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Pakistan relations with other countries

Article · September 2020

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Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in terms of population (after
Indonesia), and its status as a declared nuclear power, being the only Islamic
nation to have that status, plays a part in its international role. Pakistan is also an
important member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Pakistan is an active member of the United Nations. Historically, its foreign policy
has encompassed difficult relations with the Republic of India; especially on the
core-issue of Kashmir, over which it has fought two wars. However it has had long-
standing close relations with its other neighbors Afghanistan, Iran and China,
extensive security and economic interests in the Persian Gulf and wide-ranging
bilateral relations with the United States and other Western countries.

Wary of Soviet expansion, Pakistan had strong relations with both the United States
of America and the People's Republic of China during much of the Cold War. Today,
the two countries remain Pakistan's closest allies.

It was a member of the CENTO and SEATO military alliances. Its alliance with the
United States was especially close after the Soviets invaded the neighboring
country of Afghanistan. In 1964, Pakistan signed the Regional Cooperation for
Development (RCD) Pact with Turkey and Iran, when all three countries were
closely allied with the U.S., and as neighbors of the Soviet Union, wary of perceived
Soviet expansionism. To this day, Pakistan has a close relationship with Turkey.
RCD became defunct after the Iranian Revolution, and a Pakistani-Turkish initiative
led to the founding of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in 1985. For
several years prior to the staged November 2008 Mumbai attacks, Pakistan's
relations with India had been gradually improving, which opened up Pakistan's
foreign policy to issues beyond security. An increasingly important actor on the
world scene, Pakistan formed the "Friend of Pakistan" group which includes
important countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the
United Nations and European Union

Since independence, relations between Pakistan and India have been characterized
by rivalry and suspicion. Although many issues divide the two countries, the most
sensitive one since independence has been the status of Kashmir.
Roots of Conflict
At the time of independence and the departure of the British from South Asia, the
princely state of Kashmir, though ruled by a Hindu Maharajah, had a majority
Muslim population. At first, the Maharajah hesitated in acceding to either Pakistan
or India in 1947, but when tribesmen armed by Pakistan with the overt support of
regular troops began invading occupied Kashmir, the Hindu Maharajah had no
option other than to call upon India to repel the invasion and annexed the territory.
Following the invasion, the Maharajah offered his allegiance to India. Pakistani
troops still continue to occupy the Northern and Western portion of Kashmir
referred to as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (P.O.K.) in India and Azad Kashmir in
Pakistan. India and Pakistan agreed with UN resolutions which called for a UN-
supervised plebiscite to determine the future of Kashmir. But Pakistan has refused
to remove their troops from Pakistan occupied Kashmir and have thereby frustrated
carrying out the plebiscite.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

Full-scale hostilities erupted in September 1965 when Pakistan attacked India
forcing India to attack Lahore in retaliation. Hostilities ceased three weeks later,
following mediation efforts by the UN and interested countries at a time Lahore, one
of the most important cities in Pakistan was on the brink of falling to the Indian
Army. In January 1966, Indian and Pakistani representatives met in Tashkent, and
agreed to attempt a peaceful settlement of Kashmir and their other differences.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan Air Force carried out bombing
raids on different airfields in India. India was thus drawn into the civil war between
the East Pakistanis of Bengal and the Pakistanis of the West, and started helping
anti-Government rebels to liberate East Pakistan to form Bangladesh. The war
ended in a humiliating defeat for Pakistan in which 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were
taken prisoner by India. Large parts of Pakistani territory were also captured by
India. Pakistan President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
met in the mountain town of Shimla, India in July 1972 for the Shimla Accords.
India magnanimously agreed to return the large swathes of Pakistani territory
captured by India and repatriate the 90,000 captured Pakistani prisoners of war.
They agreed to a "Line of Control" (ceasefire line) in Kashmir resulting from the
December 17, 1971 cease-fire, and endorsed the principle of settlement of bilateral
disputes through peaceful means. In 1974, Pakistan and India agreed to resume
postal and telecommunications linkages, and to enact measures to facilitate travel.
Trade and diplomatic relations were restored in 1976 after a hiatus of five years.

