Chapter 16 - International Relations of Pakistan 

Relation with USA:

• Pak-US relations have been generally successful.

• %%Foundation of Pak-US Relations:%%

  • In 1947, at the time of creation of Pakistan, the USA was engaged in the Cold War, a state of hostility between the USA and the USSR/now Russia.
  • It was busy in the anti-Soviet alliances in various parts of the world.
  • It, therefore, took some years for the USA to recognize the geo-political importance of Pakistan.
  • Pakistan’s Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan changed his plan to visit Moscow, and flew to Washington in 1950.
  • This laid the basis of the Pak-USA relations.

• %%Aids%%%%:%%

  • Throughout the 1950’s Pakistan received military and economic aid from the USA and joined the US-sponsored anti-Soviet/communist regional military blocs of the SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organization) and the CENTO (Central Treaty Organization) to counter the Soviet in the South East Asia and the Middle East, in 1954 and 1955.
  • Under the Mutual Defence Assistance Agreement in May 1954 and some other agreements heavy aid was granted to Pakistan.
  • In the late 1950’s, Ayub Khan allowed the USA to build air bases in Pakistan to conduct espionage on the Soviets.
  • After the 1965 Pak-India war, the US aid was gradually restored but the warmth of relations was visibly reduced.
  • 1979 onwards, there was remarkable improvement in relations after the Soviet attack on Afghanistan.
  • Pakistan assumed great importance for the USA who extended heavy military and economic aid to Pakistan so that it could help the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviets and accommodate millions of Afghan refugees.
  • Zia’s government in 1981, received and aid of $1.6 billion and a further 1.5 billion Pound Sterling loan at low interest rate to buy modern American weapons.
  • In 1986, $4.2 billion military and economic aid was given.
  • Thus, after Israel and Egypt, Pakistan became the 3rd largest recipient of American aid.
  • After the end of the Afghan war, Benazir Bhutto visited the USA in June 1989 to try to improve relations.
  • Nawaz Sharif’s visits to Washington 1991-1992, were attempts to convince the US about the peaceful nuclear program of Pakistan.
  • President Bill Clinton tried to restore relations by opposing the Pressler Amendment that had stopped aid to Pakistan.
  • In January 1995 the Defence Secretary, William Perry visited Pakistan and promised aid.
  • Benazir Bhutto visited the USA in 1996 and, under the Brown Amendment, many sanctions were lifted and a package of $388 million military aid was given to Pakistan.
  • In 1996 Mrs. Hilary Clinton visited Pakistan to further improve relations.

• ==Failures:==

  • 1947-1950 the US attitude was cold towards Pakistan. In the 1962 India-China war, American aid to India disappointed Pakistan.

  • Ayub’s visits to Beijing and Moscow in the 1960’s greatly offended the Americans.

  • In the wars of 1965 and 1971, the US aid to Pakistan was stopped.

  • Pakistan also could not receive any aid from the SEATO and CENTO because they could only help Pakistan in case of attack by a communist state (the USSR).

  • %%Z.A. Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • Z.A. Bhutto’s visible pro-Soviet and pro-China policies also damaged the Pak-USA relations.

  • Despite his visit to Washington in 1972, he could not get any aid.

  • The US also criticized Bhutto’s threat to develop nuclear weapons in 1974.

  • Bhutto blamed the USA for supporting the anti-Bhutto campaign of 1977.

  • %%Zia’s government:%%

  • In Nov. 1979, during Zia’s government, the US Embassy in Islamabad was burned by an angry mob.

  • The US accused Zia of supporting the mob.

  • Under the Geneva Accord of 1988, the USSR agreed to withdraw from Afghanistan.

  • This suddenly reduced Pakistan’s importance for the USA.

  • Under various laws, the US aid was stopped and objections were raised about Pakistan’s nuclear programs.

  • Senator Larry Pressler in 1991 warned Pakistan to take steps against the growth of fundamentalism (extremism in Muslims).

  • In 1996, the US objected to China’s plan to supply M-11 missiles to Pakistan.

  • In the late 1990’s, the issue of Taliban and Nawaz Sharif’s refusal to hand over Usama bin Laden to the USA damaged the relations.

  • In May 1998, Pakistan’s nuclear blasts shocked the USA and all aid was stopped to Pakistan.

Relation with USSR/Soviet Union:

• %%Foundation of Pak-USSR Relations:%%

  • Pakistan tried to establish good relations with the USSR after gaining independence though circumstances proved otherwise.
  • The USSR being very close to Pakistan’s neighbourhood via Afghanistan, first established the diplomatic relations in May 1948.
  • It invited PM Liaqat Ali Khan to visit Moscow, and Liaqat was about to leave for Moscow when he received another invitation from Washington.

• %%Ayub Khan’s Government:%%

  • In 1961 Soviets offered oil exploration in Pakistan after the 1960 U-2 incident.
  • Soviets had captured the American spy plane U-2 that had been launched from Peshawar.
  • Moreover, in the 1962 Sino-India/China-India war the USA extended aid to India against China without informing Pakistan.
  • For these reasons Ayub Khan decided to improve relations with the USSR.
  • In 1963 Soviet Union extended a loan of 11 million Sterling Pounds to Pakistan.
  • In 1963, it changed its previous policy of supporting India and adopted a neutral stance over the Kashmir issue.
  • In April 1965 Ayub paid an official visit to the USSR and signed a number of agreements on trade and oil explorations.
  • After the end of the 1965 war, the Soviet Union mediated between Pakistan and India to reach a peace agreement.
  • Accordingly, the Tashkent Accord was signed in January 1966.
  • The Pakistani government admired the Soviet efforts in this regard.
  • In 1968 when the Americans decided to close their airbase at Peshawar, the USSR began to supply arms to Pakistan.
  • Thus Pakistan became a unique country by receiving trilateral aid from the USA, the USSR and China.

• %%Z.A. Bhutto‘s Government:%%

  • Z.A. Bhutto had communist and socialist views. He was able to improve relations with the USSR significantly.
  • In 1972, he visited Moscow and persuaded the Soviets to help Pakistan build a steel mill near Karachi, the PSM (Pakistan Steel Mill).
  • Relations remained friendly till the fall of Z.A.Bhutto 1977.

• After the Geneva Accord of 1988 the Soviet army began to leave Afghanistan.

• After 2-3 years, the USSR became the Russian Federation.

• %%Exchange of Visits:%%

  • The Russian Vice President Mr. Rutskoy visited Islamabad in 1991 to start friendly relations with Pakistan.
  • Russia needed Pakistan’s help to restore peace in Afghanistan.
  • Then in 1993 Mr. A.V. Kozyrev, another important official visited Pakistan.
  • In April 1999 Nawaz Sharif visited Moscow and in return a Russian delegation visited Islamabad.
  • In June 1999 the Russian President Boris Yelstin appealed to India and Pakistan to end the Kargil conflict.

• ==Failures:==

  • %%Liaqat’s Visit to Washington:%%
  • In 1950, Liaqat’s decision to visit Washington instead of Moscow, disappointed the USSR.
  • In retaliation, the USSR continued to support India on the Kashmir issue in the 1950’s.
  • During the same time period, Pakistan further displeased the Soviets by joining the US-sponsored military blocs of the SEATO and CENTO.
  • India as a result began to receive Soviet aid. Pakistan rejected the Soviet offer of oil exploration in 1956.
  • %%U-2 Incident:%%
  • In 1959-60, the Soviets captured the American spy plane U-2 and found out that it had been launched from Peshawar airbase.
  • The Soviet President issued a serious threat to Pakistan.
  • %%Diplomatic Relations:%%
  • It was also unhappy over Pakistan’s involvement in the US-China diplomatic relations in 1970-71.
  • It signed an agreement with India and kept China from helping Pakistan in the 1971 war.
  • December 1979 onwards relations with the USSR remained strained due to Pakistan’s direct involvement in the Afghan war.
  • %%General Zia’s Government:%%
  • Pakistan’s ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) was accused of training and arming the Afghan Mujahideen with the help of the USA.
  • Therefore, General Zia was received in a cold way when he visited Moscow in 1984 to attend the funeral of the Russian President Andropov.
  • Pakistan also boycotted the Moscow Olympics 1980.
  • After the breakup of the USSR, there was no remarkable improvement in relations.
  • Russia was unhappy over Pakistan’s support for some groups of the Afghan Mujahideen in the 1990’s.
  • India was given several Russian-manufactured Mirage- 2000 aircrafts that India used during the Kargil conflict.
  • Russia also objected to Pakistan’s nuclear policy and the nuclear blasts of May 1998.

Relations with Great Britain and Commonwealth:

• %%Foundation of Pak-British Relations:%%

  • Pakistan maintained good relations with Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
  • After independence in 1947, the British provided Jinnah with help at the top levels of both the military and the civil service.
  • There were many senior British officers like General Douglas Gracy in the Pakistan army to train them along modern lines.
  • It also gave financial and technical aid and advice to cope with the difficulties.

• %%Commonwealth:%%

  • Pakistan chose to remain a member of the Commonwealth as it was now a British dominion (being independent but recognizing the British Emperor as technical head of state).
  • In a Commonwealth meeting in 1950 in Colombo, the Colombo Plan was set up to extend aid to Pakistan.
  • It also provided one million Sterling Pounds for the Sui gas project.
  • Canada gave $ 40 million for the development of railways.

• %%Ghulam Muhammad’s Government:%%

  • In 1954-55 Pakistan and Britain agreed to work together as members of SEATO and CENTO.

• %%Aids:%%

  • Britain played key role in ending the 1965 war.
  • Then during the Afghanistan crisis, Britain supported Pakistan.
  • British PM Mrs. Margaret Thatcher was the first Western leader to visit Pakistan in 1981 during the Afghan war.
  • An aid of 30 million Sterling Pounds was given to Pakistan to accommodate the Afghan refugees.
  • Another aid of 16 million Sterling Pounds was given to help refugees in Balochistan and KPK.
  • During the 1980’s Britain remained a major trading partner of Pakistan, with an estimated 376 million Sterling Pounds worth a trade between the two countries by 1986.

• %%Benazir Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • Benazir Bhutto rejoined the Commonwealth in 1989 as the military rule of Zia had ended in 1988.
  • In the 1990’s both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif continued to pay visits to Great Britain to strengthen mutual relations.
  • Pakistan has been an active participant in the Commonwealth Games.
  • The Queen of England visited Pakistan on 14th August 1997 to attend the Golden Jubilee ceremony of the creation of Pakistan.
  • She was accorded very warm welcome.
  • Presence of a sizeable Pakistani population in England has also played an important role in improving the relations.
  • Some of these Pakistanis managed to get elected in the British Parliament.

• ==Failures:==

  • Many Pakistani army officers were not happy with the British officers in their ranks and some of them unsuccessfully tried a military coup in 1951.
  • Pakistani government also had reservations about the Radcliffe Award as some Muslim majority districts in Punjab had been given to India.
  • British failure to resolve the Kashmir dispute was also a setback for the relations.
  • In 1956, the British attack on the Suez Canal in Egypt was criticized by Pakistan.
  • Relations were also affected when Pakistan could not receive any aid from SEATO and CENTO in the wars of 1965 and 1971.
  • When Great Britain recognized the Republic of Bangladesh, Pakistan left SEATO and the Commonwealth.
  • %%Z.A. Bhutto:%%
  • Z.A. Bhutto’s inclination towards the communist and socialist states of the USSR and China was not liked by Great Britain.
  • When death sentence was awarded to Bhutto, Britain did not pressurize Zia for an amnesty to Bhutto though Bhutto expected this from his friend Mr. James Callaghan, the British Foreign Minister.
  • In the 1990’s, Great Britain, like the USA continued to express its concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear program.
  • When Pakistan conducted nuclear blasts in May 1998, Britain and the Commonwealth stopped aid to Pakistan.

Relations with China:

• Pakistan-China relations have been quite successful.

• %%Communist Regime%%

  • Pakistan recognized the post- revolution communist regime under Mao Zedong in January 1950.
  • It supported China’s membership of the UN in 1952.

• %%Border Dispute%%

  • In the 1950’s there was no major breakthrough in relations but in March 1962, Pakistan and china began to settle the border dispute on the GB-Tibet border.
  • China made many concessions in the border dispute in order to win Pakistan’s support to counter declining relations with India and the USSR.
  • The issue was fully settled by March 1963.

• %%Aids and trades:%%

  • The 1962 Sino-India/China- India war came as a blessing in disguise for Pakistan.
  • China began to extend heavy aid to Pakistan.
  • In 1963, a series of trade agreements were signed and a $60 million interest free loan was given to Pakistan.
  • China soon became the largest importer of raw cotton from Pakistan and promised to help Pakistan in any war with India.
  • In August 1963 the PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) began regular flights to China in order to improve cultural and trade relations.

• %%Support during Wars:%%

  • In 1964 China declared its support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and in return, Pakistan supported China’s entry to the UN Security Council much to the displeasure of the USA who was supporting Taiwan (non-communist breakaway from China) as the legitimate ruler of China.
  • During the 1965 Pak-India war, China applied diplomatic pressure on India and extended moral and military aid to Pakistan including the T-59 tanks.
  • Though unable to help Pakistan in the 1971 war, China resumed support for Pakistan.
  • In February 1972, Z.A.Bhutto visited China and sought heavy military and economic aid.
  • Pakistan built the HMC (Heavy Mechanical Complex) in Taxila with the Chinese assistance.

• %%Zia’s Government:%%

  • During Zia’s regime the old Silk Route was remodeled as the KKH (Karakoram Highway) in 1978.
  • Then in 1986 Zia visited China and signed a nuclear co-operation treaty with the Chinese government.

• %%Benazir Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • Pakistan offered help to China in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
  • In November 1989, Chinese PM Peng’s visit to Pakistan further strengthened the relations.

• %%Nawaz Sharif’s Government:%%

  • During the first tenure of Nawaz Sharif as PM of Pakistan, he visited China in February, 1991 and in the October 1991 Chinese President Mr. Shangkun visited Pakistan.
  • In the 1990’s China provided technical and material support for the completion of the 300 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Complex and the plutonium reprocessing facility.
  • Both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif paid successful visits to China and convinced China to invest in the Gawadar development project and other similar schemes.

• ==Failures:==

  • Throughout the 1950’s there was no progress in improving relations.
  • Pakistan was busy in solving its own problems and, therefore, could not realize the importance of such a major neighbouring country.
  • There was a continuous delay in initiating the talks for the border dispute and that increased Pakistan’s concerns.
  • In 1959 Pakistan voted against China’s membership of the UNO and condemned the military action in Tibet, though China did not react angrily.
  • China could not help Pakistan in the 1971 war because of the Agreement of Peace, Co-operation and Friendship between India and the USSR.
  • This agreement contained a threat to a country helping any state against India in a war.
  • In the 1990’s, the Cold War had ended and the USSR had broken up into independent states.
  • In this changing scenario China tried to improve relations with India and other states.
  • However, there was little progress in India-China relations.

Relations with India:

• %%Foundation of Pak-India Relations:%%

  • Pakistan has not been very successful in its relations with India as there have been fewer successes and several failures.
  • In 1948, Indian Pakistan successfully drew a border between the East Pakistan and Assam.
  • The same year, both countries agreed on a ceasefire on the influence of the UN after the first war on Kashmir.
  • A temporary borderline, the LOC (Line of Control) was accepted by both countries.

• %%Liaqat’s Government:%%

  • In 1950 the Minorities Agreement/the Liaqat-Nehru Pact was signed in which both countries agreed to stop the movement of minorities across the border and encourage them to stay back in their homelands.
  • In the 1950’s, Jawahar Lal Nehru promised to hold a plebiscite in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir in order to resolve this conflict between the two states.

• In September 1960, the %%Indus Water Treaty%% was signed to resolve the issue of the canal waters that had originated with the partition of the Punjab in 1947.

• Both countries accepted the mediatory role of the USSR for a peace agreement after the 1965 war.

  • Accordingly, the Tashkent Accord was signed in the Soviet city of Tashkent.

• %%Z.A Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • Z.A. Bhutto visited New Delhi and persuaded the Indian PM Mrs. Indra Gandhi to strike a peace deal about the release of more than 90,000 POWs (Prisoners of War) that had been in the Indian custody after the fall of East Pakistan on 16 December 1971.
  • Both PM’s signed the Simla Agreement in July 1972 and agreed to resolve all bilateral issues without involving a third party (the UNO etc.).
  • All the Pakistani POWs were released gradually.

• %%General Zia’s Government:%%

  • In 1984, Gen. Zia visited India to attend the funeral ceremony of the Indian PM Mrs. Indira Gandhi who had been shot dead by her Sikh bodyguard.

  • After the formation of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) both countries got a common platform to work for the promotion of peace.

  • In the late 1980’s, Gen. Zia was able to defuse hostility between the two states by using his “Cricket Diplomacy”.

  • Both countries had to major conflicts in those years: the Siachen Glacier and the Khalistan issues.

  • Zia would pay a surprise visit to India on the pretext of watching a Pak-India ODI (One Day International) cricket match between the two teams.

  • He would thus persuade the Indian PM Mr. Rajiv Gandhi to hold peace talks.

  • This way Zia was able to prevent a fourth Indo-Pak war.

• %%Benazir Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • Benazir Bhutto was enthusiastic in improving relations with India.
  • She used the platform of the SAARC and the Commonwealth for this.
  • Pakistan rejoined the Commonwealth in 1989 after India had stopped opposing Pakistan’s re-entry on the ground of military rule in Pakistan.
  • Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto exchanged visits to Islamabad and Delhi and pledged to promote peace between the two most important South Asian countries.
  • Both also organized the SAF (South Asian Federation) games and the SAARC cultural exchange programs.

• %%Nawaz Sharif’s Government:%%

  • Similarly, Nawaz Sharif also continued the efforts of promoting peace and reducing hostility.
  • The Lahore Accord was signed between Mr. Sharif and the Indian PM Mr. Vajpayee in 1998 and a bus service was started between Pakistan and India.

• ==Failures:==

  • %%Problems for newly created Pakistan:%%

  • The Indian government had not acknowledged the creation of Pakistan and created serious difficulties for the newly created state.

  • Millions of Muslims were forced to migrate to Pakistan. India delayed the release of financial and military assets to Pakistan and closed the two headworks in Indian Punjab to create serious shortage of water for Pakistan.

  • The issue persisted throughout the 1950’s.

