Foreign PolicyForeign Policy of Pakistan:In the simplest way, the foreign policy can be defined as the connections or association amongst the sovereign states. However, in the broader perspective the foreign policy is said to be those endeavors of the independent states which they embark upon to develop close relations between them in order to benefit form each others achievements in various fields of human activity. The foreign policy is usually referred to as the general principles by which a state governs its reaction to the international environments. Foreign policy is a nations contemplation, longing and reflection of domestic political trends and behavior. It is always the product of interaction of many forces like ideological, historical, economic, national interests and geo-political locations. These factors determine the countrys outlook in world affairs. It is more or less, a compatible standpoint taken over by a nation in its dealings and connections with other nations with respect to the affairs falling beyond the ambit of the conventional alliances or convenient settlement. The peculiar location of Pakistan with its linkages with the West and Central Asia, its cultural and ideological orientations as well as circumstances surrounding its birth culminating in the partition of the Indian sub-continent make the task of fashioning a rational approach to international affairs complex and difficult. The wars with its hostile neighbor, the loss of its eastern part, its policy with regard to Afghanistan and its relations. To these may be added close links with China and the Muslim countries especially Saudi Arabia, Gulf States, Iran and Turkey. Another very important factor has been the weak and unstable political system and the emergence of military as a dominant political foce3 making the task of foreign policy formulating still much difficult.

Determinants of Pakistans Foreign Policy:The foreign policy of a country reflects the behavior pattern of a nation based on its collective wisdom in dealing with other nations. It can neither be based permanently on the wishful thinking of an individual, nor on the idealism of a group. The national goals, more or less, at external ends, as collected carefully through record, of the nations, remain consistent, although they may be inharmonious internally with the man and the groups in power from time to time. A multitude of factors contribute to the making of an outlook in dealings with nations of the world abroad. Friends and foes, as with individuals, are determined by the history compared to its internal policy is much more important and significant, as any change in the latter may not have any dire consequences whereas a change in the former may have. The foreign policy in other

words, greatly serves the national interests while policies in other areas may cater to individual or special interests of a group or individual. Similarly, the handling of the external policy needs persons more adept in their execution than those in other policy areas. A successful foreign poli8cy fills the gap where physical strength is wanting. Thus it is not an easy task to frame the foreign policy of a country. A number of factors have to factors have to be kept in view in this regard. The following five factors are discernible in the formulation of Pakistans foreign policy. 1. ideological Obligation 2. historical legacy 3. geographical location 4. the Indian Threat 5. Economic Compulsions.

Ideological Obligation:Islamic ideology is a very important factor in the determination of Pakistans foreign policy. Pakistan calls itself a Muslim country for two reasons; firstly, more than 85 per cent of the population adheres as to Islam. Secondly, Pakistan was created to meet the irresistible urge of Muslims of the subcontinent to have a homeland of their own where they could live in preserve in safety and tranquility their religion, culture and way of life and where they could live in peace and prosperity. The late Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan once said: The underlying idea of the movement for the achievement of Pakistan was not just to add one more county to the conglomeration of countries in the world or to add one more patch of color to the multi-colored global map. Pakistan came into being as a result of the urge felt by the Muslims of this subcontinent to secure a territory, however limited, where the Islamic ideology and way of life could be practiced and demonstrated to the world. A coordinal feature of this ideology is to make Muslim brotherhood a living reality. It is, therefore, part of the mission which Pakistan hands set before it to do every thing in its power to promote closer fellowship and cooperation between Muslim countries.

Historical Legacy:Both India and Pakistan were successors to an administration which carried certain defense objectives in the area. The subcontinent had been the haunt of foreign invaders from the north since times immemorial. The Russian expansion in the north-wet of India and the Chinese presence in the north east rugged the British authorities in the subcontinent to devise a mechanism assuring safety against the northern threats. The British northern command at Rawalpindi, the Quetta Staff Training College, the extension of Indian railway line to Chapman and Landikotal, the creation of the militia force in the tribal belt in the north-west and the establishment of a powerful intelligence and surveillance station at Peshawar are but a few instances in this regard. This threat perception, as of natural consequence, was inherited by both the successive stated after the partition of India in 1947. The Russian advances southward during the last century had aroused international concern the world over and the new state of Pakistan could not shut its eyes to it. Pakistan inherited from the British files of the India Office the fear of Russia like that of China by India. The decision makers of

Pakistans foreign policy always sought western assistance to stem the Russian advance towards their territory, though at present there is an interregnum period in this threat perception.