Nuclear Arm Race

India's nuclear test in 1974 generated great uncertainty in Pakistan and is generally
acknowledged to have been the impetus for Pakistan's nuclear weapons
development program. In 1983, the Pakistani and Indian governments accused
each other of aiding separatists in their respective countries, i.e., Sikhs in India's
Punjab state and Sindhis in Pakistan's Sindh province. Tensions diminished after
Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in November 1984 and after a group of Sikh
hijackers were brought to trial by Pakistan in March 1985. In December 1985,
President Zia and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi pledged not to attack each other's
nuclear facilities. A formal "no attack" agreement was signed in January 1991. In
1986, the Indian and Pakistani governments began high-level talks to resolve the
Siachen Glacier border dispute and to improve trade.

Indo-Pakistani Cold War

Bilateral tensions increased in early 1990, when Kashmiri separatists from Pakistan
occupied Kashmir backed by the Pakistan's ISI perpetrated violence in Indian
Kashmir. Subsequent high-level bilateral meetings relieved the tensions between
Pakistan and India, but relations worsened again after terrorist bombings in
Bombay, in March 1993. Talks between the Foreign Secretaries of both countries in
January 1994 resulted in deadlock.

Improvement in Relations
In the late 1990s, the Indo-Pakistani relationship veered sharply between
rapprochement and conflict. After taking office in February 1997, Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif moved to resume an official dialogue with India. A number of
meetings at the foreign secretary and Prime Ministerial level took place, with
positive atmospherics but little concrete progress. The relationship improved
markedly when Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee traveled to Lahore for a
summit with Sharif in February 1999. There was considerable hope that the
meeting could lead to a breakthrough. However Pakistan surreptitiously occupied
certain border areas forces in Kashmir. By early summer, serious fighting flared up
in the Kargil sector. The fighting lasted about a month till the Pakistani forces were
driven out of the areas that had been surreptitiously occupied by them.

Relations between India and Pakistan continued to be strained when Pervez

Musharraf came to power on October 12, 1999 Pakistani coup d'état. India alleged
that Pakistan provided monetary and material support to Kashmiri militants, a
charge which Pakistan has always denied even in the face of direct and
insurmountable evidence.

War on Terror
In 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, the United States formed an alliance with
Pakistan in its War on Terror to use its air bases for operations against Afghanistan
and preferring to confer on Pakistan the title of Major Non-Nato Ally. However, as
Musharraf would later reveal in his book In the Line of Fire, Pakistan was coerced in
joining the coalition against Taliban in Afghanistan. According to Mussarraf, Richard
Armitage, then the Deputy Secretary of State, threatened to bomb Pakistan back to
stone age if it did not join the war on teror.[9]

Musharraf dropped his insistence that no issues could be discussed until the
Kashmir issue was fully solved. Bilateral meetings between the two sides resulted in
new people-to-people contacts. Air services and cricket matches were restored.
Trains started plying between Sindh and Rajasthan. Bans on Indian movies and TV
channels were eased in Pakistan.

Transport links across the Line of Control in Kashmir were reopened. More
importantly the intelligence services and armies of the two countries started to
cooperate in identifying terrorists who threatened attacks. On June 20, 2004, both
countries agreed to extend a nuclear testing ban and to set up a hotline between
their foreign secretaries aimed at preventing misunderstandings that might lead to
a nuclear war. In 2007 the two countries agreed to start flights between their
capitals. Legal trade between the countries reached 2 billion dollars. After the
Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, the already fragile relations have once again
worsened.

