CSS Pakistan Affairs | Pakistan’s Geo-Strategic Location
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs is solved by Maria Qazi 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-An overview of the location of Pakistan on the cross-road of South Asia
3-Pakistan’s geo-strategic importance in the region
3.1-In political Perspective
- ✓ Pakistan as a bridge in the region
- ✓ Pakistan in the centre of the Islamic block
3.2-In economic Perspective
- ✓ Pakistan and CPEC
- ✓ Pakistan and its fertile land
3.3-In terms of security
- ✓ Pakistan being one of the nuclear powers in the world
- ✓ Pakistan’s role in counterterrorism strategies
4-Challenges that Pakistan faces due to its strategic location
- ✓ Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Issues
- ✓ Pakistan-India Ideological
- ✓ Pakistan-Iran Economic Concerns and cross-border tensions
- ✓ Internal and External conflicts threatening Pakistan’s regional stability
- ✓ Climate effects due to the Geographical Location of Pakistan
- ✓ Energy Insecurity in Pakistan
5-Possible measures that help Pakistan in meeting the challenges
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
1-Introduction
Since its establishment, Pakistan has attracted many nations towards itself under its strategic location. As stated by Stephen P. Cohen, ‘While history has been unkind to Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit’. Pakistan plays a dynamic role in trade, politics, and security of the region, South Asia, as it is at the nexus of many great nations. It is a bridge between South Asia and Southwest Asia. In its borders, it is connected to Iran to the west, Afghanistan to the northwest, India to the east, emerging power_ China _ to the northeast, and the Arabian Sea to the south. Furthermore, Pakistan provides trade and political opportunities to its neighbouring countries inter-regionally and intra-regionally due to its strategic location. Moreover, The Central Asian Republics (CARs), the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) states, and China are attracted by the deep warm water through Pakistan’s port, Gwadar, located in the mouth of Persian Gulf. Without Pakistan, thirsting power nations, such as the US, Russia, and China, cannot access the Middle East, oil-rich nations and stand their power in the Middle East and South Asia. However, despite the economic, political, and regional advantages Pakistan achieved from its geo-strategical location in terms of CPEC projects, gas pipeline surveys from Iran, Gwadar port trades, and brotherly relations with China, the nation has been dependent from outside and porous to foreign influences domestically and diplomatically. Also, the nation has been confronting burdensome challenges that threaten its security, economy, region, and stability. Conspiracy of Taliban and India are the main factors rising terror attacks in the nation, water security issues from India, and multiple separatist movements uprising from Pakistan’s border areas pose threats to Pakistan’s security and stability. To maintain peace in the region, Pakistan should navigate its foreign policies with neighbouring countries and the USA to further ameliorate its affairs.
2-An overview of the location of Pakistan on the cross-road of South Asia
- Elaborating Pakistan at the cross-roads of South Asia
Pakistan, positioned at the heart of geo-political tussles, plays a pivotal role in intersecting major power nations that have significant influence in the region as it is located in the centre of South Asia, which has been a nucleus of activities of great powers. Pakistan borders China, India, Afghanistan, and Iran and has access to the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, which produces 55-60 % of the world’s oil. Due to its strategic location, Pakistan can potentially connect South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East with one another through road transition and sea routes. The nation offers the CARs, ASEAN, and China the shortest path to the Arabian Sea, which means it has an excellent opportunity to enhance its economic prosperity and make bilateral relations with the mentioned countries. Pakistan-China friendship and partnership in CPEC projects are prime examples of the nation’s strategic location. However, despite the importance of its proximity to the nation, Pakistan has been facing challenges to its territory, security, economy and foreign affairs due to the rivalry of countries bordered with Pakistan, like India and Afghanistan. Also Pakistan’s relationship with Iran has not been appraisable. The strategic location somehow makes Pakistan a prison to its geography if Pakistan avoids negotiations and ties with the uncongenial countries.
