CSS Pakistan Affairs | Challenges for Pakistan due to its Location
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Fatima Mushtaq under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved past paper question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years, and uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1-Introduction
2- A Bird Eye View of the Geo-Strategic Importance of Pakistan
3- Pakistan Facing Challenges Due to its location on the Globe
- ✓Soviet Union’s Desiring Access to Warm Water
- ✓USA-USSR Involving in Cold War
- ✓ War on Terror menace Facing by Pakistan
- ✓Afghan Refugees Hampering Resources Distribution of Pakistan
- ✓Kalashnikov Culture Emerging in Pakistan
- ✓Porous Border Providing Save Heavens to Militants
- ✓Hub of Tectonic Plates Causing Natural Disasters
- ✓Cause of Indus River Along Border Devastating Impacts
4-Solutions to Counter Challenges
5-Critical Analysis
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Since its inception, Pakistan has occupied an important place on the map of the world. According to Stephen P Cohen, “While history has been unkind to Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit.” This shows that the country is located at the pivot of the region, signifying its geopolitics strategic and geographical position in terms of oil and gas reserves and trade routes. The country connects the South East Asia, and South Asia. Also, the borders of the country are surrounded by India on the east, China on the north, Afghanistan on the northwest, Iran on the southwest, and the Arabian Sea on the South. Moreover, due to its geo-strategic position, the country has immense importance on the globe. However, due to its location at the crossroads of South Asia, The country has also been entangled in the quagmire of a myriad of challenges, including Soviet Union ambitions for warm water, USA-USSR cold war, war on terror, Afghan refugees, Kalashnikov culture, porous border providing save heavens to militants, hub of climate tectonic plate, and cause of Indus river. Nevertheless, there is always room for peaceful solutions by taking effective measures like China and Pakistan’s economic corridor, balancing foreign policy, diplomatic relations with neighbours, and resolving internal conflicts.
A Bird eye view of Geostrategic Importance of Pakistan
Pakistan is strategically important due to its location at the centre of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It shares borders with key nations like India, China, Afghanistan, and Iran, making it a vital player in regional geopolitics. Its closeness to the Arabian Sea grants it access to important sea trade routes. Additionally, Pakistan’s possession of nuclear weapons adds to its strategic significance, influencing regional security dynamics.
Pakistan Faces Challenges Due to its Location on the Globe
- Soviet Union’s Ambitions for Warm Water
The USSR wanted to reach the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. For this purpose, the USSR and the USA battled on the grounds of other countries, leading to the Cold War. In his book of The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1890, Alfred Thayer Mahan stated that the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, to which Pakistan has access, are of immense strategic importance.” This shows the USSR’s motives behind the attack on Afghanistan, and the next target was Pakistan. Hence, it compelled Pakistan to enter into war with the USSR to secure its sovereignty.
- USA-USSR Cold War
The USA was involved in the Cold War with the USSR. Its foreign policy was to contain the USSR and save its ideology of capitalism. According to President Dwight Eisenhower, “Pakistan’s strategic location makes it an important ally in our efforts to contain communism. this highlights the importance of Pakistan to the USA. Moreover, the use of land the country by the USA as a frontline state in its proxy war against the USSR made it hard for the country to remain neutral, and it compromised the nation’s sovereignty. Therefore, the USA-USSR Cold War stretched the country to participate in this war.
- Terrorism and Extremism
Pakistan has faced the menace of war on terror due to its border with Afghanistan. Afghanistan has always been the hub of a battleground for great powers, posing serious security threats to Pakistan and undermining the country’s national interests. For instance, more than 70 thousand people have died due to terrorism causes. This shows the consequences of war of terror, leading to decline in country progress. To conclude, the country’s border location with Afghanistan trapped the country under the dark clouds of terrorism.
