CSS Pakistan Affairs | Role of Role does Pakistan’s Islamic Identity
The following question of CSS Pakistan Affairs is solved by Malik Hassanullah under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. He 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- Historical overview of the Islamic identity of Pakistan
3-The Founding Father’s Vision and Pakistan’s foreign policy
4-What role does Pakistan’s Islamic identity play in its interactions with other Muslim-majority
countries?
- ✓Promotion of the sense of solidarity and brotherhood with Muslim-majority countries
- ✓Cooperation in defence and security with other Muslim-majority countries
- ✓Economic cooperation with Muslim-majority countries
5-Pakistan stance on key international issues
- ✓ Palestine-Israel issue
- ✓Kashmir issue
- ✓ Regional security issues
6- Critical analysis
7- Conclusion

Answer to the Question
Introduction
A country named Pakistan gained independence from Britain, on 14th August 1947, and emerged on the world map after a long struggle by the Muslims of the subcontinent for a separate Muslim homeland on the basis of Islamic Ideology. So in the pre-independence era, this Islamic Ideology became a core principle in determining Pakistan’s close relations with the Muslim-majority countries and giving it a Muslim identity. Furthermore, after the independence due to this Islamic ideology Pakistan tried to establish cordial relations with the Muslim world, which was also the vision of its founding fathers. Therefore, its Islamic identity played a crucial role in its interactions with other Muslim-majority countries. Moreover, this interaction has also established Pakistan’s stance on international issues in favor of Muslim-majority countries.
Historical overview of the Islamic identity of Pakistan
If we search for the question of how Islamic identity got associated with Pakistan, then we have to turn the pages of history back to the 19th and 20th century, when the Muslims of the subcontinent were suffering under British rule. Along with this, the fear of being dominated by the Hindu majority under a democratic system had also threatened Muslims about their religion as they had already experienced the Hindus dominating and hurting them during the Congress ministries from 1937 to 1939. This uncertainty and threatening situation compelled the Muslims of the subcontinent to start a struggle for a separate homeland for themselves, where they could live and practice their religion freely. So the movement for a separate homeland was started on the basis of Islamic ideology, and a resolution for a separate homeland for the Muslims of India was adopted and passed at Minto Park Lahore in 1949, also known as the Pakistan Resolution. Moreover, for the first time from the Muslim League forum Muslims were declared as a separate nation, and consequently succeeded in acquiring a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent. All this struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent was based on the Islamic ideology which resulted in Pakistan becoming the identity of Islam.
The founding father’s vision of Pakistan’s foreign policy
The father of a nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan’s foreign policy toward Muslim countries was to promote unity, solidarity, and cooperation among Muslim nations. He believed in having friendly relations with all nations of the world, but to have cordial relations with the Muslim countries. In addition to Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and a close ally of Jinnah, also outlined clearly the relationship between Islam and foreign policy, the crux of his vision was that Pakistan is itself the product of an Islamic ideology, therefore, our cordial feature of this ideology is to make the Muslim brotherhood a living reality by promoting close fellowship and cooperation between Muslim countries.
What Role does Pakistan’s Islamic Identity Play in its Interactions with other Muslim-majority Countries
Pakistan’s Islamic identity plays a very important role in its interactions with other Muslim majority countries. This role is mentioned in the upcoming paragraphs.
- Promotion of a sense of solidarity and brotherhood with Muslim majority countries
Pakistan’s Islamic identity plays a pivoted role in promoting a sense of solidarity and brotherhood
with Muslim majority countries, as the world’s second-largest Muslim majority nation, Pakistan’s
commitment towards Islamic principles and values creates a strong bond with Muslim countries,
the shared and common Islamic heritage fosters a sense of solidarity and brotherhood enabling
Pakistan to build strong diplomatic and strategic ties with the Muslim majority countries, through
participating in organizations like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Pakistan promotes
solidarity and cooperation among Muslim countries by addressing common challenges and
advancing shared interest, so due to Pakistan’s Islamic identity, this solidarity and brotherhood is
promoted among Muslim majority countries by it.
