Foreign Policy of Pakistan:

Introduction:
Foreign policy can be defined as:

“The system activities evolved by communities by changing the behavior of other states and for
adjusting their own activities to international environment.” _ _ _George Modelski

DETERMINANTS OF FOREIGN POLICY:

Those factors that influence and determine the foreign policy of a country are its determinants. It can
be:

1. Ideology:
Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims of British India after a long freedom struggle.
Islam was at the core of this struggle because Two Nation Theory reinforced that Muslims were
a separate nation, with their distinct cultural, ideological and religious values.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also vowed to preserve the Islamic ideology of the country.
He said:

“Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology which has to be
preserved, which has come to us as a precious gift and treasure and which, we hope other will
share with us.”

Hence Islamic ideology has always been a central focus in this realm.

2. Geography:
“The foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography”.
— Napoleon Bonaparte

For the policymakers, it is important to take into considerations factors like what country’s
neighbors are, as their attitude, irrespective of their size or power, has a direct bearing
especially on issues of its security, development and resource allocation.

So, in Pakistan, sole consideration has been on safeguarding and preserving country’s
independence and territorial integrity. Geography, thus, placed on Pakistan the onerous
responsibility of consistent vigilance and careful conduct of its relations not only with its
immediate neighbours but also with the rest of the world.

3. Culture and History:

Since its inception, Pakistan has been facing complex challenges. Hence, the country’s foreign
policy is also guided by its history. Pakistan and India relations have been marred by distrust
and antagonism. Pakistan and Afghanistan have also been at odds since long, major concern
being the Durand Line which Afghanistan is not willing to accept an international border. Thanks
to the old imperial connections, we immediately got sucked into the Cold War struggle. In the
process, we encountered unbroken series of crises and challenges that perhaps, no other
country in the world has ever experienced. So, foreign policy makers cannot remain oblivious to
these factors.

4. Security:
Internal and external security is the most important factor in Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Historian Paul Kennedy named Pakistan as one of the nine pivotal states whose future evolution
would not only determine the fate of their region, but also affect international stability. Pakistan
has developed as a principal actor and a vital personality of its own. So, it is supposed to secure
and protect its all vital interests, at all costs.

5. Domestic Policies:
The foreign policy of a country is linked to its domestic policies, governance issues and political
situation. A country’s standing in the international community always corresponds directly to its
political, social, economic and strategic strength. Foreign policy cannot be divorced from
domestic considerations. It is an outcome of national priorities, strength and weaknesses. Unlike
large powers, mistakes in foreign policy can be very costly for a developing country like
Pakistan. Pakistan’s position in the world is constrained by its weak economics and its
dependence on foreign finances. And, that has been a big challenge before the policymakers.

The policymakers must understand that no country has ever succeeded externally if it is weak
and crippled domestically. Even a superpower, the former Soviet Union, could not survive as a
superpower because domestically it was weak and crippled.

6. Economic Development:

Pakistan as a developing country also needs to establish and maintain cordial relations with
those states with whom it can maximize its trade relations or from whom it can obtain maximum
economic aid. Pakistan’s position in the world is constrained by its weak economics and its
dependence on foreign finances. The main aim of Pakistan’s foreign policy is to boost economic
trade.

The level of economic development attained by a country has deep impact on the foreign policy of the
state. One of the middle range objectives of the foreign policy of a state is to expand, diversify and
strengthen its economic relations with the external world. An increased economic activity warrants that
the surplus goods, raw material and services of the country have markets outside the country and that
the state may ensure the procurement of the needed products, raw material and services at economical
rates. Similarly Pakistan is always concerned about securing markets for its raw material, cotton, rice,
leather products, sports ware and cotton products. The level of economic development has a direct
relationship with the life standard of the citizens of the given country.

7. Role of Media & Think-tanks:

In modern times the role of media in determining the Foreign Policy of a state cannot be overestimated.
Media has to faithfully highlight the issues of public concern; doing so it serves both as a corrective
machine as well as a guide for the policy makers. Usually former diplomats, strategists, and military
generals take part in productive discussion on media. The Government and Foreign Office have to take
the input from media and think tanks very seriously. In fact, in the US, the think-tanks and media play a
very significant role in the orientation of its foreign policy.