- Afghan Refugees
The entry of countless illegal Afghan refugees has hampered the resource distribution in the frontier regions and Baluchistan. According to UNHCR, more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan since the USSR invasion. It is burdening Pakistan’s limited resources and undermining the jobs and trade of local Pakistani people. Furthermore, it adds fuel to the fire, breeding poverty, inflation, and unemployment in the country. Hence, illegal Afghan refugees undermine the national security and resources of Pakistan.
- Kalashnikov Culture
The normalcy of Kalashnikov’s culture has emerged in the country due to the uncontrolled provision of armed weapons by the USA. The smuggling of Kalashnikov from Afghanistan has enhanced its availability across the regions of the country, ruining the social fabric of the country. For instance, Kalashnikov’s culture is very common in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federal Tribal Areas. This culture has fostered terrorism, militancy, and extremism in the country, causing a lawless situation in the country. Also, it tarnished the image of the country in the international arena. In conclusion, Kalashnikov culture runs the national and regional fabric of the country.
- Porous Border Providing Save Heavens to Militants
The porous border has provided heaven to militants across the regions of Pakistan. Being the mountainous and remote border region, such as Federally Administrated Tribal Area (FATA) and Baluchistan has become the home of insurgent groups and militant organizations. According to the USA Congressional Report, “Pakistan’s porous border with Afghanistan allows terrorists to move freely.” The porous border with Afghanistan has given an opportunity to militants to enter the country and target the infrastructure, top-notch places and personalities. Therefore, porous borders breed the lawlessness condition in the country.
- Hub of Tectonic Plates
Pakistan is considered a hub of tectonic plates, causing natural disasters. Being on the tectonic boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates, it is vulnerable to seismic wave activity, causing earthquakes and land sliding. For instance, the October 8, 2025 earthquake jolted the maximum part of the country and caused casualties and deaths. Hence, Pakistan is prone to the hands of tectonic plates located in its geographical position. To conclude, the Tectonic plate is wrapping the country under natural disaster.
- Cause of Indus River Along Border
The stretch of the Indus River along the length of Pakistan makes it vulnerable to continuous floods and flood-associated disasters. According to UNICEF, “the 2022 floods submerged one-third of the country, affecting 33 million people.” This is because of heavy moon soon spells, lack of reservoirs, deforestation, India releasing water in the Indus River, and so on. Therefore, the overflow of water in the Indus River is causing floods, compromising the economic stability of the country.
Solutions to Counter Challenges
Although Pakistan has faced challenges due to its strategic location; however effective measures can wipe out these threats from its roots. First, the country should focus on the China-Pakistan economic corridor to strengthen its economic sphere. Moreover, the country should adopt a balanced approach to deal with great powers. Furthermore, the country should open diplomatic channels to solve the issues with neighbouring countries. To add it, the country should resolve the internal conflicts, including sectarianism, ethnicity, militants, extremism, economic woes, political instability, social unrest and so on.
Critical Analysis
Pakistan has always faced severe consequences due to its geopolitical location. In his book “The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience., Christopher Jaffrelot stated that Pakistan’s geography has been a curse, with its western border facing Afghanistan and its eastern border facing India, two countries with which it has had tumultuous relations.” Currently, the country has grappled under the shackles of hybrid war, 5th generation war, Baloch conundrum, a threat to CPEC, climate change, and Indian-backed terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, and water dilemma due to its geographical location, posing serious threats to its national interests, highlighting the negative image on the global arena.
Conclusion
Pakistan, being at the crossroads of South Asia, enjoys the pearls of its location. However, it has also trapped the country under multifaceted challenges, such as USSR ambitions for warm water, the USA-USSR cold war, the war on terror, Afghan refugees, Kalashnikov culture, porous border providing save heavens to militants, the hub of climate tectonic plate, and cause of Indus river. Nevertheless, by taking some pragmatic measures, including the development of CPEC, balanced foreign policy, diplomatic relations with border countries, and stable national fabrics, the effects of this dark cloud circulating around the country.
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