  • %%Wars:%%

  • Both countries had their first war on Kashmir in 1948 as a result of which the state of Kashmir was divided into the IHK (Indian Held Kashmir) and the Azad Kashmir.

    • India never fulfilled the promise of holding a plebiscite/referendum in the disputed state of Kashmir and that aggravated hostility between the two countries.

  • The second war on Kashmir was fought in September 1965 in which neither country was successful.

    • Ayub had expected a massive Kashmiri uprising but it did not happen.
    • The Indians had planned to occupy Lahore but that dream too was shattered.

  • The third Indo-Pak war was fought in December 1971 in the East Pakistan.

    • The Indian army had been training and equipping the militant Bengali separatists, the Mukti Bahini (the liberation force) and therefore, the Pakistan army failed to get the local support and lost the War.
    • More than 90,000 Pakistani officers and soldiers became Indian captives.

  • %%Simla Accord:%%

  • Only two years after the signing of the Simla Accord, India conducted its nuclear experimentation in the Rajasthan desert in 1974.

  • The Pakistani PM Mr. Z.A.Bhutto threatened to retaliate, and the relations began to deteriorate.

  • %%General Zia’s Government:%%

  • In the 1980’s, Pakistan detected the presence of the Indian army on the Siachin Glacier and this led to a series of small skirmishes though the war was never declared.

  • Similarly, in the early 1980’s the Indian Sikhs started the Khalistan Movement demanding the separation of the Indian Punjab as an independent state.

    • The Indian army was used to suppress the movement and the Zia’s government was accused of supporting and training the Sikhs.

  • When Mrs. Indra Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguard, her son Rajiv Gandhi blamed Pakistan for this, and he received Gen. Zia without any warmth on his visit to India for attending the funeral rites of Indira Gandhi.

    • A large scale uprising by the Kashmiri Muslims in 1989 once again worsened the Pak- India relations.
    • The uprising got stronger throughout the 1990’s.

  • %%Nuclear testing:%%

  • In May 1998, both countries blasted nuclear bombs and declared themselves as the nuclear states.

  • This took the disturbed relations to their peak.

  • %%Kargil Conflict:%%

  • Then in April 1999 the Kashmiri Muslim guerrillas crossed the LOC and occupied the towns of Kargil and Drass in the IHK.

  • Pakistan initially showed ignorance about the development but soon it mobilized its army in the region.

  • The Indian army launched a counter attack and finally, in June 1999 Pakistani forces began to withdraw on the pressure of the USA.

Relations with Afghanistan:

• %%Foundation of Pak-Afghan Relations:%%

  • Pakistan tried to improve relations with Afghanistan right from the beginning.
  • Mr. Jinnah ordered the removal of troops from the old British military posts along Pak- Afghan border.
  • He hoped that Afghanistan would see this as a move of friendship and trust.
  • He held official talks in Karachi in 1947 to discuss the Pakhtoonistan issue with the Afghan government.
  • In these talks, Pakistan suggested that if Afghanistan dropped the demand for Pakhtoonistan, it might provide Afghanistan access to the Arabian Sea.

• In 1956, %%President Iskandar Mirza%% visited Kabul after an attack on the Pakistan embassy to normalize the relations.

• Afghanistan adopted a neutral stance in the 1965 war despite the Soviet pressure on it to favour India.

• %%Z.A Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • Z.A.Bhutto visited Kabul shortly after his election and convinced the Afghan government to attend the second %%OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference)%% summit in Lahore.
  • He also held talks with the Afghan head Sardar Daud and granted Afghan traders access to India through Pakistan.
  • An agreement was also signed, called the %%ATTA (Afghan Transit Trade Agreement).%%
  • Pakistan also extended aid after an earthquake in Afghanistan in 1976.
  • The same year Bhutto and Sardar Daud exchanged visits to Kabul and Islamabad.
  • Several rounds of talks were held with the help of the Shah of Iran who was sincere to promote friendly relations between the two neighbouring states.

• %%General Zia’s Government:%%

  • General Zia paid a visit to Kabul in 1977 after which Sardar Daud visited Islamabad in March 1978 in order to strengthen ties with Pakistan.
  • After this there was a serious political crisis in Afghanistan as a communist government took control.
  • In December 1979, the Soviet forces attacked Afghanistan.
  • Pakistan, with the help of the US aid, helped the Afghan Mujahideen.
  • Pakistan generously accommodated about three million Afghan refugees whose number continued to swell.
  • Mainly by the efforts of General Zia, a peace treaty was signed on 14 April 1988 at Geneva (Switzerland), in a meeting attended by the USA, the USSR, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.
  • Under this the Soviets agreed to gradually pull their forces out of Afghanistan.
  • Pakistan, unfortunately, became isolated after the Geneva Accord but successive governments of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto continued to try to have friendly relations with the post-war Afghan government.

