CSS Pakistan Affairs | Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs is solved by Sara Khan under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan 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-Current outlook of Pakistan’s foreign policy with neighbouring countries
3-How do Pakistan’s neighbouring countries influence its foreign policy?
3.1-Influence of Having Afghanistan as a Neighbour on Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
- ✓ Security-related concerns
- Evidence: Shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy and alliance with the USA in the War on Terror
3.2-Influence of India on Pakistan’s foreign policy
- ✓ Security-related concerns
- Evidence: Pakistan joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and aligned with the United States (US) during the Cold War.
3.3-Influence of Relations with China on Pakistan’s foreign policy
- ✓Economic interests
- Evidence: The safe completion of the megaproject – CPEC
3.4-Influence of Iran on Pakistan’s foreign policy
- ✓Regional stability
- Evidence: Before the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan deliberately supported the Taliban regime, and Iran supported anti-Taliban groups such as the Northern Alliance, shaping Pakistan’s foreign policy decisions.
4-Critical Analysis
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
1-Introduction
Foreign policy, a game of chess, is the totality of a state’s dealing with its external environment. It drives a state’s relations with other regional and global actors based on vested economic, political, and security interests. Besides, a country’s geostrategic location significantly alters its foreign policy, considering the historical, security, and cultural linkages with the nearby countries. Jumping on Pakistan, its neighbouring countries influence its foreign policy in several ways. For example, it has several security concerns with India and Afghanistan and economic interests with China. To illustrate, significant events such as the War on Terror and the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan have directed the country’s foreign policy directly, influencing its alliance with other global forces. Iran, despite being poles apart in their perspectives, Pakistan tries to maintain balanced relations with the country to ensure regional stability and guarantee its ties with other regional and global countries. Also Pakistan has changed its foreign policy decisions based on its relations with neighbours and its neighbours’ relations with others. The question attempted to shed light on how Pakistan’s neighbours influence its foreign policy and alliances.
2-Current outlook of Pakistan’s foreign policy with neighbouring countries
A bird’s eye view of Pakistan’s foreign policy towards its Neighboring countries is necessary; generally, the government focuses on pursuing peace and stability through international cooperation. And precisely, in terms of its foreign affairs with the neighbouring countries, it fosters globally acknowledged norms of inter-state relations, including having respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, followed by little or no intervention in the internal matters of other states. Additionally, the country prefers a non-aggressive attitude towards the states and peaceful settlement of disputes. Briefly, Pakistan is after establishing balanced relations with its neighbours and, ultimately, with other states.
3-How do Pakistan’s Neighboring countries influence its foreign policy?
Pakistan’s strategic location influences its foreign policy, objectives, and more. Ostensibly, its position bordering four significant countries in the vicinity has had evident impacts on determining and changing its relations with its neighbours and other countries worldwide. The details answering the question are discussed below.
3.1-Influence of having Afghanistan as a neighbor on Pakistan’s Foreign policy
- Security-related concerns
Having Afghanistan as a neighbour substantially shapes Pakistan’s foreign policy based on social, historical, and security factors. Historically, owing to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan back in 1979 and Pakistan being a vital supporter of the USA in the War on Terror in Afghanistan, it has had dire consequences facing Pakistan since then. So, the country has to face various security concerns arising from its role during the invasion; it has to deal with insurgencies caused by militant groups and other Afghanistan-based terrorist organizations, such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TLP) on its western border questioning the credibility of the country’s intelligence agencies and its borders. This way, the government shifts its foreign policy, focusing on internal and regional security policies. Lastly, Pakistan prefers to make alliances with the countries supporting its narrative against Afghanistan.
3.2-Influence of India on Pakistan’s foreign policy
- Security-related concerns
India directs Pakistan’s foreign policy in several ways. Like, security-related concerns emerging from the shared borders force the country to take bold steps such as aligning with the superpower, the US. Historically, there are many such examples to accept as evidence. To elaborate, Pakistan joined the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) – the alignment with the US, to counterbalance India’s influence during the Cold War era, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. This step was indeed taken to boost Pakistan’s security against India and overcome the threats related to it. So, it is clear how the presence of India in the country’s neighbourhood has shaped and will be shaping its foreign policy. Therefore, Pakistan forms its foreign policy and alliances considering security concerns linked to India.
3.3-Influence of relations with China on Pakistan’s foreign policy
- Economic interests
China is a neighbour of Pakistan and has friendly relations with the country. The presence of China in the proximity notably influences Pakistan’s foreign policy, for among other concerns, the government has economic interests with China. One glaring example in this context is the megaproject CPEC, an initiative to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar Port with China’s Western region. This way, Pakistan’s foreign policy has been highly affected as the country has to ensure the safe completion of the project and tight security along its routes. Apparently, it also makes alliances with other countries, keeping in view the security guarantee. In short, Pakistan forms and changes its foreign policy according to varying relationship dynamics with China.
3.4-Influence of Iran on Pakistan’s foreign policy
- Regional stability
The impact of Iran on Pakistan’s foreign policy is highly momentous. Both countries hold distinguished perspectives in accord with their sectarian differences and culture. Besides, most of the time, both have distinctive views on global or regional issues, shaping Pakistan’s foreign policy towards it and other countries. For instance, Before the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan deliberately supported the Taliban regime, and Iran supported anti-Taliban groups such as Northern Alliance, for it was against the Taliban due to specific reasons, and the former had its own reasons like ensuring and maintaining regional stability in the region and making alliances with other neighbouring countries. To summarize, relations with Iran affect Pakistan’s foreign policy decisions and engagement with other countries.
4-Critical Analysis
On critically analyzing the above-articulated data, it has been evident that Pakistan’s foreign policy decisions vary with the changing dynamics of its relations with its neighbours. Whether it is the War on Terror or the Afghanistan invasion by the US, the country always gives priority to its national interests, followed by India’s move on that particular event. It would be fair to say the country’s foreign policy gets influenced by India more than any other neighbouring country, for it has to counter India’s impact and other security concerns. Moreover, its relations with Afghanistan mainly regulate its alliance with the US. To conclude, Pakistan needs to get out of the influence of its neighbours while shaping its foreign policy.
5-Conclusion
Winding up the debate, foreign policy, undoubtedly a fate-determiner of a country, controls the country’s relations and status within the region and throughout the world. Similarly, Pakistan’s foreign policy determines its relations with its neighbours, and then its neighbours influence the country’s foreign policy. For instance, India has a prominent impact on Pakistan’s foreign policy, leading to a shift in the choice of its allies. And friendly relations with China direct Pakistan’s stance and security steps to ensure regional stability. In addition, Iran and Afghanistan also have major contributions to determining Pakistan’s foreign policy and its alliance with other neighbouring countries.
CSS Solved Past Papers’ Essays
Looking for the last ten years of CSS and PMS Solved Essays and want to know how Sir Kazim’s students write and score the highest marks in the essays’ papers? Then, click on the CSS Solved Essays to start reading them.
CSS Solved Essays
CSS Solved General Science & Ability Past Papers
Want to read the last ten years’ General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers to learn how to attempt them and to score high? Let’s click on the link below to read them all freely. All past papers have been solved by Miss Iqra Ali & Dr Nishat Baloch, Pakistan’s top CSS GSA coach having the highest score of their students. General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers
