Pakistani Geopolitics: The Diplomatic Perspective

Pakistani Geopolitics: The Diplomatic Perspective Sultan Muhammed Khan R storicaU y, American interest in Pakistan has fluctuated in tandem with shifting U.S. perceptions of the great power rivalry in the world. While the cold war policy of containment placed a high premium on all pervasive alliances and measured a country's importance for the United States largely in tenns of its rigid adherence to the alliance relationship and its commitment to the defense of the "free world: ' the era of detente saw many of the allies being unceremoniously aba ndoned by the United Sta tes. to be remembered only in times of crises. In South Asia, Pakistan suffered such a fate, as the United States gradually came to perceive the region as not falling within the pa rameters of its vital interests. Pakistan did not share this perception. but as a small power it naturally could wield little influence on U.S. policies. An intemational crisis of historical magnitude is now looming on the horizon in the region of Southwest Asia following the massive intervention of Russian forces in Afghanistan, in d ose vicinity of the Persian Gulf. At stake is not only the independence and territorial integrity of some sovereign nations in the region but the future of vital oil supplies to the West, the lifeblood of the Western industrialized nations. The situa tion brings into sharp relief the vital relevance of vulnerable and sensitively located countries in the region, like Pakistan, to the security interests of the United States and its Western allies. The need is for a credible and durable relationship flexible enough to evolve but strong enough to withstand buffets of any temporary differences of perception andlor conflict of interests. Pakistan's record in foreign affairs (upon which 1intend to briefly touch before dilating on issues having a critical bearing on U.S.-Pakistan relations) testifies to its maturity of outlook and ability to conduct a balanced and enlightened foreign policy. Pakistan has proved itself to be a trustworthy partner in the pursuit of peace, and a guarantor of the security and stability of our region. Pakistan is placed in a unique historical and geostrateglc situation. On the East, we are bordered by India, with a population of 650 million; on the North we share borders with the world's most populous nation, China. The Soviet superpower has its borders only 25 miles from Pakistan's northern frontiers. On the West, Pakistan not only shares borders with Iran but is His Uctllt'ncy SultJll'/ Muhllrnrntd Khill'! is II c.rrer diplomat who luis, sil'/a' Illl'/ull"!, J979. strord ss Pllleistl"'·' AmNss4dor to tht UI'/ittd Stlltts of AmtriOl. Sint;t 1962, ht Iw snvn:l ill II Ilurnbl-r of Ambl:l55llJorlA/ posts. illdudil'/g OIl'/w . tht Pmpks' Rrpublil:of Chil'/4. Illld Illplll'!. 26 Pakistani Geopolitics I27 situated at the mouth of the Persian Gull, the region where two-thirds of the world's exportable oil is produced. Pakistan is placed in an especial ly vulnerable position. It cannot help but be affected by its sensitive strategic location, the regional history of great power rivalry, and finally, the unique situation of Pakistan's creation and the historical strife with India . Pakistan's security concerns, the imperatives of economic development, and its ideological moorings gave its policies a degree of parallelism and natural affinity with the ideals and objectives of the Western world. Pakistan, soon after its inception, thus started looking toward the United States for political support in resisting external pressures. Assistance was also sought from Washington in both meeting critical development needs and in obtaining military hardware to bolster its defenses. In 1954 Pakistan Signed the Mutual Defense Agreement with the United. States and became its ally in Asia. Immediately thereafter, Pakistan became a member of the U.S.-sponsored Southeast Asia Treaty Organization and Central Treaty Organization, SEATO and CEmO. Pakistan however paid heavily for the policy of alignment with the United States. It gave India an excuse to wriggle out of her commitments on Kashmir . Pakistan also earned the active hostility of the Soviet Union, particularly after Islamabad provided a surveillance base to the United States at Dada Ber...