Geographical Location:Geography controls political environment of a country and the prize of modern international politics is the earth. The term may also be used to describe political geography considered in terms of the structure of the world and its component states, or to refer to those aspects of foreign policy planning that must take into account various geographical factors such as location, size, shape, climate and topography. Geopolitics, therefore, involves varying degrees of historical determinism based on geography and it also affects the countrys foreign policy and her national interests. Napoleon aptly said about 175 years ago that the foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography the political significance of an area bears a well defined relation to its climate, land-forms and natural resources.

Indian Threat:From the day of independence, Pakistan was involved in a bitter and prolonged struggle for her very existence and survival. Its strategic environment has been largely conditioned by its perception of a security threat from India. The two nations have fought three wars (1948, 1965 and 1971) within the last five decades and experienced countless border clashes. To obviate any threat from India, Pakistans security planners, in defense terms, have been constantly engaged in search fro a near parity situation with India. A ceaseless effort to improve and expand Pakistans military machine in order to search and maintain a relative parity has been undertaken by all the governments. Pakistans fear of India was deepened and its problems of security and survival rendered more complex by the outbreak of Indo-Pakistan hostilities over Kashmir soon after the Partition. This was followed by a communal holocaust and mass migration, Indias refusal to give Pakistan its due share of arms and financial assets, Indias violent take-over of Junagarh and Hyderabad, the stoppage of river water flowing into Pakistan ECT. The Indo-Pakistan enmity as a matter of fact, is rooted in history. Both regard the partition of India as a tragic blunder, each attributing its own explanation to it. The Hindus are looking forward to a day when India will be united under them as legendary Mahabharata. The Muslims see in it a loss to their political hold on the subcontinent. Firstly, on account of the British highhandedness and secondly, because of fraudulent stratagems of the Hindus to corner them within the subcontinent. To a Pakistani, an Indian is his arch enemy, always hatching plans to indo his existence. To an ordinary Indian the agreement to allow Pakistan to come into being was a tragic blunder which needs rectification. The Indian hegemonic role over the subsequent years further strengthened this mistrust in the minds of the intelligentsia in Pakistan. India is militarily almost ten times as strong as Pakistan but Pakistans basic aim is to offset Indias military superiority and mobilize world opinion in order to compel India to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir. Hence, Kashmir is a touchstone of Pakistans foreign policy and Pakistan tends to judge its international friends and foes by the measuring rod of the Kashmir question. However, relations with India have been very complicated. There are complexes of social

religious, historical, political and psychological forces all tending in a sinister combination to antagonize the two states. The fixation on India has in fact largely shaped Pakistans relations with and attitude towards other countries. President Ayub Khan argued: We have an enemy, an implacable enemy in India and he referred to Indias ambitions to absorb Pakistan and turn her into a satellite. Consequently, Pakistans foreign policy was shaped in a defensive mould from the earlier days of independence, which urged it to look fro security arrangements elsewhere. Thus Pakistan found itself placed in a camp opposite to India. Both China and the West under this programme find a significant place in Pakistans security plan.

Economic Compulsions:Few states were born as poor as Pakistan in 1047. The Muslim minority of India occupied the north-western highland and the eastern rimland of India. Industrially these areas did not figure anywhere on the map of the subcontinent. Pre-partition industrial and commercial growth was associated with Calcutta, Bombay and Madras which form part of new India. On the reverse, there was very little industry in the areas that were to become Pakistan. Thus the new state of Pakistan was confronted with a multitude of socio-economic and political problems and looked for foreign assistance and loans in her struggle for economic and political survival. The first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khans visit to America in 1950 was actuated by the same considerations. The American economic aid to Pakistan started in fiscal year 1951 and it gradually began to increase after signing by Pakistan of mutual security assistance agreement and its participation in the SEATO and CENTO (Baghdad Pact) in 1954 and 1955 respectively. This aid factor is very strong in shaping our foreign policy even today. Almost fifty years have elapsed since the evolution of policy pursued by Pakistan in dealing with nations abroad. It has, during the course of this period, seen both the fruit and the bruises of it, yet it is clinging on to the spirit it imbibed at an early stage of its formation. There has been little substantive change in its overall international performance or outlook. All the aforesaid factors and forces lay at the root constitute the determinants of Pakistans foreign policy and in this entire India factor is the most important.

