PAKISTAN AND THE MUSLIM

WORLD

FOREIGN POLICY OF PAKSITAN

WITH THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES

INTRODUCTION:
Islam and Pakistan are, therefore, are inseparable from one another , Allama Iqbal
once said, ISLAM IS OUR RACE, ISLAM IS OUR COUNTRY. Not just owing
the political reason the establishment of Pakistan was the explanation of the
Muslims of the sub continent who wanted to measure their lives in keeping
with the guidance of Islamic principles. Pakistan gauge its islamic identity
in policy and project social attention to promoting unity between and forging ties
with the Islamic states.
Pakistan has sincerely struggle and attempt from the very initial of its
establishment to bring all the Ummah on one platform.

Foreign Relations of Pakistan :

Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country by the stats of population (behind
Indonesia), and its status as a declared atomic energy, being the sole Islamic
nation to own that status, plays part in its international role.

Pakistan is additionally a vital member of the Organization of the Islamic

Conference (OIC). Pakistan is a lively member of the UN.

Historically, the policy has encompassed complex relationship with India, a desire

for a stable Afghanistan, long-time close relations with China, extensive security
and economic interests within the Persian Gulf and wide- ranging bilateral
relations with the u. s. and other Western countries.

Afghanistan:

 Pakistan and Afghanistan relations have always been close, yet conflicts
over the Durand line, the Soviet Afghan war, Pakistan’s support to the
Taliban regime, the role of Pakistan within the War on Terror and therefore
the growing cross-border militancy has strained relations between the
2 countries.
 At the time of the independence of Pakistan’, Kabul was concerned of an
independent North West Frontier Province, that called .
 In September 1947, Afghanistan was the only country to denied the
Pakistan’s membership to UN.
 The agreement of the Durand Line1 on the frontier between both
countries, inherited from Brits Raj, has never accepted by the
Afghanistan because of that international border, which has led to mistrust
and occasional tension on each side, although no armed conflict has ever
ensued between the states.

Following the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Pakistani
Government under General Zia-ul-Haq played an important role in
supporting the Afghan resistance movement called the ‘Mujahideen’.
 Negotiations between the various stakeholders in Afghanistan were
mediated by Pakistan, until the signing of the Geneva Accord in April 1988,
which led to the Soviets leaving the country in two installments.
 After the Afghan war saw a mass emigration of a minimum of three million
refugees crossing the border of Pakistan, with constant turmoil within
the country preventing them from returning to Afghanistan for the
decades to return.
 At a high economic cost, extensive support was provided to the refugees,
and in 1999, quite 1.2 million registered Afghan refugees remained in
Pakistan, with an estimated million more unregistered.
After the defeat of the land, successive Mujahideen governments stayed in
power for pretty much seven years, but Afghanistan was plunged
into warfare. No meaningful post-war reconstruction occurred – instead, the
 country was divided into fiefdoms with different groups and warlords
overseeing administration in their respective areas.
 The Taliban movement began in southern Afghanistan within the early
1990s, largely as a reaction to the unlimited power of the warlords. Pakistan,
which was already suspected of supporting the movement, was one
amongst three countries to acknowledge the movement of Taliban.
 Taliban regime when the movement swept to power in Kabul in 1996.
Relations between Pakistan and therefore the Taliban regime remained
close, although the Taliban never formally acknowledged the legitimacy of
the Durand Line.
 September 2001, After the attacks on US soil, General Musharraf’s
government devalued Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban, and decided that
Pakistan would support the US in the War against Terror.
 This administration in Afghanistan has had strained relations with Pakistan,
repeatedly expressing the fear that factions within Pakistan support the
Taliban insurgency, with Pakistan vehemently denying the costs. Recent
moves made by the govt. of India to enhance economic and political ties
with Afghanistan have made Pakistan uneasy, further complicating the
connection with the Afghan government.
 The first Transit Trade Agreement was signed in 1965with Afghanistan
and Pakistan.
 This was updated in 2010, with the introduction of provisions like the
necessity for all transit trade to require place through bonded containers,
tracking devices to be installed on trucks, etc. Under the terms of the new
agreement, Afghan truckers can traverse Pakistan and acquire cargo from the
Pakistani port cities of Karachi and Lahore.