United States of America

President of the United States George W. Bush with President of Pakistan Pervez
Musharraf at the Aiwan-e-Sadar, Islamabad during March 2006
The Consulate-General of Pakistan in Houston is Pakistan's diplomatic station in
unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United StatesHistorically, no ally of the United
States has faced as many sanctions from the US as Pakistan.[citation needed] The
United States established diplomatic relations with Pakistan in 1947 with the
appointment of the first Ambassador, Paul H. Alling, on September 20, 1947.[5]
Since the Eisenhower administration, however, Pakistan and the US began
developing more cozy relations. The American agreement to provide economic and
military assistance to Pakistan and the latter's partnership in the Baghdad Pact,
CENTO and SEATO strengthened relations between the two nations. At the time, its
relationship with the U.S. was so close and friendly that it was called the United
States' "most-allied ally" in Asia.[6] Pakistanis felt betrayed and ill-compensated for
the risks incurred in supporting the U.S. - after the U-2 Crisis of 1960, Soviet leader
Nikita Khrushchev had threatened the nuclear annihilation of Pakistani cities. The
U.S. suspension of military assistance during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war generated
a widespread feeling in Pakistan that the United States was not a reliable ally. Even
though the United States suspended military assistance to both countries involved
in the conflict, the suspension of aid affected Pakistan much more severely.
Gradually, relations improved and arms sales were renewed in 1975. Then, in April
1979, the United States cut off economic assistance to Pakistan, except food
assistance, as required under the Symington Amendment to the U.S. Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, due to concerns about Pakistan's nuclear program.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 highlighted the common

interest of Pakistan and the United States in peace and stability in South Asia. In
1981, the United States and Pakistan agreed on a $3.2-billion military and
economic assistance program aimed at helping Pakistan deal with the heightened
threat to security in the region and its economic development needs. With U.S.
assistance - in the largest covert operation in history - Pakistan armed and supplied
anti-Soviet fighters in Afghanistan, eventually defeating the Soviets, who withdrew
in 1988.
Recognizing national security concerns and accepting Pakistan's assurances that it
did not intend to construct a nuclear weapon, Congress waived restrictions
(Symington Amendment) on military assistance to Pakistan. In March 1986, the two
countries agreed on a second multi-year (FY 1988-93) $4-billion economic
development and security assistance program. On October 1, 1990, however, the
United States suspended all military assistance and new economic aid to Pakistan
under the Pressler amendment, which required that the President certify annually
that Pakistan "does not possess a nuclear explosive device."

Under intense pressure from U.S., Pakistan moved reluctantly to ally itself with the
United States in its war against Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. It provided the
U.S. a number of military airports and bases, for its attack on Afghanistan. In
subsequent military operations, Pakistan has reportedly arrested and killed several
hundred Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives.[7] Since this strategic re-alignment
towards U.S. policy, economic and military assistance has been flowing from the
U.S. to Pakistan and sanctions have been lifted. In the three years before the
attacks of September 11, Pakistan received approximately $9 million in American
military aid. In the three years after, the number increased to $4.2 billion.[8] In
June 2004, President Bush designated Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally, making
it eligible, among other things, to purchase advanced American military technology.
In May, 2006, The Bush administration announced a major sale of missiles to
Pakistan, valued at $370 Million USD