Different Phases of Pakistans Foreign Policy:During 1947-67 Pakistans foreign policy can be divided into three main phases. In the first period of early independence the country had a pro-Western tendency without necessarily consummating any definite political marriage with a particular western power. In the second phase Pakistan became the most allied of the allies of the US and began to receive economic and military aid from the US. In the third period Pakistan joined western sponsored pacts of SEATO

and CENTO in the hope that adherence to them would strengthen its security and its capacity to resist aggression. In retrospect, however, Pakistans earlier efforts at promoting the Islamic unity failed because both the environment of world politics and the national style of diplomacy copied from the European powers discouraged religious elements from being at centre stage in the international affairs. The nature and dynamics of domestic politics added much to this state of affairs. The change in Muslim League leadership with a greater tilt towards the US, made Pakistan a US citadel to combat communism. This policy was greatly resented by most of the Pakistani leaders in the late 1960 when it became very apparent that Pakistans western allies were not willing to help her deal with India, rather they wanted Pakistans support only to deter communist menace. Pakistans tilt towards the west undoubtedly helped Pakistan greatly to come out of the economic ordeal which befell it soon after the independence, No one could ignore the American aid and its healthy impact on Pakistans economy. It certainly sustained a degree of economic development in Pakistan. The major benefit which Pakistan acquired out of its pro-West policy was that it obtained western support on the issue of Kashmir. There is no doubt about the initial western support in the UN for the Kashmir accuse, but when Pakistan actually became the member of the western alliances, the western support on Kashmir began to wobble and eventually nullified. Pakistans decision of joining the western alliances was motivated by the desire of developing relations in view of the constant hostility from India and Afghanistan. It was obvious that the Pakistani leaders in signing the western alliances were motivated primarily by their desire to improve the defense capability against India. There was also a deep yearning in Pakistan to develop close relations with the Muslim countries. In Baghdad Pact Pakistan saw a chance to develop close relations with the Muslim countries. Alignment with the west could be said to have given some psychological satisfaction to local hardliners who were involved in a cold war with India. American aid served double-edged objective of sustaining a military establishment which in fact was beyond the capacity of Pakistans economy. However, if Pakistan gained out of its pro-West stance in the foreign policy, we as well had to pay a heavy price for our alignment with the West. The immediate effect was that Pakistan lost its freedom and became a prey to the US dictates. Pakistans foreign image as a non-aligned country received a severe set-back and it was now seen as a fully committed and aligned nation. Kashmir cause, in particular, was heavily impaired as the attitude of USSR became immensely hardened on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan acquired the ire of the USSR for her membership of the SEATO and CENTO. Russian leaders led by Nikita Khrushchev visited Stringer and proclaimed Kashmir to be the integral part of India. They went to Kabul and extended support the stunt of Pakhtoonistan. In the UN Security Council, USSR placed there veto at Indias disposal. Nehru, the Indian Prime Minister, utilized Pakistans alignment with the West as an excuse to go back on Indian commitment to hold plebiscite in Kashmir, Pakistan also annoyed some of the Arab countries on her being the founder member of the Baghdad Pact (CENTO). President Nasser of Egypt accused Pakistan

vehemently of indulging in divisive activities in the Arab world. The Arab world openly demonstrated its aversion on Pakistans membership of the CENTO by pulling back its support to the cause of Kashmir despite the fact that Kashmir is a Muslim state being occupied by a nonMuslim country. The important of these pacts for Pakistan lessened due to the attitude of the US and other allies who failed to come to Pakistans help in her time of need. The resentment which already existed against these pacts in Pakistan enormously increased during the war of 1965. The 1965 war exposed the fallacy of theses pacts when the US failed to extend assistance to its ally, Pakistan, against foreign aggression. According to these pacts Pakistan was committed to fight against communism along with the US and other Western members, while the US and other members of the alliances were to oblige to help Pakistan for its requirements in the wake of foreign aggression.