Foreign Policy of Pakistan and

Relations with the United States

Pak Affairs Lectures 5 & 6

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 “Verily, after every hardship there is
relief”

The Holy Quran

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 Syllabus Break Up
1
Political System and its problems
2
3
Economy system and its problems
4
5
Foreign policy of Pakistan and Relations with the US
6
7 Geo-strategic challenges, Security Challenges, Hybrid Warfare, Pakistan and the region
8 Pak India relations
9 Water Crisis, Climate Change
10 Energy crisis
11 CPEC and OBOR, SCO and Pak, National Interest of Pakistan
12 National Integration, Provincial Autonomy
13 History Pre 1857 reformers and militant movements
14 Educational reforms of late 19th Century
15 Muslim League, Lukhnow, Tehrik Khilafat, Simon-Commission to 14 Points
16 1935 Act and Congress Ministries, Cabinet Plan, Radcliffe Award, Initial Problems
 Relevant Topics in Course
Outline
CSS PMS
III. Pakistan and Changing Regional c. Pakistan and the changing regional
Apparatus scenario.
i. Pakistan and important global issues,
IX. Pakistan’s Role in the Region including Palestine, growing extremism
and militancy, war on terror etc.
XIII. Pakistan and US War on Terror l. Foreign Policy of Pakistan, Pakistan & its
Neighbors, Super Powers, the Islamic
XIV. Foreign Policy of Pakistan Post 9/11 Block and the European Union.

Topics covered in this lecture appear in Red

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 Objective

By the end of this lecture, aspirants should be able to tackle any

question pertaining to the Foreign Policy of Pakistan, its challenges and
their solutions, and also with Pak US relations history and future

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 Contents of the Lecture
1. History of Pakistan Foreign Policy
2. Determinants of Foreign Policy of Pakistan
1. Neighbors of Pakistan
2. Other International Players that matter to Pakistan
3. Global Power Dynamics
4. Other Determinants
3. Relations with the US
i. 1947 to 2001
ii. 2001 to 2021
4. Challenges for Foreign Policy makers post US withdrawal from Afghanistan
5. Policy Recommendations
 DEFINITION OF FOREIGN POLICY

• Foreign policy is the mechanism national governments use to guide

their diplomatic interactions and relationships with other countries. A
state's foreign policy reflects its values and goals, and helps drive its
political and economic aims in the global arena.

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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
1. Exploration and friendship with all (1947-53)

i. Joining UN
ii. Policy of cordial relations with all
iii. Initial security issues with India and Afghanistan
iv. Initial Military and Financial aid requirements
v. Global politics – US and USSR

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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
2. Alignment with the West (1953-62)
i. Push towards US
ii. South East Asia treaty Organization (SEATO) 1954 –
Members (Australia, France, new Zealand, Great
Britain, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, US)
iii. CENTO: 1955 (Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey and Iran)
iv. Defense cooperation

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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
Cost of Alignment with the West

i. Foreign policy independence compromised

ii. USSR became hostile
iii. Developing Countries were alienated.
iv. Suez Canal Crisis – Pakistan’s demeanour
alienated Muslim countries

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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
3. Transition (1962-71)
i. U2 plane incident and USSR
ii. US dependence on Pak air bases declined
iii. US support to India
iv. USA military sanctions post 1965 war
v. Improving ties with China
vi. Improving ties with USSR
vii. USSR antagonized towards the end of the period
and resulting veto to ceasefire resolution in 1971
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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
4. Bilateralism and Non Alignment (1971-80)
i. Independent approach.
ii. Exit from SEATO and commonwealth in 1972
(commonwealth rejoined in 1989) and from CENTO
in 1979.
iii. Improved relations with India and Bangladesh
iv. OIC conference in Lahore in 1974.
v. Nuclear Program - US antagonized
vi. Joined nonaligned movement in 1979.
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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
5. Afghanistan Partnership With US (1980-88)
i. Aid and assistance
ii. US ignored Nuclear program.
iii. US in 1990 re-imposed sanctions on Pakistan
6. Post war era (1988-2001)
iv. Matters of concern for the US
v. Pakistan’s strategic depth doctrine
vi. Rapprochement with India and subsequent Kargil War
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 History of Foreign Policy of
Pakistan
7. Counterterrorism Era (2001)
i. Regained relevance for the US
ii. Threats to Nuclear security and mounting US pressure
iii. Ups and Downs in relations with India
iv. Cost of alignment with US – Iran and Afghanistan
relations compromised, US drone attacks etc.
v. Increased cooperation with China and Russia

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 Determinants of Foreign Policy of Pakistan

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 Neighbors of Pakistan

 India
 China
 Afghanistan
 Iran

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 Other relevant International
Players
 Powerful Countries:
US, China, Russia
 Other Trade Partners / Donors:
KSA, UAE
 International Bodies:
UN, IMF

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 Global Power Dynamics

 US - China Cold War

 Iran - KSA rivalry

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 Other Determinants

 Ideology
 History
 Domestic Politics
 Security
 Economic Compulsions

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 Relations with The US

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 1947 to 2001

 Alignment (1953 to 1962)

US containment policy and SEATO and CENTO
 Distance (1962 to 1980)
US supports India, Pak moves towards Non-alignments and
multilateralism
 Alignment (1980 to 1988)
Afghan Jihad
 Distance and outcomes (1988 to 2001)
Sanctions, Nuclear Tests
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 2001 to 2021

1. 9/11
2. Pak takes a U-Turn on Afghan Policy
3. War on Terror
4. Spill overs in Pakistan
5. US cooperation with Pak
6. US blames for playing a double game
7. Containing China policy continues
8. US exits in a hurry

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 Challenges for Foreign Policy makers post US
withdrawal from Afghanistan

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 Present Challenges
1. Balancing to avoid block politics
2. Depleting Sovereignty and pursuing national interest
3. Managing Kabul
4. Managing negative propaganda of India
5. Projecting nefarious designs of India in Hybrid Warfare
6. Gaining support of friendly courtiers to come out of economic
crisis

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 Policy Recommendations

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 Policy Recommendations
1. Pakistan should cultivate relations with all.
2. Doesn’t favor one at the cost of another. A good example was
when in 2015 Pakistan did not get involved in Yemen crises on
the request of Saudi Arabia.
3. Self-reliance. By ignoring international pressure and
developing nuclear weapons, Pakistan has secured its defenses.
Before that it has relied on US for Protection and was
disappointed. Same should be done in matters of economy.
4. By strengthening economy, decreasing reliance on US, IMF,
donors Arab countries, etc. We can pursue independent foreign
policy.
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 Relevant Past Paper Questions

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 Relevant Past Paper Questions
CSS Pak Affairs
2018: Discuss the changing trends in Pakistan-US relations since 2001.
2022: Every state designs its foreign policy on its National interests
rejecting feelings and emotions. Why did Pakistan prefer emotions,
feelings, and ideology in its foreign policy? Also, analyze its impact.
2022: Why did Pakistan join Western Defense Pacts? What cost does it
have to pay for that? Explain.

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 Thanks

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