
Sri Lanka
Relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka are generally warm. In the past, Pakistan
assisted the Government of Sri
Lanka in supplying High-Tech military equipment to
the Sri Lankan army in the civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam[1]. Pakitan-Sri
Lanka relationship also foster on strong mutual Sino-Pakistan and Sino-Sri Lankan
relationship, as China maintain strong mutual interest in the economic and
military development of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and unlike Western countries,
concerns for human right violations are not raised within the trio of these
countries. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also members of SAARC.
There is a Pakistani embassy located in Colombo[2] and a Sri Lankan embassy situated in Islamabad[3].
Economic cooperation
Pakistan is the second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in South Asia. Sri Lanka was the first country to
sign a Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan, which became operational from
June 12, 2005. 4,000 items can be imported to Pakistan from Sri Lanka.[4] Bilateral trade between the 2 countries was
US$400 million in early 2010, and is expected to increase to US$2 billion by
2012.[5]. In November 2010, President Asif Ali Zardari mulled a 250 million
dollar export credit line that Pakistan would extend to Sri Lanka. Trade
between the two countries reached $500 million by the end of 2010[6]
Defense cooperation
See also Pakistan's military assistance to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka started buying arms and ammunition
from Pakistan in a big way from 1999. The total purchases until December 2007
were worth $50 million while there has been a sudden jump in the quantity of
merchandise ordered in 2009 and the amount has been tripled.[7] With India reluctant to sign a Defense
Cooperation Agreement with Sri Lanka and unwilling to supply it with the kind
of weapons it is looking for, Colombo has turned increasingly to Pakistan. There are
segments of opinion in Sri Lanka that are in fact in favor of the government
finalizing a defense cooperation agreement with Islamabad.[8]
In May 2000, President Musharraf of Pakistan supplied millions of dollars of much-needed
weapons to the Sri Lankan government, when separatist Tamil Tiger rebels were about to recapture their former capital of Jaffna.[9] In August 2006, suspected LTTE rebels attempted to assassinate Pakistan's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Bashir Wali Mohamed, with a claymore mine in Colombo. Mohamed was
not hurt but seven others died[10]. In May 2008, Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka of the Sri Lanka Army held talks with his Pakistan Army counter-parts regarding the sale of military equipment, weapons
and ammunition. The sale of 22 Al-Khalid MBTs to the Sri Lanka Army was finalized during these talks in a deal
worth over US$100 million.[11]
In April 2009, Sri Lanka requested $25 million
worth of 81 mm, 120 mm and 130 mm mortar ammunition to be delivered within a
month.[12] During a state visit
by President Asif Ali Zardari to Sri Lanka in Nov 2010, Sri Lanka evinced
interest in purchase of Pakistani al-Khalid Main Battle Tanks, light weapons
and ammunition, and the Sino-Pak joint venture product JF-17 Thunder aircraft[13].
Pakistan has also offered to train Sri Lankan spies for intelligence gathering
purposes[14] Apart from traditional
military assistance to Sri Lanka, Pakistan has also offered to train Sri Lankan
police and intelligence service officers[15
Pakistan And Islamic countries
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan's relations with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia are very special for two
reasons: one for the presence of the two holiest Muslims places at Makkah and
Medina, and secondly Saudi Arabia's unequivocal support, both diplomatic and
economic, to Pakistan since its independence. The ties were at their zenith
during the late Shah Faisal's regime, who viewed Pakistan as his second home.