Iran was the first nation to recognize Pakistan. Since then, Pakistan has had close
geopolitical and cultural-religious linkages with Iran. Relations between the two
countries have existed since ancient times when the Pakistani region was part of
the large Persian Empire. Persian is still considered the cultural language of
Pakistan and most of Pakistan's national anthem is written in that language. Persian
was the lingua franca of India up to 1843 before the British abolished its use in
favour of Urdu and English. Relations between Iran and Pakistan peaked in the 60's
and 70's under the Shah with considerable joint ventures and assistance provided
by Iran to Pakistan. Iran is also a popular tourist spot for Pakistan's Muslims,
notably its Shia population which represents about 20% of Pakistan population of
170 million people. Low period have occurred, however, strains in the relationship
appeared in the 1980s, when Pakistan and Iran supported opposing factions in the
Afghan conflict. Also, some Pakistanis suspect Iranian support for the sectarian
violence which has plagued Pakistan. Furthermore, many Pakistani's were
disappointed when much of Iran's nuclear research was stated as having originated
from Pakistan, this despite the fact that Iran's nuclear program was started some
20 years before that of Pakistan's. Nevertheless, Pakistan pursues an active
diplomatic relationship with Iran, including recent overtures to seek a negotiated
settlement between Afghanistan's warring factions. Pakistan also supports Iran's
use of Nuclear Technology for peaceful purposes. Both countries are endeavering to
improve and strengthen bilateral trade and commerce between them. On January
27, 2006, Pakistan, Iran, and India agreed to start work on IPI gasline which
Pakistan needs to shrink the gap of Demand and supply of energy in Pakistan to
maintain economic growth. India has consistently stalled the talks asking for more
time under the duress of the United States, but Pakistan and Iran have agreed to
go ahead with the project even if India doesn't participate thus highlighting the two
countries commitment to the project. Relations, however, once again have become
strained over the ongoing Afghan conflict. The Afghan Republic has consistently
accused Pakistan's intelligence of supporting insurgents and contributing to an
unstable Afghanistan. President Ahmadinejad vowed on an official visit to Kabul to
stand by its cultural traditional neighbor at "all times, even when facing confusion
from neighbors", referring to his support for Afghanistan over Pakistan in the many
border skirmishes and diplomatic upheaval. Iran's president has also accused
Pakistani agents of masterminding the suicide bombing in south-east of the country
targeting a group of the elite Revolutionary Guards force. The attack which has
been blamed on the Sunni resistance group, Jundullah claimed forty two lives

Palestinian Territories
Main article: Pakistan–Palestine relations
Relations between Pakistanis and Palestinians are considered to be very close and
warm as Islamabad advocates for an independent Palestinian state and an end to
the on-going illegal[3][4] Israeli occupation of its territories. As its official stance
that it does not consider to recognise the so-called State of Zionist regime, which is
advocated for a two state solution as the best solution to the conflict and if it was
acceptable to the plan by its own peoples of that country. Pakistan is one of the 100
countries to recognise Palestine as a Nation-state since the Palestinian Declaration
of Independence on November 15, 1988

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Main article: Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has helped Pakistan in many fields since Pakistan gained
independence in 1947. Since the inception of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has provided
Pakistan with assistance in the form of fuel credit, fuel donation, loans, aid,
donations, and gifts. Most famous example of Saudi Arabia's relationship with
Pakistan is the Faisal Mosque, the National Mosque of the country in Islamabad,
Pakistan. More recently, Saudi Arabia has given Pakistan hundreds of millions of
dollars as a donation for the 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan. In fact, the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia was the number one donor, having contributed $600 million.
Pakistan shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan (also called the Durand
Line). The border is poorly marked. The problem is exacerbated by cultural, historical,
linguistic, ethnic and political ties crossing close relations between peoples who live on both
sides of the border. This is further complicated by the fact that many of the Pashtun
tribes on both sides of the border are often married and refuse to recognize it much
to the frustration of both the Afghan government and the Pakistani government.

Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Pakistani Government

played a vital role in supporting the Afghan resistance and assisting refugees.
Social and health indicators dropped considerably during this period as Polio and
Tuberculosis, previously eradicated from the country, were re-introduced and the
country became awash with drugs, weapons, prostitution rings and increased
incidences of crime and violence. After the Soviet withdrawal in February 1989,
Pakistan, with cooperation from the world community, continued to provide
extensive support for displaced Afghans. In 1999, the United States provided
approximately $70 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Afghan
refugees in Pakistan, mainly through multilateral organizations and NGOs.