• %%Governments of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto:%%

  • Nawaz Sharif visited Kabul and tried to convince various factions of the Mujahideen to end the civil war in Afghanistan.
  • Accordingly, the six separate factions signed the Islamabad Accord in February 1992.
  • Afghanistan agreed to join the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) alongwith the Central Asian Republics.
  • In May 1992, the Afghan President visited Pakistan and signed important agreements.
  • During Benazir’s second term as PM, there was the rise of the Taliban in 1996.
  • She supported them because they were successfully establishing their rule in several parts of Afghanistan.
  • Her government provided military and financial support to them and even sent a small army unit to help them, though later she admitted her fatal mistake.
  • In May 1997, Nawaz Sharif recognized the Taliban government.

• %%Failures:%%

  • Since 1947, Afghanistan has denied the %%Durand line%% as the natural border with Pakistan.
  • It always claimed that Pashto speaking areas of KPK to be its part to make a distinct area Pakhtoonistan.
  • Afghanistan opposed Pakistan’s membership of the UNO in September 1947.
  • It rejected Pakistan’s offer of granting access to the Arabian Sea if it dropped the demand of Pakhtoonistan.
  • An angry Afghan mob attacked Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul and ransacked it.
  • Pakistan in return closed its border and cut off diplomatic ties for several months.
  • Afghanistan signed an agreement of transit trade with the USSR much to the dismay of Pakistan.
  • It also rejected %%Iskandar Mirza’s%% offers of peaceful relations in 1956 and later, refused to join the RCD in 1964.
  • Instead of supporting the fellow Muslim country, it adopted a neutral stance in the %%1965 Indo-Pak war.%%
  • During the Afghan war the Afghan governments condemned Pakistan’s support for the Afghan Mujahideen.
  • The Afghan war planes bombarded many Pakistani towns in KPK.
  • After the %%Geneva Accord%%, various groups of Mujahideen and governments criticized Pakistan’s involvement in the Afghan affairs.
  • The Rabbani government backed out the Islamabad and the Peshawar Accords and a Pakistani bus was highjacked by an Afghan group.

Relations with Iran:

• %%Foundation of Pak-Iran Relations:%%

  • Both countries have enjoyed good relations.
  • After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Iran was the first country of the world to recognize Pakistan.
  • This laid the foundation of friendly relations. Both countries joined the Baghdad Pact together with the UK.
  • They retained their membership of the Pact after Iraq left it in 1959 and it became known as CENTO.

• %%RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development):%%

  • In July 1964, largely as a result of the efforts of Ayub Khan, the RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development) was founded that comprised Pakistan, Iran and Turkey as its members.
  • The RCD provided a platform to its members develop closer trade links and help each other in industrial projects and strengthening the cultural relations.
  • The RCD Highway and the RCD Railway track were developed to facilitate journey between the three states.

• Iran and Turkey tried to persuade other countries to help Pakistan in the %%1965 war%%, but had little success.

• Iran sent help to the %%Bhutto’s government%% in 1973 to put down an uprising by the tribal chiefs in Balochistan.

• In the 1980’s, %%General Zia%% tried to minimize the mistrust between Pakistan and Iran.

• Pakistan made sincere efforts to end the %%Iran-Iraq war%% through the platform of the %%OIC%%.

• Similarly, %%Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif%% also tried to improve relations with Iran.

• In 1999, a free trade agreement was signed between the two countries. Pakistan has been a major importer of oil from Iran.

• %%General Zia’s Government:%%

  • The Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, brought Ayat Ullah Khomeini as the Iranian head of state and the Shah of Iran had to go into exile.
  • The Sunni views of General Zia ul Haq were in a visible clash with the staunch Shia views of Khomeini.
  • As a result the relations were adversely affected and the RCD gradually became insignificant.
  • It was revived as the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) but the rapidly changing regional and global scenario kept it quite ineffective.
  • Then, the sectarian violence in Pakistan, mainly in the form of the Shia-Sunni clashes in the 1980’s caused further deteriorations of relations.
  • The anti-American Khomeini strongly objected to Pakistan receiving heavy US aid during the Afghan war.

• Afghan Affairs:

  • In the 1990’s, both countries had sharp differences over the issue of the post-war Afghanistan.
  • Iran did not like Pakistan’s support for the extremist Taliban government of Afghanistan.
  • It objected to Pakistan’s continuous involvement in the Afghan affairs.
  • The sectarian violence in Pakistan also contributed to a state of disturbed relations between Pakistan and Iran.

