CSS 2024 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | Ways for Pakistan after Saudia and Iran Mediation
The following question of CSS Current Affairs 2024 is solved by Sir Ammar Hashmi, the best Current Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is 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.
Question Breakdown
The first part of the question highlights the significance of two Muslim countries, Iran and Saudi Arabia; the second part asks how to maintain friendly relations with these countries, keeping in mind the rapprochement deal done by China.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-A cursory glance at Pakistan’s foreign policy
3-Importance of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Pakistan’s foreign policy
- Case in point: religious bonding, cultural bonding, prospects for trade, gas pipeline, geopolitical prospects in world politics.
4-Prospects for Pakistan to maintain friendly relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, especially after the mediation of China between the two countries
- ✓ The volume of trade can be enhanced with both countries.
- Evidence: Report of OEC World; $507m Pakistan exported to Saudi Arabia in 2022 compared to $401m in 2017.
- ✓ Pakistan can utilize SCO to enhance security and cooperation by using good relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
- Evidence: Iran is a permanent member of SCO, and Saudi Arabia is a dialogue partner; both have a stronghold in the body.
- ✓ Pakistan can now eliminate the pressure to choose one; equal relations with both countries are achievable.
- Evidence: In the recent past, Saudi Arabia used to put pressure on Pakistan diplomatically to curtain relations with Iran due to their rivalry (PIDE report, 2023)
- ✓ The Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline can be completed on an immediate basis with the support of Saudi Arabia diplomatically and economically.
- Evidence: Saudi Arabia can minimize America’s pressure on Pakistan due to the US’s reliance on its oil.
- ✓ Iran and Pakistan are both part of BRI, and they can engage Saudi Arabia in it for more significant and common benefits.
- Evidence: China aims to integrate Saudi Vision 2030 into its BRI project (Council of Foreign Relations CoFR)
- ✓ Pakistan, by using these relations, can minimize sectarian issues between Shia and Sunni.
- Evidence: According to the report of Dawn, Iran was supporting Shia groups in Balochistan near its border.
- ✓ Pakistan can make a compatible energy route from South Asia to the Middle East and Central Asia.
- Evidence: Iran’s share of energy, specifically oil reserves, comprised 24% of the Middle East’s total reserves. (US Energy Information Administration report)
5-Critical Analysis
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
In his first speech on foreign policy, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, reiterated that Pakistan would have friendly relations with all countries; specifically, he emphasized Muslim countries. Besides, Iran and Saudi Arabia are the two most important countries in world politics due to their geography and geopolitical dynamics in the region. Both countries have been rivals for many decades, but last year, the role of China in peace talks between the two countries opened the box of prospects for bilateral engagements and peace in the region. In this context, this is a win-win situation for Pakistan, which has been facing issues in maintaining equal friendly relations with both countries due to their proxy wars. Pakistan has a bundle of opportunities to maintain and bolster friendly ties with these countries and get maximum economic, diplomatic, and world political benefits. The prospects for Pakistan include utilizing SCO, energy corridors, maximizing trade volume, and eliminating sectarian issues. Moreover, the pressure on both countries was nullified after the deal, which provided a way to cash the agreement and form unbreakable relations. Besides, the BRI and Iran-Pakistan gas pipelines are also plausible opportunities to maintain good relations with both countries, and they will make Pakistan prosperous in many domains. Hence, the rapprochement of Iran and Saudi Arabia is a ray of hope for Pakistan and would ensure reasonable equal relations.
A cursory glance at Pakistan’s foreign policy
Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on friendly relations with all countries except Israel. Moreover, the state was formed in the name of Islam; thereby, its relations with all Muslim states portrayed a strong bond based on the common religion. Besides,its foreign policy towards Muslim countries is an optimal mix of religious solidarity, strategic interest, and geostrategic imperatives. Undergirded by its Islamic identity, Pakistan builds ties of economic and military cooperation with nations like Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It does an uneasy balancing act with Iran amidst regional tensions between Sunni and Shia interests, while Pakistan frequently mediates in Muslim-majority conflicts to exploit its diplomatic leverage. The policy is also partly shaped by broader regional dynamics; hence, relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran are significant for Pakistan in many domains.
Importance of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Pakistan’s foreign policy
Given Pakistan’s complex international, regional and local challenges, Saudi Arabia and Iran are pivotal. Saudi Arabia gives Pakistan crucial financial support, energy resources and military cooperation, which benefits economic stability and security. Even though Iran has a delicate security situation, its proximity and practical power are essential for Pakistan’s regional security regarding border defence and general stability. Economic cooperation, especially in the realm of energy, is also necessary. Balancing relations with both countries helps Pakistan effectively master local conditions and regional dynamics so that its security interests are safeguarded amid difficult international or domestic circumstances. After the mediation between both countries, they became more important for Pakistan in the region and world politics.
Prospects for Pakistan to maintain friendly relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, especially after the mediation of China between the two countries
- The volume of trade can be enhanced with both countries.
The trade volume with Iran and Saudi Arabia can be increased through trilateral engagement in the regions. Many exports were halted due to the rivalry between these countries; however, there is an excellent prospect for Pakistan to use good relations with these countries to find diversified market trends and opportunities. For example, Saudi Arabia has great potential in facilitating Pakistani exports. A report from OEC World disclosed that $507 million of Pakistani products were exported to Saudi Arabia in 2022, compared to $401 million in 2017. Hence, the trade volume can be increased after the rapprochement.