People in Pakistan still revere the late Shah and his photographs can still be
seen on the backs of artfully decorated trucks and buses. Even today, The
Saudi-Pak relations are very warm and cordial, and are time tested.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are leading members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Saudi Arabia was one of the strongest
supporters of Pakistan during Pakistan's wars with India, especially opposing the creation of Bangladesh from Pakistan's eastern wing in 1971. While it had supported Pakistan's
stance on the Kashmir conflict, it
has since endorsed the Indo-Pakistani peace process. With Pakistan, it provided
extensive financial and political support to the Taliban and the Afghan mujahideen fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.[1][2][3]
During the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War, Pakistan sent troops to
protect the Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia, but strains developed when some
Pakistani politicians and Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg, the
then-chief of staff of the Pakistani armyopenly expressed support for Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and its invasion of Kuwait.[4] Along with the United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were the only states to recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan. In May
1998, before Pakistan's Chagai-I nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia promised to supply
50,000 barrels per day of free oil to help Pakistan cope with likely economic
sanctions in the aftermath.[2]
Military cooperation
Pakistan maintains close military ties with Saudi Arabia, providing extensive
support, arms and training for the Military of Saudi Arabia.[2]Pilots of the Pakistan Air Force flew aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force to repel an incursion from South Yemen in 1969. In the 1970s and 1980s, approximately 15,000 Pakistani
soldiers were stationed in the kingdom.[2] Saudi Arabia has negotiated the purchase of
Pakistaniballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.[2]
It is also speculated that Saudi Arabia
secretly funded Pakistan's nuclear programme and seeks to purchase atomic weapons from Pakistan to enable it to counteract possible threats from
arsenals of the weapons of mass
destruction possessed by Iran, Iraq and Israel.[5][6][7] Both nations have received high-level
delegations of scientists, government and military experts seeking to study the
development of a nuclear programme.[5][8][2]
Cultural and commercial ties
Saudi Arabia has also provided extensive religious and educational aid to
Pakistan, being a major contributor to the construction of mosques and madrassas (religious schools) across Pakistan, the Faisal Mosque (dedicated to King Faisal of Saudi Arabia) in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The major Pakistani city of Lyallpur was also renamed Faisalabad in honour of King Faisal in 1977.
Saudi Arabia remains a major destination for immigration amongst Pakistanis,
the number of whom living in Saudi Arabia stands between 900,000 and 1 million
(seePakistanis in Saudi Arabia).[9][10] Saudi Arabia was a major supporter of the
"Islamisation" programme of the military ruler Gen. Zia-ul-Haq in the 1970s. In 2006, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the
highest civilian decoration of Pakistan.[11]
Saudi Arabia is the largest source of petroleum for Pakistan.[12] It also supplies extensive financial aid to
Pakistan and remittance from Pakistani migrants to Saudi Arabia is
also a major source of foreign currency.[13] In recent years, both countries have exchanged
high-level delegations and developed plans to expand bilateral cooperation in
trade, education, real estate, tourism, information technology,communications and agriculture.[10][14] Saudi Arabia is aiding the development of trade relations with
Pakistan through the Gulf Cooperation
Council, with which Pakistan is negotiating a free trade agreement; the volume of trade between Pakistan and
GCC member states in 2006 stood at USD 11 billion.
Turkey
Pakistan's relations with Turkey are of special significance since support of
the Muslims of Indian sub continent to their Turk brethren in its war against
the Allies during and after the WW-I and later due Pakistan's support to Turkey
on the issue of Cyprus. Even today, upon hearing the name of Pakistan, the
faces of Turks glitter with deep love and affection. And this is equally
reciprocated in Pakistan as well. A fine example of this traditional love and
bondage is the demonstration of thousands of Turk students in Ankara on 11
September 1965 when Pakistan was in war with India, chanting slogans against India
and reiterating their desire to go and fight with their Pakistan
brothers.
Pakistan, Turkey and Iran have been the members of RCD (Regional Cooperation
for Development) since 1964 till overthrow of Shah of Iran's regime in Iran.
Now the same organization, renamed as ECO in 1984 has more members of the
regions, and Turkey continues to support Pakistan in ECO on all matters of
economic cooperation and development.
iran
Iran was the first country that
recognized Pakistan on 22 August 1947. Pakistan's relations with Iran have
since been friendly, if not very friendly - mainly due to differences of
Islamic beliefs. However, Iran has always supported Pakistan in troubled times
and was in forefronts to provide all possible assistance to Pakistan with its
disputes with India, specially in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Since the institution
of Islamists government in Iran, the relations between the two countries remain
just cordial and lukewarm. Pakistan on its part is always on the lookout to
support Iran on all international foras, specially these days on its nuclear
issue. The proposed gas pipeline between Iran - Pakistan and India may further
improve the relations between Iran and Pakistan.