Relations with Bangladesh:

• ^^Z.A Bhutto’s Government:^^

  • Bangladesh remained East Pakistan from August 1947 to December 1971.
  • Pakistan took some years to recognize the Democratic Republic of Bangladesh.
  • %%Sheikh Mujeeb ur Rahman%%, the first head of Bangladesh withdrew the bans on some pro-Pakistan organizations that had operated before its independence.
  • He was invited by Z.A. Bhutto to attend the second %%OIC summit%% that was held in Lahore in February 1974.
  • He was accorded a warm welcome and Pakistan recognized Bangladesh the same day.
  • In June 1974 Bhutto visited Bangladesh and paid homage to Bangladesh’s war memorial at Savar Upazila.
  • He tried to reach an agreement with Sheikh Mujeeb in 1975 for the %%division of assets.%%
  • Mujeeb asked Bhutto to agree to give Bangladesh over half of Pakistan’s pre-1971 external reserves but Bhutto rejected this demand.
  • Mujeeb also inisisted that Pakistan take all %%non-Bengalis left scattered in Bangladesh%% after the %%1971 war.%%
  • They were the Muslims who had migrated from India in 1947, mainly from the neighbouring Indian province of Bihar. Bhutto also rejected it as unreasonable.
  • In 1975-76 both countries appointed ambassadors, and signed an agreement to cooperate on trade, tourism and the media.

• ^^General Zia’s Government:^^

  • Relations began to improve in the 1980’s under the governments of Zia ur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Irshad in Bangladesh.
  • General Zia ul Haq paid visits to Bangladesh and signed a number of %%agreements%% to promote trade and culture between the two states.
  • In his visit to Bangladesh in 1985 and founded %%SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)%% with the help of his Bangladeshi counterpart General Zia ur Rahman.
  • He also visited the war memorial and said, “Your heroes are our heroes.”
  • By 1986, %%trade%% between the two countries had reached a value of $40 million.
  • In 1985 and 1988 Pakistan was the first country to have sent %%aid%% to Bangladesh after it was hit by worst kind of floods.

• ^^Benazir Bhutto’s Government:^^

  • When Benazir Bhutto came to power in 1988, she too used the SAARC platform to promote friendly relations with Bangladesh.
  • Many SAARC cultural exchange programs were organized alongwith the SAF (South Asian Federation) Games.

• ^^Nawaz Sharif’s Government:^^

  • Similarly, Nawaz Sharif also held meetings with the Bangladeshi Prime Ministers in the SAARC conferences.
  • The Chief Minister of Punjab, Ghulam Hyder Wayen, accommodated some of the non-Bengali/Bihari refugees in Pakistan.
  • In 1998, PM Sheikh Hasina Wajid paid a goodwill visit to Pakistan.

• %%Failures:%%

  • As for failures, relations remained strained in the beginning as Pakistan considered Bangladesh a traitor who had sought the Indian aid for its liberation.
  • So, it was reluctant to recognize Bangladesh.
  • For the same reason, Pakistan left the Commonwealth and SEATO when Great Britain recognized it.
  • Pakistan also refused to accommodate the pro-Pakistan non-Bengali, mainly Biharis who had migrated from India after independence, they were shifted to special camps by the Bangladeshi government and forced to live a sub-human life in these camps.
  • Both countries failed to reach a mutually acceptable agreement for the reallocation of the assets left in the two countries.
  • Various governments of Pakistan have also refused to extend an apology for what the Bangladeshi government declares as war crimes.
  • Pakistan army was accused of committing excesses against the Bengali population and Bangladesh has been asking Pakistan to apologize for it.

Relations with Palestine:

• %%Foundation of Pak-Palestine Relations:%%

  • Pakistan had brotherly feelings for the Palestinian Muslims.
  • In 1948, the Quaid-i-Azam warned the USA of the consequences of partition of Palestine and the creation of Israel.
  • However, the state of Israel was created by displacing a huge number of Palestinian Muslims, and this laid the foundation of Palestine-Israel conflict.
  • Since then both the Pakistani people and governments have strongly supported the Palestine cause.
  • Pakistan always condemned illegal occupation of other states throughout the world in line with the UN objective of promoting international peace.

• %%Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem incident 1967:%%

  • An extremist tried to burn the sacred mosque for Muslims.
  • Following this, the Muslim countries held a summit conference in Rabat, Morocco, in 1969.
  • On Pakistan’s suggestion the %%OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference)%% was set up, and its objective was to protect the rights of the Muslim world, and especially the Palestininan Muslims.
  • Pakistan, being an active member of the OIC, considered the Israeli occupation of Palestine as totally unjustified.
  • It wanted the Palestinian Muslims to live in an independent state without any fear of aggression by the other states.