Pakistani strategists view Afghanistan in a fraternal matter and vice versa, despite
the support of anti-Pakistani elements in recent history; this has led Pakistani
analysts to hope that Afghanistan could provide "strategic depth" in the event of a
war with neighboring India. For this reason Pakistan strives to have friendly
relations with Afghanistan. Furthermore, many Pakistanis saw in Afghanistan and
Afghans a common bond based on religion, history, culture, language and ethnic
ties. At various times, Pakistan has backed the mujahideen factions as suited its
interests, against its perceived enemies.

In the 1950s, there were suggestions of a possible formation of a confederation

between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a move supported by Zahir Shah, the Afghan
king along the lines of the original Afghan Empire founded by Ahmed Shah Abdali.
Many Afghans and Pakistanis want to see improved relations which they feel are a
necessity for both countries to fulfill their destiny, often what one country lacks, the
other has an excess of. Scholars point out that it is not an issue of if the two
countries unite, but rather of when they unite as both countries have historically
always worked together and been a single political entity.

The overthrow of the Taliban Regime in November 2001 has seen strained relations
between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

People's Republic of China–Pakistan relationsbegan in 1950 when Pakistan was

among the first countries to break relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan
and recognize the PRC. Following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, both countries has
placed considerable importance on the maintenance of a extremely close and
supportive relationship. Since then, the two countries have regularly exchanged
high-level visits resulting in a variety of agreements. The PRC has provided
economic, military and technical assistance to Pakistan and each considers the
other a close strategic ally.

Bilateral relations have evolved from an initial Chinese policy of neutrality to a

partnership that links a smaller but militarily powerful Pakistan, partially dependent
on China for its economic and military strength, with China attempting to balance
competing interests in the region. Diplomatic relations were established in 1950,
military assistance began in 1966, a strategic alliance was formed in 1972 and
economic co-operation began in 1979. China has become Pakistan’s largest
sup¬plier of arms and its third-largest trad¬ing partner. Recently, both nations
have decided to cooperate in improving
Pakistan's civilian nuclear program.

Favorable relations with China is a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy. China

supported Pakistan's opposition to the Soviet Union's intervention in Afghanistan
and is perceived by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to India and the United
States. China and Pakistan also share close military relations, with China supplying
a range of modern armaments to the Pakistani defense forces. China supports
Pakistan's stance onKashmir while Pakistan supports China on the issues of
Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan. Lately, military cooperation has deepened with joint
projects producing armaments ranging from fighter jets to guided missile frigates.

Chinese cooperation with Pakistan has reached economic high points, with
substantial Chinese investment in Pakistani infrastructural expansion including the
Pakistani deep water port at Gwadar. Both countries have an ongoing free trade
agreement. Pakistan has served as China's main bridge between Muslim countries.
Pakistan also played an important role in bridging the communication gap between
China andthe West by facilitating the 1972 Nixon visit to China.

Background

Pakistan has a long and symbiotic relationship with China. The long-standing ties
between the two countries have been mutually supportive. A close identity of views
and mutual interests remain the hallmark of bilateral ties. Since the 1962 Sino-
Indian War, Pakistan has supported China on most issues of importance to the
latter, especially those related to the question of China's sovereignty like Taiwan,
Xinjiang, andTibet and other sensitive issues such as human rights.

The Chinese leadership has acknowledged Pakistan's steadfast support on key

issues. Pakistan helped China in reestablishing formal ties with the West, where
they helped make possible the 1972 Nixon visit to China. Pakistan has collaborated
with China in extensive military and economic projects, seeing China as a
counterweight to India and the United States. Pakistan has also served as a conduit
for China's influence in the Muslim world. China also has a consistent record of
supporting Pakistan in regional issues. During the Pakistan-Indian tensions in 2008,
it implied that it would support Pakistan in the event of a war. Pakistan's military
depends heavily on Chinese armaments, and joint projects of both economic and
militaristic importance are ongoing. China has supplied equipment to support
Pakistan's nuclear program, and has been accused of giving nuclear technology to
Pakistan.
Military relations