Bahrain
Bahrain–Pakistan
relations refers to foreign relations between Bahrain andPakistan. Bahrain has an embassy in Islamabad and Consulate-General in Karachi, whereas Pakistan has an embassy in Manama. Both countries are members OICand G 77.[
Economic relations
The
trade between Bahrain and Pakistan has reached to $250 million. Bahrain is
seeing Pakistan with a potential of being good for agricultural investments and
dairy related industry, whereas Pakistani business community is interested in
Bahrain's booming property market, banking and trade.[6]A
Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Economic Commission to boost bilateral trade and
investment.[7]
Major
exports to Pakistan from Bahrain: Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates;
aluminum wire and alloys; Paper & P/board; Rags, scrap, twine; Waste and scrap
of cast iron; Stoppers, lids, caps and other closures of plastic; Aerated
waters, flavored or sweetened; unalloyed aluminum; Aluminum waste and scrap;
Copper waste and scrap; air conditions (without refrigeration unit); Prepared
additives for cements or concretes; Yarn waste; Unbleached cotton fabrics;
Other of waste oil; Sugar; Waste of Vinyl-Chloride/PL; and Other scrap of cell
battery.[8]
Major
exports to Bahrain from Pakistan: Rice; Cotton and cotton yarn; Iron or steel;
Mangoes, Oranges; Other fresh vegetables; Tubes, Pipes and Hollow profiles of
cast iron; Polyester fibers; and Carcasses and half-carcasses of frozen bovine
animals.
Defence relations
The defence co-operation between Bahrain
and Pakistan is also very strong, both countries have further agreed to enhance
defence co-operation. Bahrain is also taking interest to obtain army and
defence equipments of Pakistan.Cultural relations
People
of Bahrain and Pakistan are close to each other as a sizeable number of
Pakistanis are living and working in Bahrain numbering over 60,000. Pakistani
community in Bahrain is contributing positively towards the socio-economic
development of the country.[10]However, the naturalisation of Sunni
Arabs and Pakistanis serving in Bahrain’s security forces by granting Bahrani
citizenship is a major bone of contention for
Bahrain’s Shiite opposition.[11]
Pakistan maintains close military ties with Saudi Arabia, providing extensive
support, arms and training for the Military of Saudi Arabia.[2] Pilots
of the Pakistan Air Force flew aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air
Force to repel an incursion from South Yemen in 1969. In the
1970s and 1980s, approximately 15,000 Pakistani soldiers were stationed in the
kingdom.[2] Saudi Arabia has negotiated the purchase of
Pakistani ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear
warheads.[2] It is also speculated that Saudi Arabia secretly
funded Pakistan's nuclear programme and seeks to purchase atomic
weapons from Pakistan to enable it to counteract possible threats from
arsenals of the weapons of mass destruction possessed by Iran, Iraq and Israel.[5][6][7] Both
nations have received high-level delegations of scientists, government and
military experts seeking to study the development of a nuclear programme
Other Muslim Countries
Relations with Other Muslim Countries:
Pakistan attaches a special value to its relations with Islamic countries and
is committed unreservedly to all Muslim causes and the strengthening of
cooperation among Islamic countries. This has been an unshakeable pillar of our
foreign policy. Pakistan has earned the esteem of the Islamic world for its
consistent and effective advocacy of Muslim causes, specially at the United
Nations. The Islamic world stretches from the Far East Morocco in the West and
provides Pakistan with special bonds that stretch half way across the globe and
across cultures. The support of the "Ummah" has contributed to our
success in having our resolutions adopted at the UN, and in elections to
various UN bodies.
Pakistan enjoys very warm and cordial relations with all Muslim countries, specially Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan and Morocco. Indonesia was among those countries who not only recognized Pakistan soon after the partition, but its president Sukarno also paid an official visit to Pakistan as early as 1950. Indonesia also supported and helped Pakistan during 1965 Indo-Pak war against India. Jordan has all along been a strong ally of Pakistan. Prince Hasan bin Talal, brother of late King Hussain married from Pakistan, which further cemented the relations between the two countries.
Of late, Pakistan has also developed strong economic ties with Malaysia and under ex prime minister Mr. Mahatir Muhammad, the relations between the two countries grew more strong and lasting. The Middle East region is a major trading partner accounting for annual exports of around US$ 1.4 billion, and is host to 1.5 million expatriate workers from Pakistan who send substantial home remittances.