Iran :
Iran was the primary country to acknowledge the newly independent state of
Pakistan and initially Pakistan had close cultural and political linked with Iran.  

 within the 1960s and 1970s, many economic and political ties between the
2 countries were particularly strong, with the signing of the Central Treaty
Organization (CENTO), a US sponsored initiative during which Pakistan,
Iran and Turkey pledged to implement defense cooperation agreements
 purportedly against possible aggression from the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics.
 Iran and Turkey signed the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD)
Pact in 1965 to strengthen economic ties.
 After the Iranian revolution, RCD became defunct, and a replacement group,
the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was established in 1985.
 With the Shah of Iran overthrown, religious leader followed a more
rigid policy, disassociating itself from the US and US-friendly
countries like Pakistan. Despite this, Pakistan was one amongst the
primary countries to recognize the new government after the revolution.
During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, ties between the countries
improved, with their coordinated covert support for the Afghani Mujahideen.
 However, the bilateral relationship was once more strained within the 1990s,
with Iran increasingly wary of Pakistan’s support to the Taliban.
 Iran and Pakistan have traditionally supported opposing factions in
Afghanistan, with Pakistan supporting the largely Pashtun and Sunni
Taliban, and Iran supporting the mainly Shia and Persian speaking coalition.
Iran and Pakistan have generally supported one another within
the international community In spite of those periodic setbacks.
 Since the revolution, Iran has no diplomatic relations with the US, and
Iranian interests within the US are represented by the Pakistani Embassy.
 Trade between the countries has been increasing consistently since the
autumn of the Taliban, with several large infrastructure projects within
the pipeline, including a possible rail network, motorway and a controversial
gas pipeline project that originally included India, but is now bilateral.
 Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad visited Islamabad In February
2012, to participate in trilateral talks including Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Iran. The meeting was significant in this the Pakistan government came out
strongly in support of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, and also
pledged to face by Iran because the increasingly beleaguered country faces
international sanctions for its alleged development of nuclear weapons.

Turkey :
Relations between Pakistan and Turkey have traditionally been very strong, with
extensive cultural, economic and religious ties between the 2 nations dating back
centuries. Relations between both countries were established soon after
independence.
  In April 1954, a pact of friendship and cooperation was signed between the
both countries. Soon after, both countries joined the US-led CENTO to
bolster military and strategic cooperation to contain the spread of Soviet
influence.
 Both countries are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,
and founding members of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
 Turkey initiated the trilateral Ankara process In April 2007, meant to
reinforce coordination amongst itself, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
 In 2009 the three countries committed to increasing coordination within
the political, military and intelligence tiers within the battle against
militancy and terrorism, and Turkey pledged $100 million to projects in
education, infrastructure and health to Pakistan.Turkey has been a reliable
neighbor country, turkey providing over $150 million in 2005 after the
earthquake and $11 million in 2010 after the floods disaster, to not mention
the active presence of the Turkish Red Crescent.
 Towards Kashmir Turkey has always been a support of Pakistan in its
stance. Turkey and Pakistan have strong military and strategic cooperation,
with the availability of apparatus and training to soldiers. A preferential
trade agreement has been signed by both countries, and both have sought to
extend bilateral trade.
 A railway network between the both countries for cargo has also been
established in 2009, with the promise of a train to follow. Former and
current leaders of Pakistan have expressed the will to progress in a
very similar model as that of Turkey of modernism and secularism.
 The Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is that the fourth
world leader to own spoken within the Pakistani parliament.

Saudi Arabia :
The relationship between Saudia and Pakistan have been developed on the basis
and bond of Islam. The two countries have maintained their contacts at all levela
and consult each other on matters of mutual intereat.