• %%Z.A Bhutto’s Government:%%

  • After the Arab-Israel war in October 1973, Pakistan’s PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto convened the second summit of the OIC in Ferburary 1974 in Lahore.
  • Yasser Arafat, head of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) attended it along with the other 35 heads of the Muslim states.
  • They reaffirmed their opposition to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands, and tried to draw the attention of the world powers towards a peaceful settlement of this conflict.
  • The summit demonstrated the unity of the Muslim world for a common cause, and importance of Pakistan as a strong supporter of the Palestine cause.

Relations with United Nations Organizations (UNO) :

• %%Foundation of Pak-UN Relations:%%

  • Pakistan played active role as a member of many world organizations.
  • It joined the UNO in September 1947 to seek the UN help in resolving various disputes with India and the problems of partition.
  • It accepted the UN-mediated peace and the LOC (Line of Control) after the 1948 war on Kashmir.

• It took the Kashmir issue to the UN Security Council for its permanent solution in the 1950’s. For example, it condemned the occupation of Indonesia by Holland.

• The World Bank persuaded Pakistan and India to accept the Indus Water Treaty in 1960.

• It also acted as the spokesperson for many Asian countries that were struggling for independence in the 1950’s.

• It also raised the Palestine issue on the UN platform and defended the Palestine cause.

• The UN also held Pakistan and India agree on peace in the Tashkent Accord, 1966.

• It sent its troops to help the UN peacekeeping forces in many countries including Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

• Many UN organizations helped Pakistan in health, education and population planning projects.

  • They include, the %%WHO (World Health Organization)%%, the %%UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)%% and the %%UNICEF (UN International Children Emergency Fund).%%
  • The %%WFP (World Food Program)%% and the %%UNHCR (UN High Commission for Refugees)%% helped Pakistan in its economic development and the accommodation of the Afghan refugees.

• ==Failures:==

  • Unfortunately, the UN could not resolve the Kashmir issue mainly due to the veto power of the five permanent members of the %%UNSC%%.
  • Z.A.Bhutto was disappointed by the UN role in the 1971 war as it asked Pakistan to stop fighting instead of accepting the justice of Pakistan’s case.
  • He, therefore, tore apart the UN resolution.
  • He was unhappy on the quick recognition of Bangladesh.
  • Pakistan joined the US-sponsored anti-communist military blocs of %%SEATO%% and %%CENTO%% in 1954-55 alongwith Great Britain and the Muslim states of Iraq and Turkey.
  • This gave a sense of protection to Pakistan and improved its relations with the member states.
  • However, Egypt was unhappy on Pakistan joining these bodies as the British had attacked the Suez Canal in 1956.
  • Moreover, these blocs refused to help Pakistan in the %%wars of 1965 and 1971%% as the aid was linked with the attack of any communist state on Pakistan.
  • Pakistan left SEATO in 1972.

• ==Commonwealth:==

  • Pakistan became a member of the Commonwealth after independence.
  • It is a club of Great Britain and its former colonies.
  • Several development projects were funded by the Commonwealth, and Pakistan actively participated the Commonwealth Games.
  • However, the membership depended on the civil/democratic rule in Pakistan.
  • Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 when Great Britain recognized Bangladesh.
  • Pakistan could not rejoin it in the 1980’s due to Zia’s military rule.
  • However, it was able to join it in 1989 after Benazir Bhutto’s civilian rule began.

• %%RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development):%%

  • Pakistan, Iran and Turkey founded the RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development) in 1964.
  • Several agreements were signed to promote trade and cultural ties between the member states.
  • The RCD Highway and the RCD Railways were started to facilitate journey between the three states.
  • After the Iranian Revolution of 1980, the RCD gradually became insignificant but after some years it was reorganized as the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) by adding the Central Asian states and Afghanistan.
  • However, Pakistan was not very successful in making the ECO a very effective bloc mainly because of the disturbed relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

• %%OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference/Countries)%%%%:%%

  • The OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference/Countries) was founded after a failed attempt by a lunatic Jew to burn the al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969.
  • Pakistan became its very active member and, Z.A.Bhutto organized its second summit in Lahore in February 1974.
  • Several agreements were signed and resolutions in favour of the Palestine cause were adopted.
  • In the 1980’s, Pakistan struggled for an end of the Iran-Iraq war through the platform of the OIC.
  • Generally, however, Pakistan could not mobilize the member states to work for the collective welfare of the Muslim world because of the rivalry between various states.

• %%SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation):%%

  • With the efforts of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was founded in December 1985.
  • Its aim was to promote friendly relations between the seven countries of South Asia, specially Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
  • SAARC cultural exchange programs and the SAF Games have been its main features, but due to the Indo-Pak rivalry and the grievances of Bangladesh against Pakistan have been the major stumbling blocks in making it a successful body.