3-Pakistan’s geo-strategic importance in the region
Pakistan has attained great importance in the comity of nations domestically and diplomatically by being in the centre of the Muslim world and intersecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The following headings further unfold the geo-strategic significance of Pakistan in terms of trade, security, economy, and politics
3.1-In political Perspective
- Pakistan as a bridge in the region
, linking Muslim states of Africa and Asia through land and sea routes. Pakistan, Not only due to its ideological background but also its geographical centrality, supports Muslim unity movements and actively participates in the affairs of the Muslim world. The nation has been called ‘global Pakistan plays a bridge role between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The country provides the shortest route for trade, security, and political purposes to its neighbouring nations. For instance, China finds access to the deep, warm water of the Arabian Sea through Gwadar for its economic initiatives. Moreover, China, the power-hungry nation, the US, and Russia need Pakistan to make their influence in the Middle East, energy-rich nations, and South Asia to expand their interest in the region.
- Pakistan in the centre of the Islamic block
Pakistan is located in the centre of the Islamic block and stretches from archipelago Indonesia in the east to Morocco in the west centre for political Islam’ by Husain Haqqani.
3.2-In economic Perspective
- Pakistan and CPEC
Pakistan’s strategic location facilitates its neighbouring countries with the shortest transit routes for beneficial trades and energy transactions. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), often known as the ‘Game Changer’, is the prominent infrastructure project that links Gwadar port to China’s western region and vice versa through roads, railways and pipelines. Also, Gwadar connects China to the deep, warm water of the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. The projects benefit Pakistan, its neighbouring countries, and global partners. Furthermore, Gwadar port, located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf where 60-65 % of the world’s oil is produced, attracts the trade ships of Central Asian Republics (CARs), Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, and SCO states by providing the shortest route of 2600km to the sea as compared to that of Iran and Turkey.
- Pakistan and its fertile Land
As an agrarian nation, Pakistan is blessed with fertile land and favourable climate zones, making its agriculture sector the most significant contributor to its economy. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, 70 % of Pakistan’s exports are directly and indirectly from Agriculture. Wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and rice are its most essential crops, ranking in the top ten in the world. Its crops account for nearly 75 % of the value of total crop output. Thus, due to the physical location of Pakistan, the nation has been self-sufficient in its food supplement.
3.3-In terms of Security
- One of the nuclear powers of the world
Pakistan is one of the nuclear powers of the world and the only nuclear power of the Muslim world. An armed state with the sixth-most equipped army, the nation has never stopped engaging in peace talks, serving on various security missions, and conducting operations. Its nuclear capabilities have played a vital role in regional stability and security.
- Pakistan’s Role in Counterterrorism Strategies
Since the conflicts between Afghanistan and the US, the emergence of insurgencies in border areas, and conspiracies from India have caused security issues in the nation, Pakistan has still been resilient and determined to fight multiple terrorist groups and counter their missions. Also, the nation has played a significant role in US and Afghan peace talks to maintain security in its border area, Durand line, and the region. Moreover, the nation has firmly aligned itself with the international’ war on terror’.
4-Challenges that Pakistan has faced due to its strategic location
Despite Pakistan’s geo-strategic position in South Asia, the nation has been facing hurdles in maintaining security in the region, securing its economic initiatives, and meeting disastrous climate effects. The following describes the barriers hindering Pakistan’s prosperity.
- Pakistan and Afghanistan Tensions
Despite bestowing common ideology, culture, and religion, Pakistan’s shared border with Afghanistan has caused tussles in the region in the form of refugees’ influx and peace talks with Afghanistan. To illustrate, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees but now facing challenges in managing their presence. Facilitating Afghan refugees has caused security issues, economic shatter, sectarianism and the rise of insurgencies in Balochistan province. Apart from that, Afghanistan, mainly known as the graveyard of empires, has been a hub for extremists, terrorists, and insurgents’ activities, which has been causing insecurities in Balochistan, KPK, and FATA of Pakistan.
- Pakistan and India Tensions
Historically, Pakistan and India have had rival relationships with each other due to their conflicts in the Kashmir dispute. Both nations have fought multiple wars since their inception. India, by taking advantage of Pakistan’s strategic ties with Afghanistan and the US, has been making activities to destabilize and marginalize Pakistan. India’s conspiracy in the region has been a national security concern for Pakistan for decades. On the other hand, the dispute over Indus Water has added fuel to the menace. The construction of dams by India on Pakistani-allocated Rivers could lower the quantity of water in the rivers, compromising human rights to access water.