- Cooperation in defense and security with other Muslim majority countries
Pakistan’s Islamic identity significantly influences its interactions and cooperation in defense and security with Muslim majority countries. As a Muslim majority country, Pakistan plays its role in protecting and advancing the collective interest of the Muslim Ummah. Moreover, this shared commonality between Pakistan and other Muslim countries enables Pakistan to engage in defense collaboration with other Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, and many other countries. Pakistan is also providing its security and defense services for the Islamic military alliances formed in December 2015, Pakistan exchanges military expertise, conducts joint exercises, and participates in counter-terrorism efforts with other Muslim countries. These initiatives highlight Pakistan’s defense and security partnership with Muslim-majority countries, which enhances regional stability and promotes a common united front against common threats.
- Economic cooperation with Muslim majority countries
As a Muslim majority nation, Pakistan shares common values and principles with other Muslim countries, facilitating economic collaboration. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) provide a platform to Pakistan to participate and engage in promoting trade, economic cooperation, and investments. Furthermore, Pakistan’s participation in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) also strengthened Pakistan’s economic ties with Turkey, Iran, and Central Asian Republics. This economic cooperation with Muslim majority countries due to Pakistan’s Islamic identity tapped Pakistan into the vast economic potential of the Muslim world.
What Role does Pakistan’s Islamic Identity Play in its stance on key international issues
Pakistan has always voiced for Muslim countries on key international issues. I will discuss Pakistan’s stance on these international issues in the next headings
- Palestine- Israel issue
From the very first day, Pakistan had never accepted Israel and had always condemned the illegal occupation of the Palestinian homeland by Israel. This stance of Pakistan is very old before its inception. At that time Muslims of the subcontinent had also condemned this illegal occupation. The Muslim League, under which the Pakistan movement was started, had passed numerous resolutions in support of the Palestinian cause. Because of this historical background and Pakistan’s Islamic identity, it has never recognized Israel. Furthermore, Pakistan highlights on every forum the inhuman attitude of Israel, and its genocide of Palestinian people, and supports the one-state solution for the Palestine issue.
- Kashmir Issue
Kashmir has always remained a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since the partition of both countries. Pakistan views Kashmir as its integral part and considers the 1947 occupation of Kashmir by India was illegal and forceful, done without the consent of the Kashmiri people. This issue has always remained a core determinant of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Moreover, Pakistan has always raised its voice to support the Kashmiri Muslim Brotherhood at the UN and other world forums. Pakistan has rejected India’s revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A from its constitution unilaterally, which ended the special status of Kashmir. Furthermore, Pakistan has consistently advocated for the resolution of the Kashmir issue through a plebiscite, as outlined in the United Nations (UN) resolutions.
- Regional security issues, particularly of Afghanistan
Pakistan stands on regional security issues, particularly Afghanistan, which has always remained
its priority to establish peace in this region. Pakistan’s primary concerns in Afghanistan include
the presence of terrorist groups such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which have found safe
havens in Afghan territory. Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan government to take
decisive action against these groups. In addition to this, Pakistan has always been actively
engaged in efforts to promote economic development and regional connectivity in Afghanistan,
of which Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (TAPI) gas line project and Central Asia-
South Asia (CASA-1000) a regional energy project are prominent example, by which the long-
standing security issues intensity can be countered and these issues can be resolved.
Critical Analysis
Pakistan’s Islamic identity plays a vital role in shaping its foreign policy and interactions with
Muslim-majority countries. However, this identity also poses challenges, such as balancing
relations with non-Muslim countries and promoting extremism, and radicalization in the society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pakistan’s Islamic identity is the most important aspect of its national identity and
foreign policy. It promotes solidarity, cooperation, and economic collaboration with Muslim-
majority countries, while also influencing its stance on key international issues.

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