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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

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PAKISTAN LOCATION

• Pakistan is located in South Asia and is at the junction of Central Asia and Middle
East,and west Asia which gives its location great significance. Pakistan's total land
border is 6,774 kilometres long and it borders four countries. Pakistan borders India in
the east, Afghanistan and Iran in the west and China is situated at the northeast. While
surrounded by land from three sides, the Arabian Sea lies in the south. Here we will focus
on Pakistan's international borders and some interesting facts about them.

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DEMOGRAPHICS

• Total area Pakistan is 796096 sq km.

• Population: 212.2 million (2018)

• Population growth rate: 2.1% annual change (2018)

• Pakistan is the world's fifth-most-populous country and 36th largest in terms of area.
During 1950–2012, Pakistan's urban population expanded over sevenfold, while the total
population increased by over fourfold.

• Literacy rate :59%

• Life expectancy: 66.95 years (2017)

• Official languages: Urdu, English

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PAKISTAN - CHINA

• The border between Pakistan and China is nearly 523 kilometres long and is situated in
the northeast of Pakistan. A number of agreements took place between 1961 and 1965 in which
the borderline was determined between the two countries. The famous agreement called the
Sino-Pakistan Agreement or the Sino-Pakistan Frontier Agreement, was passed in 1963 between
Pakistan and China, according to which both countries agreed on the border between them.

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PAKISTAN - INDIA

• The Radcliffe Line became the official border between Pakistan and India on August 17,
1947. As the border was established by Sir Cyril Radcliffe — the chairman of the
IndoPakistan Boundary Commission — therefore it was named after him. The Pakistan-India
border is almost 2,912 kilometres long.

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PAKISTAN - TAJIKSTAN

• Pakistan is connected with central Asian state ,Tajikstan, via a small territory of
Afghanistan named as WAKHAN .
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PAKISTAN - IRAN

• The border between Pakistan and Iran is also called the Pakistan-Iran Barrier and is 909
kilometres long.

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THE ARABIAN SEA

•The Arabian Sea is located south of Pakistan with a coastline of 1,046-kilometres.

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PAKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN

• The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is called as the Durand Line and is 2,430
kilometres long. The border came into existence in November 1893 after an agreement between
Afghanistan and the British Empire. The Durand Line got its name from Sir Mortimer Durand,
who was the foreign secretary of the British India.

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PAKISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA

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TRADITIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

• Traditionally, Pakistan’s geographical importance has been defined in following ways;

• Pakistan’s North Western Border can be used as an access to the Central Asian Republics
rich in natural resources. It’s a narrow strip of Afghan Territory between Tajikistan and
Pakistan which if used as a transit route can benefit all the countries in trade.

• Pakistan’s South Western Border with Iran is of great significance in a trade with this
oil-rich country.

• Eastern Border of Pakistan with India has been quite less utilized than the potential it
carries. This can be a free trade route with India if the major conflicts between both the
states are resolved.

• Northern Border of Pakistan with China provides another important route for access of
Chinese products in Pakistan.

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MODERN GEOGRAPHICAL IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

• Though the geography of the country is same, the interpretations of interests linked with
it have improved a bit with the changing regional and international dynamics. This can be
evaluated under the following new heads:

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CHINA - PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC)
• The $46 billion ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’ scheme, which is being demonstrated as
a ‘Game-Changer’ is more than a network of roads to link Chinese city of Kashgar with the
Gulf States via Gwadar of Pakistan. CPEC is a complete package of energy projects and trade
opportunities for Pakistan. It is the most cherished fruit of Pakistan’s geographical
importance the country ever had. However, some credit also goes to the foreign policy
makers of Pakistan who always kept into considerations the SinoPak mutual interests.

• In the wake of CPEC, China is going to have the shortest route-access ever available to
the Middle Eastern, African, and European markets. For Pakistan, it might be a new gain but
to China, this access is a link to it long term strategic plan to take over US control in
the said regions.

• Gwadar port is the nearest warm-water port to energy-rich Central Asian Countries. Bought
from Oman in 1958, Gwadar has been developed into a warm-water seaport which now operated
by a Chinese company named ‘China Overseas Port Holding Company’ under a 43 years agreed
lease. The port is the soul of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Being the nearest deep-sea
port to the landlocked Central Asian Republics, Gwadar is another manifestation of
Pakistan’s geographical importance.

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THE PERSIAN GULF AND PARS GAS FIELD

• Pakistan’s Gwadar Port provides access to the ‘Gulf of Oman’ which extends via ‘Strait of
Hormuz’ to form the ‘Persian Gulf’. This gulf is surrounded by Iran, UAE, Saudi Araba,
Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq. Access to the Persian Gulf via Gwadar port means access to
all these countries most of which are rich in energy resources. The Persian Gulf also has
the world’s largest natural gas reservoir ‘Pars Gas Field’ shared by Iran and Qatar.
Pakistan’s geographic importance increases due to its proximity to such mega-fields of
natural resources when the country has been suffering from energy starvation for long
periods of time.

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TURKMENISTAN - AFGHANISTAN - PAKISTAN - INDIA PIPELINE (TAPI)

• The Asian Development Bank’s funded project of TAPI is the name of a gas pipeline which
aims to supply natural gas from the Caspian Sea to the four countries mentioned above.
Pakistan due to its geographical nearness to this Central Asian Republic is seeking benefit
from the project. It also reflects the dependence of India on Pakistan for having access to
the natural resources of Central Asian Republics. The construction of the project commenced
in December 2015, and it will be functional by 2019.

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PAKISTAN - OMAN MARINE BORDER

• Pakistan and Oman settled their maritime under an agreement in 2000; adhering to the
International Law of Sea. This sharing of a maritime boundary with the brotherly country of
Oman can interpret Pakistan’s geographical importance in the sense of access to Oman’s
undersea energy resources. The sea route can also be used to have access to the Persian
Gulf and its littoral states.