Pakistan’s Foreign Relations

Pakistan and India

Partition of India was not accepted by Congress leaders, along with the dispute over
assets, killings during partition and Kashmir conflict, it is perhaps not very surprising that
India-Pakistan relations have rarely ever been good.
 India forced millions of Muslims to move to Pakistan, to put economic pressure
on the newborn state. Canal water dispute and Kashmir issue poisoned Indo-
Pak relation. In 1948, India cut of Pakistan’s water supply from the headworks in
controlled. Access to water remained a problem till 1959 when the Indus water
treaty was signed. The Indus water treaty, 1960, also helped in establishment of good
relations.

 In addition, India’s reluctance over handing over financial and military assets
had soured Pak-Indo relations and created suspicion over Indian motives.

 Perhaps what plagued their relationship most was the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan has fought three major wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971 on Kashmir issue
with India. As most of the inhabitants of Kashmir were Muslims, Pakistan
believed the territory rightly belonged to them. India tried to integrate Kashmir
into India. UNO ordered a cease-fire, promising to hold plebiscite, but till now, no
such plebiscite has been organized.

 When UNO failed to solve Kashmir problem Pakistan tried to force India to carry
out UNO resolutions through military operation in Kashmir resulted in 1965 Indo-
Pak war. Pakistan tried to free Kashmir by force as after the Indo-China war, the
Pakistan army had believed that these events showed that Indians had ‘no
stomach’ for a fight. Thus, began to think in terms of military solution to the
Kashmir dispute. The Indians began a vigorous rearmament campaign after the
humiliating defeat they suffered at the hands of Chinese to fight Pakistan over
Kashmir

 Pakistan failed to capture Kashmir in 1965. One reason for this failure was that
India was stronger and more determined than Pakistan had realized. Another
major reason was that during the war, the USA and Britain had both placed an
embargo on selling weapons to both countries. As Pakistan was dependent on
the West for parts to service its military equipment, it was hit harder than India.
 The two sides also went to a war in 1971 over Bangladesh-East-Pakistan
Crisis. India had the golden chance to cut down its rivals. They availed the
opportunity and separated the two wings of its enemy.

 India also had grievances over Pakistan’s involvement in Defense Pact with
USA, By signing these defense pacts, Pakistan was guaranteed military and
economic aid. USA confirmed India that this was only against any communist
aggression.

 By 1971 the balance of military power had tilted in favor of India. It had a stronger
economy and larger population and was able to develop an army considerably
larger than Pakistan could put in the field. India could also rely on support from
Soviet Union after signing the treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce in
August 1971. Whereas Pakistan was not having any such support from any of its
Allies.

 India had recognized weak defense of East Pakistan in 1965 war. During civil
war in East Pakistan India used the situation and established armed group of
Bengali separatists known as Mukti bahini to carry out attacks on Pakistan army.
Later in 1971 war India separated the East Pakistan. Relations between Pakistan
and India were at lowest level in 1971.

 Pakistan lost the war in 1971, as India took advantage of civil war in East
Pakistan. The Indian army attacked East Pakistan. The ensuing was led to the
downfall of Decca and the subsequent surrender of Pakistani forces with a larger
number of Pakistani soldiers being taken as prisoners by India.
 In 1972 Pakistani prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Indian Prime minister
Indra Gandhi signed Simla agreement, India returned 90,000 Pakistani soldiers
who were kept as prisoners of war. Pakistan also agreed that in future talks on
Kashmir would be only between Pakistan and India.

 Pakistan was shocked when India tested its nuclear device in Rajasthan in 1974.
As Pakistan’s relations with India further deteriorated, both countries stepped up
their nuclear development programmes. In May 1998, India shocked the world by
testing five nuclear devices. Just a few weeks later, Pakistan detonated its own
 nuclear devices in Ras Koh hills. This initiated the nuclear arms race between the
two states which continues to this date.

 In early 1980’s Sikh population of Indian Punjab had started movement for
separate homeland. In 1984 Prime Minister of India, Indra Gandhi was killed by
Sikhs. Indra Gandhi’s son Rajiv became next Prime Minister; he accused
Pakistan of helping Sikh separatist in Indian Punjab and murder of his mother.
India accused Pakistan in helping separatist elements of Sikhs who were
demanding a separate homeland, Khalistan, for Sikhs. Pakistan rejected this
allegation. In 1987 both countries were close to war. The situation was cooled
down by General Zia the president of Pakistan through visit to India.

 In 1998 prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime minister
Vajpayee tried to improve relation through Lahore declaration but whole peace
process was destroyed when in April 1999, Muslims Kashmiri guerrillas crossed
the Line of Control and captured the Indian occupied towns of Kargil and Drass.
The Pak govt., however, denied any involvement. In May, India launched a
counterattack during which it fired over 250,000 shells and rockets. Two of its
aircrafts also crossed into Pakistan air space and one was shot down. The Kargil
conflict was a major blow to Pakistan-India relations.

 There were also some successes in the relations. In April 1950, there was a
formal agreement, called the ‘Minorities Agreement’, signed between Liaqat Ali
Khan and Nehru. According to the agreement, both governments were
responsible to protect the religious minorities in their states and to encourage
them to stay on rather than to migrate.

 Thus, since 1947, Pakistan has remained unsuccessful in having good ties with
India.

Pakistan and USA:

 After partition in 1947, Pakistan decided to ally itself with USA. But at this time,
USA was working towards an anti-communist alliance with India, so it was
sometime before they embraced an alliance with Pakistan with any enthusiasm.
During independence struggle, the America had often talked of need of unity
between Muslims and Hindus, but Muslims wanted a separate homeland.

 Liaqat Ali khan accepted the offer to visit Soviet Union in 1949. He was, thus,
successful in forcing Americans into forming a closer alliance with Pakistan. An
 offer came immediately to visit USA and Liaqat Ali Khan made his visit in 1950.
He decided for a Pakistan Embassy to be built in USA.

 India was reluctant to sign an anti-communist alliance in return for military and
economic aid. In 1955 Pakistan signed S.E.A.T.O and C.E.N.T.O pacts
according to which Pakistan became U.S.A partner against communist countries.
Pakistan received economic and military aid from U.S.A. Despite these
agreements USA provided no help to Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 wars, so
Pakistan left S.E.A.T.O in 1972 and C.E.N.T.O ended in 1979.

 In 1962, China went to a war with India. As China was communist so USA
provided military aid to help India. Pakistan was angered over this because USA
did not consult Pakistan before providing aid. In 1962, Ayub Khan visited China
and in 1965 he visited Soviet Union. As both were communist, so these visits
displeased USA. Pakistan was not provided any help or special aid during its
wars with India by USA.

 Ayub Khan allowed them to build air bases in Peshawar, Pakistan and remained
loyal to USA even during the embarrassing ‘U2 Affair’. So, relations were good.
However, when he was replaced by Bhutto, the US became concerned as he
was not as pro-American as his predecessors, so relations deteriorated. When
Zia came, relations reached rock bottom as Americans did not approve of military
regimes. In 1979 US Embassy in Islamabad was burned. USA accused Zia of
involvement in the attack. It also recalled many of its senior officials and all aid
programmes were cancelled.

 In 1955, Baghdad pact was also signed which was renamed ‘The Central Asian
Treaty Organization’ [CENTO] after Iraq left in 1959 because of a revolution.
However, despite regular meetings, the group never developed a permanent
structure or a system for raising troops for mutual defense. USA supported it, but
never actually joined.

 when soviets attacked Afghanistan, USA began to provide military and economic
aid to Pakistan to help it buy modern US weapons and to support Afghan rebels.
Relations became very good and warm. Pakistan enjoyed rapid economic
development and became leading military nation in the region. But when peace
agreements were signed in 1988, Pak lost its strategic importance to USA. Aid
was reduced dramatically which became a big problem for new govt. of Benazir
Bhutto.

