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| Factors influencing Pakistan foreign policy |
| Nosheen Akhtar |
| In this growing interdependent world the process of foreign policy formulation is becoming more and more complex in which besides the national actors, regional and international forces play an increasingly important role.
Pakistan which is located at the cross-roads of south Asia, the Middle East and central Asia is no exception to this rule. Pakistan’s foreign policy therefore has been shaped by national, regional and international factors which have influenced both the process of its formulation and final outcome. Pakistan like any other country cannot afford to pursue a foreign policy in isolation in this growing independent world. All countries are affected by currents and cross currents operation at the regional and international level.
Due to variety of geo-strategic reasons and domestic circumstances Pakistan has been particularly vulnerable to the regional and international forces in the conduct of its foreign policy. Soon after its independence Pakistan was confronted with hostility from India.
In the faces of these challenges Pakistan sought security by entering into alliances with the western powers led by the US during the cold war. This relationship enabled Pakistan to obtain the much needed military assistance and economic aid as well.
However it was not sufficient to compensate fully for the consequences of its internal political instability and Indian threat to its security as reflected during the tragic events of 1971 which led to partition of Pakistan. It also had the negative effect of damaging Pakistan’s relations with Soviet Union. Commencing from 1960’s Pakistan entered into a close friendship with China and also developed close ties with Islamic world notably Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Afghanistan.
The end of the cold war and the demise of the Soviet Union have presented Pakistan with a newest challenges and opportunities. The reality is that the US has emerged as a sole power after the end of the cold war with global military reach and capabilities. In the foreseeable future, no country would be able to pose a challenge to the US indisputable military superiority.
However, the position on the economic side is more complex with several other centres of power, including European Union, and Japan beside the prospect of emergence of new power centre including China, ASEAN, India and Brazil.
The political landscape at the international level has been further transformed by the events of 9/11. Consequently the war against terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction have emerged as the top issues on the agenda of the international community closely followed by the promotion of democracy and human rights and advocacy of economic freedom and market economy. The situation has been made more complex by the Bush administration’s doctrine of unilateral pre-emptive military intervention, which has hanged the rules of the game of international politics and has had the effect of minimizing the scope of UN role in international issues of strategic importance.
In this context Pakistan must pursue its foreign policy to safeguard and promote its national interests. The change in Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy and our joining with the international coalition against terrorism in September 2001 provide a telling example of the influence that foreign countries and international currents and cross currents can have on Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Definitely the interaction between Pakistan and regional and international players whether in the form of states or non-state actors is not a one way traffic as these forces influence Pakistan’s foreign policy, we can also try to influence their directions and contents in pursuance of our national interest. It will directly be proportionate to our relative, political , economic and military strength as well as our quality of diplomacy. |
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