 The first agreement between Pakistan and Saudia was concluded in 1951 by
which friendly and cordial relations between two countries were cemented.
 King of Saudi Arabia Saud Bin Abdul Aziz paid and official visit to
Pakistan in 1954.
  Second Summit Conference was held in Lahore on 1974. As leading Muslim
countries, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have developed deep bilateral ties
based in cultural, trade, religious and strategic arenas, and play prominent
roles within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
 Arabia has always been a staunch supporter of Pakistan in its problems
towards India, and was especially against the Indian intervention within
the separatist movement in East Pakistan, yet as recently has advocated for
the social process between the 2 nations. 
 within the 1970s, Saudi Arabia had deep relationship with General Zia-ul-
Haq and his ‘Islamisation’ process, seeing a significant inflow of aid for
religious education. 
 Saudi Arabia together with Pakistan provided support to the Afghani
Mujahideen during the Soviet invasion, and within the 1990s together
with UAE and Pakistan, recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
  Saudi Arabia has provided extensive military support with equipment,
arms, training and shared research. 
 Saudi Arabia is a requisite immigration destination for the Pakistani labors
with short term contracts, thereby providing a moderate flow of remittances
back to Pakistan.

BANGLADESH:

Ideologically Pakistan and Bangladesh were two parts of one country. Present
Bangladesh was the former Eastern part of Pakistan before December, 1971
bangladesh emerged as an independent and sovereign state.
 Then former east Pakistan separated from the rest of Pakistan as a result of
indian regression in 1971.
 The government of the prime minister Z.A Bhutto , accomplished the
brotherly links between and recognition of creation of Bangladesh in 1974
during O.I.C Summit at Lahore.
 After restoring relation with Bangladesh Prime minister Z.A. Bhutto paid a
visit to bangladesh .
 However, Sheikh Mujib ur Rheman, the prime minister of Bangladesh on
the behest of India, was not sincere in cultivating friendly relation with
 Pakistan and demanded the division of assets and refused to accept any
liability .
 On October 1975, Pakistan foreign minister decided to develop diplomatic
relation with Bangladesh .
 An agreement between Pakistan and Bangladesh was concluded on 23rd
January, 1976 by which telecommunication links were established.
 Another agreement between both countries reached after talk in Dhaka on
24july, 1976, by which it was agreed upon exchange delegations on
Banking and Shipping.
 On 21 july , 1979, a joint Commission was established between both
countries in order to promote economic collaboration.
 By 1980 bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh were
established on boarder perspective and mutual understanding. The two
countries also decided to extend cooperation in the sector of education.
 The meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee between both countries were
held on 8th September , 1984 at Islamabad for the negotiation of promoting
trade.
 President of Pakistan Pervez Musharaf visited Bangladesh In 1999 and tried
to start a new era of relations between both the countries.
 Now the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are way better than
before, but the warmth which should be seen between two brother Muslim
countries is not present.

China:

Pakistan has a long and stable relationship with China. Which is built on mutual
support.
 Pakistan and China Relationship initiates In 1950. Pakistan is the First
Muslim Country to establish Relations With China. PAKISTAN helped
china to construct a relationship with the Muslim world.
 Since 1962 both countries have regularly exchanged visits resulting in a
number of agreements.
 The PRC has provided assistance to Pakistan economically, military and
technically and consider each other as a close strategic ally.
 Diplomatic relations were established in 1950.
 Military assistance started in 1966
 A strategic alliance was rstablished in 1972
 in 1979, Economic co-operation between both countries was found
 Chinese has become Pakistan’s largest supplier of arms and its third-largest
trading partner.
 Both nations recently have decided to co-operate in improving Pakistan’s
civilian nuclear program.
 China supports Pakistan’s opposition to the Soviet Union's intervention in
Afghanistan and is perceived by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to
NATO and the US.
 On Kashmir issue China supports while Pakistan supports China on the
issues of Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan.
 Chinese co-operation with Pakistan has reached economic high points, with
substantial Chinese investment in Pakistani
 Infrastructural expansion including the Pakistani deep Water-port at Gwader.
 Both countries have an ongoing free trade agreement.
 Pakistan has served as main bridge between china and other Muslim
countries.
 Pakistan also played vital role in filling up the communication gap between
China and the West by facilitating the 1972 Nixon visit to China.