8. International Organizations:
The role and importance of international institutions as instruments of states’ foreign policies, and the
political, military, functional, economic and humanitarian roles played principally by the United Nations
in international relations cannot be overestimated. These international organizations to varying degrees
serve as modifiers of state behavior and as independent actors in their own right. They have profound
impact on the determination of the foreign policy of a state. No state can decide and conduct its policy
arbitrarily to the detriment of other states. UN and other multilateral forums come to the rescue of the
aggressed state. Usually sanctions are imposed which in some cases become very effective provided the
international community imposes them sincerely.

9/11 and Pakistan foreign policy:

9/11 altered the global order considerably. Many of the word states modified their foreign
policies. Pakistan was no exception in this regard. Being on the crossroads of the territories
where War on Terror was ignited, Pakistan needed to reform its foreign policy particularly in
context of the US and Afghanistan.

According to the United States, 9/11 was the catastrophic event engineered by Afghanistan
based Al-Qaeda. This militant wing was led by Osama Bin Laden who was the host of Afghan
Taliban government in 2001.
At the refusal of Afghan Taliban to hand over Bin Laden to the US, the then President Bush
launched a US-led international alliance against terrorism and invaded Afghanistan.

Pakistan being neighbor and an important strategic location in terms of the War on Terror
brought up following major changes in its foreign policy;
Pakistan's post 9/11 foreign policy no more remained India-centric. Now the events in the
US and Afghanistan carried much of influence on its foreign policy making.
Pakistan's post 9/11 foreign policy made the country a front line ally of the US in war on
terror. In this wake though Pakistan did not send its troop to fight in Afghanistan but it had
to provide its land routes, some air and military bases in order to assist the NATO forces.
Pakistan's foreign policy had to bring a change in dealing with the Afghan government of
Taliban. Previously, Pakistan was a favorable country to the Afghan Taliban government that
came into power in 1996. But at the turn of the events the Taliban government lacked
support from Pakistan.
Post 9/11 foreign policy of Pakistan brought the country into the bloc of the US, keeping it
disengaged with Russia and other Eastern powers. The relations with China, however,
remained warm.
Pakistan in Regional and Global Politics
Amid the scenario when the War on Terror is in its last phases in Afghanistan, Pakistan is
once again reforming its foreign policy to exploit the regional and global politics into its
national interest. In future, Pakistan has following prospects in regional and global politics;
Pakistan being the host of China Pakistan Economic Corridor is going to gain economic and
trade importance in the region.
Pakistan has long experience of combating terrorism. This makes the country an
experienced and steadfast state in the region. Pakistan can share its experience with other
Asian countries to help them make peace.
Pakistan is of great importance in the region for helping the Middle Eastern countries to be
out of the chaos. In this wake, Pakistan made a diplomatic comeback while trying to calm
the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan is still important in global politics as it will help the US troops to seek a safe exit
from Afghanistan.
Globally Pakistan has sought appreciation for its fight against militancy. This will keep it
engaged with the global powers which can help to develop the country by sharing modern
technology and education.

Conclusion
Pakistan altered its foreign policy to cope with the post 9/11 foreign policy and it is altering
it now to manage well in the regional and global politics.

Current scenario and Pakistan foreign policy:

Concerning the failure of foreign policy the decision of the financial action task force FATF to put
Pakistan on the grey list of countries reflects the previous government’s short comings in foreign policy
and active lobbying for Pakistan’s unmatched efforts to counter terrorism. Pakistan’s contributions, role
and sacrifices need to be consistently conveyed to the international community; FATA’s grey list could
have dire consequences for the economy. FATA’s grey list put Pakistan in the cross hairs of potential
sanctions that may ruin the already volatile economy. It execution will depend on the incoming
government and their priorities, FATA, has been matter of campaign agenda for the leading parties in
Pakistan, with all in consensus that the world needs to appreciate Pakistan’s efforts in countering
terrorism, and not be coerced through the FATA. The new government has to make whole hearted
efforts to build up Pakistan’s soft image at international level.

Conclusion:
Critical analysis
In a nutshell, Pakistan is not isolated, nor it is going be, but there are some problems in our foreign policy
which need to be solved at the earliest because in the modern world, only a robust foreign policy
guarantees a better economy and a strengthened nation.