- Pakistan can utilize SCO to enhance security and cooperation by using good relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia.
After the rapprochement, Pakistan can cooperate in safety and security at the world level by mutually beneficially working with Iran and Saudi Arabia under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). With more active involvement in the SCO, Pakistan can use its links to these important Muslim countries to create an atmosphere of regional stability and security based on cooperation. Its strategic location and Saudi Arabia’s money power have the potential to push back the initiatives of separatist movements and other threats to regions under the SCO umbrella. This cooperation may also attract investment and trade deals and build infrastructure projects that help secure the country’s military position while refining regional structures within SCO.
- Pakistan can now eliminate the pressure to choose one; equal relations with both countries are achievable.
After the rapprochement deal, Pakistan is now more flexible in formulating its foreign policy, relieving the dampness of either siding with Saudi Arabia or Iran. In wanting to be on good terms with both countries, Pakistan stands to gain from Saudi Arabia’s economic and military assistance as well as energy and political clout from Iran. This model enables Pakistan to augment its security architecture and economic development and remain non-involved in Middle Eastern politics. Through such diplomacy, Pakistan can pursue its interests without compromising security and optimize its strategic and economic interests in a changing geopolitical environment.
- The Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline can be completed immediately with Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic and economic support.
In this regard, it is argued that Saudi influence can promptly help complete the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline through political and economic support. Saudi Arabia’s power and financial resources will resolve the existing hostile and logistical inter-state problems, improving the ease with which negotiations and execution of the project will take place. In this regard, Pakistan can use the diplomacy and sabres of Saudi Arabia’s economy to expedite the proceedings of the pipeline project, which guarantees that gas from Iran will be available. This not only helps to alleviate the prevailing energy situation in Pakistan but also promotes the relations among the three countries for the better development of the region.
- Iran and Pakistan are both part of BRI, and they can engage Saudi Arabia in it for greater and common benefit.
Iran and Pakistan are part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). They Can collaborate strategically with Saudi Arabia to promote regional cooperation and reap mutual advantages by including Saudi Arabia. They are known for its financial resources and investment abilities. The BRI initiatives in both Iran and Pakistan can receive added support and momentum. Saudi Arabia’s involvement could speed up infrastructure growth, enhance trade networks, and strengthen regional connectivity. By working in this manner, it is possible to establish a cohesive economic region that will bring advantages to all three countries by boosting trade and investment prospects and enhancing stability in the region while strengthening their strategic alliances within the BRI framework. Lastly, China wants BRI to engage with Saudi Vision 2030; therefore, Pakistan can enhance its relationship with side-by-side economic benefits.
- Pakistan, by using these relations, can minimize sectarian issues between Shia and Sunni.
By utilizing its connections with Saudi Arabia and Iran, Pakistan can play a role in reducing tensions between Shia and Sunni groups. Diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia and Iran enables Pakistan to facilitate discussions and collaboration between these two predominant factions, tackling issues and encouraging empathy. The significant influence of Saudi Arabia on the sphere and Iran’s position within the Shia community offers Pakistan a distinctive chance to mediate conflicts and establish connections. It is because, according to the Dawn report, Iran has been supporting Shia groups in Balochistan, which are hostile. Still, this rounded strategy can contribute to fostering a peaceful home atmosphere and decreasing religious conflicts while enhancing the country’s cohesion through the advocacy of inclusive measures and conversations across different faiths.
- Pakistan can make a compatible energy route from South Asia to the Middle East and Central Asia.
Pakistan can leverage its strategic location and existing relationships to create a coherent energy corridor connecting South Asia with the Middle East and Central Asia. Through infrastructure projects such as the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Saudi Arabia, and possible partnerships with other regional players, Pakistan can build a strong energy corridor in this direction from the Central Asian side of Pakistan towards South Asia and the Middle East. As long as gas oil transportation is efficient and access to other energy sources is easy, According to the US Energy Information Administration, Iran has 24% of energy resources in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia is also one the richest producers of oil reserves; this means, that Pakistan relation with these countries and energy trade can be enhanced easily. Increasing this connectivity can improve regional trade, energy security, and economic growth and strengthen Pakistan’s role as an energy transportation hub.
Critical Analysis
The above discussion portrays a clear image that Pakistan will have enough potential after the rapprochement of Saudi Arabia and Iran to engage with these countries in a friendly manner without the cost to another country; moreover, these affable relations will benefit Pakistan in the domain of fulfilling energy needs, diplomatic support, trade targets, regional support through SCO; Besides, Pakistan’s geopolitical position will improve not only In the region but also in the world due to religious undividable bonding with these countries.
Conclusion
All the above discussion drives the conclusion that Saudi Arabia and Iran are crucial strategic partner countries of Pakistan, which are inevitable for Pakistan to fulfil its needs. Moreover, China’s mediation between these countries has opened the box of opportunities for Pakistan to maintain and enhance good relations by establishing trade relations, minimizing sectarian conflicts, one-side pressure and through firm support in international politics.
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