 After the withdrawal of U.S.S.R forces from Afghanistan the US blocked all
military help to Pakistan in 1989 under Pressler amendment. In 1985 the
Pressler Amendment had said that the USA could only give aid to a country after
 American President had declared that country had no nuclear weapons and was
not developing them. After Afghan crisis was over, President Bush refused to
declare that this was the case with Pakistan, and he blocked aid to country.

 In 1996 Brown amendment was passed in USA allowed economic and limited
military aid to Pakistan. In 1998 Pakistan conducted test of Nuclear weapons so
U.S.A imposed various trade restrictions against Pakistan.

 President Clinton, wanting to restore relations between two countries, agreed

that Pressler Amendment had led to unfair treatment and suggested that if
Pakistan stopped producing Weapon grade Uranium he would agree to sale of F-
16s.

 In 1996, Brown amendment authorized the US govt. to reimburse Pak for F-16
payments and provide $388 million in military equipment. The thaw in the
relations was further highlighted when First Lady Hillary Clinton and her
daughter, Chelsea, visited Pakistan in 1996.

Pakistan and USSR:

Relations between Pakistan and USSR have undergone many ups and downs between
1947 and 1999.
 From 1947 to 1950, Russia had remained neutral in her relations with Pakistan.
In 1950, USSR invited Liaqat Ali Khan to visit Moscow. However, at the same
time USA invited him to visit Washington. Liaqat Ali Khan chose to go to
Washington. In turn relations between the two suffered for some time. Relation
with U.S.S.R get worse when Pakistan joined anti-communist pact C.E.N.T.O
and S.E.A.T.O. In 1955, USSR officially backed India over the Kashmir problem
and promised whole-hearted support.

 In May 1960 American spy plane U-2 took off from Peshawar was shot down in
U.S.S.R due to which U.S.S.R warned Pakistan.

 In 1956, it offered Pak aid together with a promise to build a steel mill, if only Pak
broke off its alliance with USA. Pakistan refused to do so.

 U.S.S.R. started oil exploration in Pakistan and provided 11 million pounds

loan in 1963. Ayub Khan visited USSR which improved relations. U.S.S.R. took
back support on Kashmir for India. In 1968 USA closed their air base at
Peshawar so U.S.S.R. began to supply weapons to Pakistan.
  After 1965 Indo-Pak war U.S.S.R Invited governments of Pakistan and India at
Tashkent in U.S.S.R to solve difference. Agreement was signed between India
and Pakistan in 1966. Both countries returned prisoners of wars and occupied
areas with efforts of U.S.S.R.

 When India accepted help from USA in its war with China, the effect was to drive
Pakistan and the USSR closer together. When China began to give Pak aid in
1963, the soviets decided to take even more decisive steps to ally with Pakistan.

 The relations sky-rocketed when Ayub Khan paid an official visit to Soviet Union
and further agreements on trade and oil exploration were reached.

 Relations, however, were at a very low ebb during 1969-71. Pakistan tried to
improve U.S.A relation with China that made USSR upset. USSR signed treaty of
friendship with India and fully supported India in 1971 Indo-Pak war. As a result,
Pakistan was defeated in the war and East Pakistan was separated from
Pakistan.

 The Period of 1972-77 was a period of good relations because Z. A. Bhutto

visited Russia in 1972. Bhutto had no liking for USA. Russia had become neutral
on Kashmir issue and Russia helped Pak in setting up a steel mill at Karachi
which has been a great asset to Pakistan

 Pakistan relations with USSR were spoiled when USSR army entered
Afghanistan in 1979. Pakistan accepted American aid to support the mujahidin
rebels. Pakistan provided weapons and training to Afghani fighters to carry on
attacks on U.S.S.R army in Afghanistan. Later that year, the Soviet Union, which
also disapproved of Pakistan’s nuclear programme began bombing raids on
Pakistan. Hostile relations continued until 1988, when the soviets finally withdrew
Overall, Pakistan was not successful in keeping good relations with USSR
Pakistan and China:

 At the time of independence of Pakistan, China was involved in civil war. In 1949
Pakistan accepted China. During 1950's Pakistan signed anti-Communist treaties
S.E.A.T.O and C.E.N.T.O with USA and western countries. China was also a
communist country, so Pakistan-China relations were not good. In 1959 Pakistan
voted against China’s admission to UN and criticized military action of China in
Tibet.

