Determinants of Pakistan Foreign Policy: Most repeated

Determinants of Pakistan Foreign Policy

"Friendliness and goodwill are the cornerstones of our foreign policy toward all countries in the world. We have no desire to declare war on any nation or country. We are willing to contribute to the advancement of peace and prosperity among the nations of the world because we uphold the value of honesty and fairness in all of our interactions, both domestically and abroad. In providing material and moral support to the world's underprivileged and repressed peoples and in maintaining the UN Charter's values, Pakistan will never be lacking.

-Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Quaid-e-Azam

A country's foreign policy is the course of action it chooses to take in relation to its diplomatic relations with other nations. This is the approach that a nation will take toward other nations from a political, social, economic, and military standpoint. Domestic factors, other governments' actions or policies, or aspirations to achieve particular geopolitical designs all have an impact on how foreign policy is developed.

After a protracted struggle for independence, Pakistan was established as a country for Muslims living in British India. Due to the Two Nation Theory, which supported the idea that Muslims constituted a separate nation with unique cultural, intellectual, and religious characteristics, Islam was at the centre of this conflict. Muslims truly want their own country, Pakistan, where they might live in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah (PBUH).

Additionally, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah committed to uphold the nation's Islamic creed. In addition to freedom and independence, he added, "Pakistan signifies the Muslim ideology, which must be safeguarded and has been given to us as a precious gift and treasure. We hope others would share this ideology with us."

Furthermore, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, said: "Pakistan came into being as a result of the desire felt by the Muslims of this subcontinent to acquire territory, however small, where the Islamic Ideology and way of life might be practised and demonstrated to the world."

Therefore, it was impossible for our foreign policy decision-makers to ignore this ideology when establishing the nation's foreign policy. So, the fundamental focus in this area has always been Islamic doctrine.

2. Geography

“The foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography”.

— Napoleon Bonaparte

It is crucial for policymakers to take into account elements like a country's neighbours because their behaviour, regardless of their size or power, directly affects concerns like security, development, and resource allocation. There was no nation that could alter its geography nor choose its neighbours. Therefore, protecting and maintaining the country's independence and territorial integrity has been the only thing given concern in Pakistan. Because of its location, Pakistan has the difficult task of maintaining constant vigilance and careful management of its relations with both its near neighbours and the rest of the globe.

3. History

Pakistan has faced difficulties from its inception. Therefore, the nation's history also influences its foreign policy. Distrust and hostility have harmed relations between Pakistan and India. A major point of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Durand Line, which Afghanistan refuses to recognise as an international boundary. We were immediately drawn into the Cold War conflict because of our previous imperial ties. Throughout the process, we faced a never-ending string of crises and difficulties that possibly no other nation in the world had ever faced. As a result, foreign policy decision-makers cannot ignore these concerns.

4. Domestic Policies

A nation's internal policies, governance concerns, and political climate all influence its foreign policy. The political, social, economic, and strategic strength of a nation always directly relates to its place in the international community. Domestic issues cannot be separated from foreign policies. It is a result of the priorities, strengths, and weaknesses of the country. For developing nations like Pakistan, failures in foreign policy can have a significant financial impact. Pakistan's weak economy and reliance on foreign funding limit its ability to advance internationally. And that has presented the decision-makers with a significant issue.

The decision-makers must understand that no nation has ever achieved success on the international stage if its domestic infrastructure is fragile and ineffective. Even the former Soviet Union, a superpower, could not continue to be one due to its weak and impoverished domestic situation.

Baca Juga

5. Security

Pakistan's foreign policy is primarily influenced by factors relating to internal and external security.

Pakistan was one of the nine key states identified by historian Paul Kennedy, whose future development would not only decide the course of their area but also have an impact on global stability. Pakistan has grown into a key player with a significant personality all its own. It is therefore required to safeguard and protect all of its important interests at all costs.

6. Economic compulsions

Pakistan, a developing nation, also has to establish and maintain friendly ties with those nations with which it can expand its trade relations or from which it can secure the most financial aid. Pakistan's weak economy and reliance on foreign finance limit its ability to advance internationally. Increasing commercial commerce is Pakistan's primary goal in international relations.

A Pragmatic Future Strategy

1. Pursuing National Interest

“The meaning of national interest is survival—the protection of physical, political and cultural identity against encroachments by other nation-states”—Morgenthau.

Every country in the world bases its foreign policy on its own national interests. Since pursuing one's own national interests is an accepted right of every state, Pakistan's foreign policy should be solely motivated by this. This fundamental standard should be applied to all of our alliances. Nevertheless, because no nation can exist in isolation, all bilateral and multilateral relations between states must be based on freely determined and pursued shared interests.

Pakistan's national interest is to strengthen its ideologically-driven economic, military, and cultural power. Pakistan should protect its territorial integrity through its foreign policy. Strong defence and deterrent capabilities are therefore required. To draw foreign direct investment, launch joint ventures, and promote trade, Pakistan must take use of its relationships with countries in the area and beyond as well as with worldwide multilateral institutions. In addition to promoting domestic economic growth and global influence, a foreign policy that is centred on national interests will also accomplish so.

2. Focusing Regional Dynamics

Pakistan's concern about its relationship with Since the partition, India has been the main influence on its foreign policy. This security perspective has been used to all of its interactions with its neighbours, including those that are right next door like Iran and Afghanistan, as well as other nations in the area like Turkey and the Gulf States. However, shifting international patterns in regional commerce and the expansion of Asian economies have compelled Pakistan to restructure its foreign policy, particularly with regard to its neighbourhood. This new way of thinking is demonstrated by Pakistan's hesitation to participate militarily in the Saudi-led Yemen war. Pakistan should also alter its policies in order to not only profit from these changes but also to play a significant role in regional politics, as Iran will soon re-enter the global economy and Russia is cosying up to Pakistan after India's unprecedented tilt towards the US.

2. Promotion of Economy

The foundation of Pakistan's foreign policy should be our nation's inherent advantages. As the sixth-largest country in the world by population, our nation's foreign policy decision-makers should consider the fact that we have good people resources and a very advantageous geographic location.

We had a strong human resource basis and are the only nuclear-armed Muslim nation in the world. Our agriculture, which provides us with a substantial surplus of rice and wheat, allows us to be food-sufficient. We also have access to an abundance of dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, and we can export all of them.

We can proudly say that our leather, metal, ceramics, and handmade craftsmanship are of the greatest quality, and we are currently breaking into the global fashion industry. Our large mineral resources and natural gas deposits also need to be explored.

Despite all these advantages, we have gotten ourselves into a debt trap due to bad leadership and management, which is something that is very doable to fix. We could effectively use our strategic advantage and build a solid economic foundation for our foreign policy if our economy was driven by growth and exports.

Conclusion

Since Pakistan has always been a security-driven state, state-building rather than nation-building has received greater attention. However, shifting regional and global dynamics pose a number of difficult problems for our foreign policy decision-makers. Perhaps now is the best time for Pakistan to gain from its location and its significance to the rest of the globe. Extreme caution should be used going forward by those who make our foreign policy.

Zona Marwah

Determinants of Pakistan Foreign Policy: Most repeated