Pakistan’s Foreign Policy towards Muslim States

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Seeking good relations with the Muslim countries is the primary objectives of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy. Pakistan is formed in the name of Islam as the core of its ideology, from the day of inception, Pakistan is ambitious to develop friendly ties with all the Muslim states in the world. The 1st constituent assembly of Pakistan emphasized Islamic credentials in the Objective Resolution that passed in 1949, this document is called Magna Carta in the constitutional history of Pakistan. Islam was re-established with the country the first constitution announced in 1956, which declared Pakistan a Muslim state. Instead, Pakistan plans for Islam to relinquish its identity and protect its interests, most importantly the National integrity of the new country in its hostile territory, India, and Afghanistan. This ambition to establish a pan-Islamic bloc began immediately with a meta-Islamic plan to break all ideological barriers between Islamic regions. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is acclaimed to be the architect of Pakistan’s close relations with the Muslim states specifically with Arab states of West Asia that have continued to prosper after his removal from power. Pakistan has always sought to balance its relations with all the Muslim particularly Gulf countries that have the capital credential of owing huge oil wealth. Pakistan is strategically located on the geopolitical juncture between the capricious West, South, and Central Asia that further elevated its neutral position as a non-Arab Muslim state to initiate a unity drive. Pakistan has taken its independence as a result and stimulus for the resurgence of Muslims throughout the Muslim world. As a result, shortly after its independence, Pakistan remained a vocal and enthusiastic diplomat of the genocide of Palestine, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco. “The scramble for Pakistan vested the future state with both colonial-era social structure and intermediaries’ powers, and Islamic universalism. “In early 1949, the Iranian asked Pakistan’s government for a “friendship treaty”, a request which Pakistan was fervent to comply with but unsure how to proceed Ultimately, Pakistan and Iran concluded a friendship treaty, and eventually, the Shah of Iran visited Pakistan. But Pakistan’s wishes to cement its ties with the Arab world were shattered. The whole region was preparing for the rehabilitation that followed the second world war and was shaking muscles to cope with the cold war. But Pakistan’s close alliance with the Western Bloc to overcome its defensive needs has destroyed any opportunity to meet Muslim regions in the Middle East. Leaving aside the thorny issues, like, disputes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Nasser’s Egyptian republic and Arab’s Monarchs, Arab and non-Arab Muslim states, and last but not the least, Turkey’s current relationship with Arab’s countries under the shadow of its Ottoman past. These were the futile attempts from Pakistan, to formulate a bridge to the gap between trans-Islamic states, combined perspectives on different international issues, and to formalize a collective mouthpiece of contemporary pan-Islamism. But this effort ultimately ended in a coalescent rhetorical group on Islamic and international matters. The overall outcome was very dismal due to many reasons. The ambivalent positions of Pakistan and the Middle Eastern Muslim states on Islamic universalism and territorial centralization were the major hindrances for any combined efforts. Again, the reconciliation between pan-Islamism and national aspirations was impossible. Many Muslim leaders from the Arab world came forward to renounce pan-Islamism. 1956 marked the end of Pakistan’s euphemism and activism on the part of its association with the Middle Eastern Muslim countries. Throughout the history, whenever there is a problem in the Muslim World the people of Pakistan have always stood by them and supported them in all respects therefore the govt of Pakistan has always been doing the same thing because this is enjoined on the government from the constitution and this is also part of Pakistan’s political heritage, this also fits in Pakistani identity derived from and based on Islam that it must reflect these values in its foreign policy.

To sum up, the basic objective of Pakistan’s foreign policy is the security of Pakistan’s idealogy, the pursuit of Islam and the building of brotherhood among the Muslim nation. Pakistan not only strives to build better relations with Muslim countries but whenever there is a risk of conflict between Muslim countries, Pakistan also makes every effort to reconcile. Historically Pakistan is part of central Asia. Any political or regional change taking place in Asian Muslim countries and Central Asian countries affects Pakistan. It is, therefore, important that Pakistan build strong economic, social and political ties with Central Asian countries. Pakistan is not only a bridge between the Muslim and Asian Muslim countries but also has its own impact and importance as a nuclear power in the world. That is why it is called the Muslim stronghold in the Muslim world. Pakistan has played a significant role from the past until now in the unity and development of the Islamic world. Pakistan has always played an important role in the Muslim nation and the political, social and economic progress regardless of Islamic countries in Central Asia or Europe and Africa. That is why Pakistan’s efforts are visible and given a significant value to the nations of the world.

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