a48e3a7b4f
- Created a new document for Pakistan Affairs with sections on historical personalities, partition, national integration, economic challenges, political stability, foreign policy, and climate change. - Added multiple topics related to Kashmir and intergovernmental organizations. - Established a new index page for CSS Notes 2025, outlining the purpose and organization of the notes.
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Foreign policy refers to a country's strategy in dealing with other nations to protect its national interests, ensure security, promote economic ties, and enhance its global image.
Core Principles of Pakistan’s foreign policy
Pakistan’s foreign policy draws heavily from Article 40 of its Constitution and statements by founding leaders like Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The guiding principles include:
- Peaceful coexistence
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of other states
- Support for Muslim causes (e.g., Palestine, Kashmir)
- Pursuit of regional and international peace
- Promotion of economic cooperation
- Compliance with UN Charter and international law
Main objectives of Pakistan’s foreign policy
- Preserve national security and sovereignty
- Resolve the Kashmir issue
- Foster strong ties with Muslim countries
- Improve relations with major powers (China, US, Russia)
- Promote economic and energy cooperation
- Strengthen regional integration (e.g., ECO, SCO)
- Promote Pakistan's image as a responsible nuclear power
Relations with other countries
Strategic alliance with China
China is arguably Pakistan’s most trusted ally. The relationship, often described as "higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans", covers defense, economy, and diplomacy.
- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is central to Pakistan’s development strategy.
- China supports Pakistan on Kashmir and FATF issues.
- Military cooperation includes joint exercises and technology transfer.
This alliance helps Pakistan balance against India's regional dominance.
Complex relationship with the United States
Pakistan’s ties with the US have fluctuated over time from Cold War cooperation to mistrust during the War on Terror.
- During the Cold War, Pakistan joined SEATO and CENTO as a US ally.
- During the Afghan War, Pakistan became a frontline state alongside US in assisting the Mujahiddeen to counter Soviet invasion.
- After 9/11, Pakistan became a "Major Non-NATO Ally" and supported the US''s "War on Terror" in Afghanistan.
- However, the relationship has faced tension due to:
- US drone strikes in Pakistan
- Accusations of harboring terrorists
- The 2011 Osama bin Laden incident
Recently, Pakistan is trying to rebalance this relationship while focusing more on geoeconomics.
Relations with the Muslim World
Pakistan has traditionally emphasized Islamic unity and maintained close ties with countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.
- Saudi Arabia is a major source of oil, loans, and remittances.
- Turkey supports Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and partners in defense.
- Iran is a neighbor with whom Pakistan shares religious, ethnic, and trade ties, but relations are often strained due to sectarian and geopolitical differences.
Pakistan often walks a tightrope between the Iran-Saudi rivalry.
Conflict with India
The Kashmir dispute is the single most defining issue in Pakistan’s foreign policy when it comes to India. Pakistan and India have fought three full-scale wars (1947, 1965, 1971) and the Kargil conflict (1999), which was also mostly linked to Kashmir.
- Post-2019 abrogation of Article 370 by India, ties worsened drastically.
- Trade and dialogue are suspended.
- Cross-border firing and Line of Control (LoC) violations are common.
Pakistan wants international mediation on the Kashmir issue while India insists on bilateral resolution, but no meaningful talks have taken place in years.
Afghanistan - Strategic Backyard
Pakistan seeks a friendly and stable Afghanistan, partly to avoid Indian influence and partly due to shared border, ethnic groups (Pashtuns), and refugee issues.
- Pakistan supported the Taliban in the 1990s.
- Advocated for peace talks after the 2021 US withdrawal.
- Security remains a concern due to terrorist spillover.
Pakistan supports regional frameworks like the Doha Talks to encourage inclusive governance in Kabul.
Central Asia – The gateway to Energy and Trade
Central Asia offers Pakistan both strategic depth and economic opportunity, especially in terms of energy imports, connectivity projects, and regional influence.
- Growing interest in energy pipelines, connectivity, and defense cooperation.
## Challenges facing Pakistan’s foreign policy
Despite successes, Pakistan’s foreign policy faces serious hurdles:
- Kashmir remains unresolved, fueling tension with India.
- Global image problem: Accusations of supporting extremism led to inclusion in the FATF grey list (until 2022).
- Dependency on aid from Gulf states and international lenders limits sovereignty.
- Balancing act between the US, China, Iran, and Gulf powers is becoming harder.
- Internal instability (economic crisis, political unrest) affects diplomatic credibility.
!causes behind pakistan's reactive foriegn policy mindmap.excalidraw
Recent Shift: From Geopolitics to Geoeconomics
In 2021, Pakistan officially announced a foreign policy pivot from security-centric geopolitics to economic diplomacy. This includes:
- Trade and investment promotion
- Regional connectivity via CPEC, CASA-1000, and TAPI pipeline
- Integration into platforms like SCO and ECO