- Pakistan-Iran Economic Concerns and cross-border tensions
Pakistan and Iran have been holding strategic locations for their shared border, Gold Smith Line, and regional interests. Although regional matters like the Syrian civil war and Saudi-Iran rivalry have impacted Pak-Iran relations, cultural and religious affinities, Shia-Sunni population, and common concerns like economic instability have made the countries bond ties with each other. The countries assembled energy cooperation, such as the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. Unfortunately, progress has been delayed due to the US’s international sanctions on Iran. On the other hand, both nations face challenges in their border due to constant cross-border smuggling and insurgent activities in Balochistan. The surprising missile launch of both countries in each other lands is a prime example of their strategic relationship.
- Internal and External conflicts threatening Pakistan’s regional stability
Unfortunately, Pakistan has been facing troubles and tensions more than reaping the regional benefits internally and externally due to its geo-strategic location. On the internal front, religious and ethnic diversity, extremism, sectarianism, and population growth have hampered the nation’s progress and caused chaos nationwide. On the external front, Pakistan is being influenced by three powers, China, The US, and Russia, who are already in rivalry to make their influence in Central Asia and the Middle East. On the other side, the wars in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria and the Middle East Sectarian divide have made Pakistan a prison to its own geography. The conflict among nations has been threatening Pakistan’s security and stability and making the situation arduous to maintain neutrality in Central Asia and the Middle East.
- Climate effects due to the Geographical Location of Pakistan
Pakistan is located in a geographical region where the temperature increases above its average level, resulting in heatwaves, droughts, river and flash floods, landslides and storms like cyclones. The menace risks the lives of millions of people and the infrastructure of the region and causes detrimental impacts on the Agriculture sector, which contributes a critical factor in the economy of Pakistan. As reported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIC), in 2022, over 33 million Pakistanis have been displaced due to floods, having increased due to climate change.
- Energy Insecurity in Pakistan
Pakistan relies significantly on its non-renewable resources and cannot pace with rising energy demand. Non-renewable energy consumption and dependency on oil have been making the nation reliant on energy-rich countries for its future energy necessities, such as gas and oil. The crisis has become a barrier to economic stability and foreign policy in Pakistan as the nation is forced to cut off multiple industries due to insufficient energy resources. According to the Asian Development Bank, the country imports nearly a third of its energy resources from oil, coal, and natural gas (LNG), which is not sustainable for Pakistan.
5-Possible Measures that Pakistan can take to meet challenges
Albeit due to the advantages of the geo-strategic location of Pakistan, the nation has an opportunity in the form of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and its transit routes to different countries to enhance its economic stability. Still, the nation needs pragmatic measures to safeguard its regional security, stability, and policies. For this purpose, the nation should focus on its foreign policy to pave the way for its overall national interests through enhancing its engagement with the international community and alliances with major powers, as only a proactive and pragmatic foreign policy can result in more significant dividends. To illustrate, Pakistan needs tranquillity and a peace process within its concerned borders, which should be done on a reciprocal basis and with a comprehensive solution. Conversely, Pakistan should focus on its narrow relations with the US and build ties with it. As experiencing havoc due to war and conflicts with India and Afghanistan in the region, respectively, Pakistan should now avoid any military solution and focus on political solutions through stakeholders. On the internal front, Pakistan should make comprehensive initiatives to strengthen its political affairs, industrial and agricultural sectors, hydropower energy security, and federal and provincial stabilities to meet overall challenges.
6-Conclusion
Pakistan is important in South Asia due to its proximity to Central Asia, South Asia, Middle-East and the Arabian Sea. Its regional significance has grabbed the attention of major powers like the US, Russia, and emerging power China for decades. Through CPEC projects, China made a bilateral brotherly relationship with Pakistan and sought access to the deep, warm water of the Arabian Sea through Gwadar port. The US needed Pakistan’s coordination and cooperation to counter terrorist activities and safeguard its say in the region. Furthermore, providing the shortest transition and sea trade routes to access the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf made the region’s nations seek relations with Pakistan. Despite the significant advantages, the country has faced heterogeneous internal and external challenges, including security issues from rival neighbours India and Afghanistan, the emergence of insurgents, economic instability, energy insecurities, climate effects, and significant regional tensions. Thus, it is time for Pakistan to move forward and navigate these challenges by concentrating its national interests in foreign policy and stabilizing geo-economic and geo-political affairs.
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