Pakistan enjoys very warm and cordial relations with all Muslim countries, specially Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan and Morocco. Indonesia was among those countries who not only recognized Pakistan soon after the partition, but its president Sukarno also paid an official visit to Pakistan as early as 1950. Indonesia also supported and helped Pakistan during 1965 Indo-Pak war against India. Jordan has all along been a strong ally of Pakistan. Prince Hasan bin Talal, brother of late King Hussain married from Pakistan, which further cemented the relations between the two countries.
Of late, Pakistan has also developed strong economic ties with Malaysia and under ex prime minister Mr. Mahatir Muhammad, the relations between the two countries grew more strong and lasting. The Middle East region is a major trading partner accounting for annual exports of around US$ 1.4 billion, and is host to 1.5 million expatriate workers from Pakistan who send substantial home remittances.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUDING
OBSERVATIONS
he review of Pakistan's
foreign policy shows that Pakistan's goals have remained more or less
Tconstant, although their scope was often redefined and new dimensions were
added to them. The diplomatic and military strategies to pursue these goals
varied over time. The changes in the strategies are understandable because a
host of factors influence the foreign policy choices of a country, which
include the dynamics of regional and international situation, the availability
of human and material resources and the disposition and priorities of the
policy makers. As these change over time, foreign policy must also change in
its approach to bilateral, regional and global issues and problems. Pakistan
began with an independent foreign policy in 1947.
However, it
tilted towards the West in a period of 7 years due to serious economic and
security pressures. It maintained a policy of close interaction in the security
and economic fields with the West in general and the U.S. in particular in the
mid and late 1950s, the 1980s, and now since September 2001. It pursued
independent to non-aligned foreign policy from mid-60s to the end of the 1970s
and assigned a great importance to its interaction with the Muslim states and
the issues and problems of the developing world.
Pakistan is
currently an active player in the global efforts for combating religious
extremism and terrorism with a policy that extremism and terrorism pose serious
threats to global security as well as to Pakistan's internal peace, stability
and economic development. Pakistan has made some difficult decisions in
pursuing counter terrorism and for ensuring peace and stability in the
immediate neighbourhood in order to boost its image at the international level,
restore international confidence in the ability of the Pakistani state and
government to put their socio-economic house in order, and shape up as a
democratically oriented, modern and enlightened Muslim polity that does not
allow its territory to be used by extremist groups.
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy: An Overview
1947-2004 27Ahmed Rashid, Taliban (London: I.B. Tauris, 2000). Dennis Kux, The United States and Pakistan, 1947-2000:
Disenchanted Allies (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2002). G.W. Choudhury, Pakistan's Relations with India, 1946-1966
(London: Pall Mall, 1968). Hasan Askari Rizvi, Pakistan and the Geostrategic Environment: A
Study of Foreign Policy (London: Macmillan Press, 1993). Hilary Synnott, The Causes and Consequences of South Asia's
Nuclear Tests, Adelphi Paper 332, London: International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1999). Mehrunnisa Ali (ed.), Readings in Pakistan's Foreign Policy,
1971-1998 (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2001). Michael R. Chambers (ed.), South Asia in 2020: Future Strategic
Balances and Alliances (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 2002). Niloufer Mahdi, Pakistan's Foreign Policy, 1971-1981 (Lahore:
Ferozsons, 1999). Pervez Iqbal Cheema, Pakistan's Defence Policy, 1947-58 (London:
Macmillan Press, 1990). Rasul B. Rais, War Without Winners: Afghanistan's Uncertain
Transition after the Cold War (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1994). Robert G. Wirsing, India, Pakistan and the Kashmir Dispute (New
Delhi: Rupa, 1995). S.M. Burke, Pakistan's Foreign Policy: An Historical Analysis
(Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1973), Revised in 1990. Samina Ahmed & David Cortright, Pakistan and the Bomb
(Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1998). Shirin Tahir-Kheli, The United States and Pakistan: The Evolution
of an Influence Relationship (New York: Praeger, 1982). Sumit Ganguly, The Origins of War in South Asia (Lahore: Vanguard,
1988).
Refrances
List of the websites:-
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3453.htmhttp://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/tag/media%E2%80%99s-role-in-pakistan/
http://www.columnspk.com/pak-america-relations-us-pakistan-cannot-allow-ties-to-unravel-mike-mullen/
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