The People's Republic of China enjoys strong defense ties with Pakistan. This
relationship between two adjoining Asian countries is important in the world's geo-
strategic alliances. The strong defense ties are primarily to counter regional Indian
and American influence, and was also to repel Soviet influence in the area. In
recent years this relationship has strengthened through ongoing defence projects
and agreements between Pakistan and China.
Since 1962, China has been a steady source of military equipment to the Pakistani
Army, helping establish munition factories, providing technological assistance and
modernizing existing facilities. The countries are involved in the joint venture of
several projects to enhance military and weaponry systems, which include
collaborating in the development of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, K-8 Karakorum
advance training aircraft, space technology, AWACS systems, Al-Khalid tanks and
the Babur cruise missile. The armies have a schedule for organising joint military
exercises.

China is the largest investor in the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, which is strategically
located at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. It is viewed warily by both America
and India as a possible launchpad for Chinese naval operations in the Indian Ocean.
However the Gwadar Port is currently delayed due to a multilateral diplomatic
standoff between the project leaders and the Singapore government.China has
offered Pakistan military aid in order to fight against terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistan
has purchased military equipment from China in order to bolster their efforts
against Islamic militants.

In the past, China has played a major role in the development of Pakistan's nuclear
infrastructure, especially when increasingly stringent export controls in Western
countries made it difficult for Pakistan to acquire materials and uranium enriching
equipment from elsewhere. China has supplied Pakistan with equipment to advance
their nuclear weapons program, such as the Chinese help in building the Khushab
reactor, which plays a key role in Pakistan's production of plutonium. A subsidiary
of the China National Nuclear Corporation contributed in Pakistan's efforts to
expand its uranium enrichment capabilities by providing 5,000 custom made ring
magnets, which are a key component of the bearings that facilitate the high-speed
rotation of centrifuges. China has also provided technical and material support in
the completion of the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex and plutonium reprocessing
facility, which was built in the mid 1990s. China may also have supplied nuclear
technology to the Pakistanis, enabling Pakistan to become a nuclear state with an
estimated 100 warheads as of 2011.

Economic relations
 Economic trade between Pakistan and China are increasing at a rapid pace and a
free trade agreement has recently been signed. Military and technological
transactions continue to dominate the economic relationship between the two
nations, although in recent years China has pledged to vastly increase their
investment in Pakistan's economy and infrastructure. Among other things, China
has been helping to develop Pakistan's infrastructure through the building of power
plants, roads and communication nodes.

Both countries are keen on strengthening the economic ties between the two, and
have promised to 'propel' cross-border trade. This has led to investment in
Pakistan's nascent financial and energy sectors, amidst a surge of Chinese
investment designed to strengthen ties. Pakistan has in turn been granted free
trade zones in China. The economic relationship between Pakistan and China is
composed primarily of Chinese investment in Pakistani interests. China's increasing
economic clout has enabled a wide variety of projects to be sponsored in Pakistan
through Chinese credit. Pakistani investment in China is also encouraged, and
cross-border trade remains fluid.

Views

The support with which China and Pakistan give each other is considered important
in global diplomacy, and has been compared to Israel – United States relations.
According to a Pew survey of Pakistan public opinion last year, 84 percent of
respondents said they had a favorable view of China and 16 percent had a
favorable view of the United States. These results showed that Pakistan is the most
pro-China country in the world. Similarly, the Chinese state-run media has
portrayed Pakistan in a favorable light in regional issues.

Pakistan and China have long praised the close ties the two countries have with
each other. China has been referred to by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as
their "time-tested and all-weather friend", while in return Chinese president Hu
Jintao has referred to Pakistan as "a good friend and partner".These statements are
noted by some observers as occurring after Pakistani relations with the United
States or India have become strained, such as after Osama Bin Laden was killed by
American forces without Pakistan's prior permission.

relations.

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