 In 1962 Indo-China war was a turn point in Sino-Pakistan relations. China was
keen for a friend in south Asia while Pakistan was worried because of the huge
military aid of western countries to India during Indo-China war. Military aid of
western countries had disturbed balance of power between Pakistan and India.
Improved relations with China were useful for Pakistan against India.

 Pakistan-China successfully decided their border in 1963. China provided a 60-

million-dollar interest free loan to Pakistan and became biggest importer of
Pakistani cotton. Same year PIA started air service towards China and became
first airline which started air service from China to Western world. It increased
numbers of visitors from China to other countries.

 In 1964 China supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue and in return Pakistan sided
China in its entry in UNO. During 1965 Indo-Pak war, China forced India not to
attack East Pakistan. China also provided military aid to Pakistan in 1965 war.

 China helped Pakistan to establish heavy mechanical complex at Taxila in

1965.

 China remained neutral during 1971 Indo-Pak war due to pressure of USSR. As
a result Pakistan was defeated. Prime minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
visited China after 1971 war. Many loans from China were changed in to grants.
China became major source of arms supply to Pakistan.

 In 1978 Karakoram highway between China-Pakistan was opened. This road

was setup with the help of China. This road increased trade and tourism between
both countries.

 China wanted to develop relations with other countries, especially India. During
this time China might compromise over support for Pakistan on Kashmir. China
 was also concerned about interference of some Pakistani Islamic groups in
Chinese Muslims living along Pakistan-China border.

 President Zia visited China and in 1986, China and Pakistan signed a nuclear
cooperation treaty.

Pakistan and Bangladesh:

 East Pakistan was separated from West Pakistan in 1971 and became
Bangladesh after bloody civil war. Pakistan considered Bangladesh as rebel
nation. Pakistan did not accepted Bangladesh for two years. In 1971 Pakistan
had stated that it would break relation with any country that accepted Bangladesh
as an independent state.

 Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujib was invited in meeting of

organization of Islamic countries at Lahore in 1974. Pakistan accepted
Bangladesh as an independent country. Two countries agreed to set up friendly
relations and try to solve differences.

 In June 1974 Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Bangladesh and discussed division of
assets. Bangladesh asked for half of assets Pakistan owned before 1971.
Bangladesh also demanded the transfer of all non-Bengalis from Bangladesh to
Pakistan. Pakistan rejected both demands.

 Pakistan provided food and material aid to Bangladesh during floods in 1985 and
1988. President of Bangladesh visited Pakistan in June 1986. Trade between
both countries increased and reached 40 million dollars.

 Bangladesh supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue. In 1989 Pakistani Prime

Minister Benazir Bhutto visited Bangladesh. Both countries are member of
S.A.A.R.C organization and signed agreement to promote trade, tourism, and
exchange of cultural delegations.

Pakistan and Afghanistan:

 Pakistan and Afghanistan shared a border called Durand line. Although there are
religious and ethnic relations between the people of both countries, but relation of
both states was not so friendly. Afghanistan was only country voted against
membership of Pakistan in U.N.O.
 Afghanistan claimed over parts of N.W.F.P. Diplomatic relation broke down twice
in 1955 and 1961 when Pakistan embassy in Kabul was ransacked. In 1956
President of Pakistan Iskandar Mirza visited Kabul to improve relation with little
success.

 In 1979 U.S.S.R forces invaded Afghanistan. Pakistan organized Afghan

resistance against U.S.S.R with western assistance. 3 million Afghan refugees
arrived in Pakistan due to cruel actions of Soviet Union army. Pakistan provided
food and shelter to Afghan refugees with the help of donor countries.
Afghan war gave rise to the spread of drugs, weapons, terrorism and violence in
Pakistan.

 After withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan Pakistan encouraged

fundamental Islamic party Taliban to take control of Afghanistan. Taliban entered
Kabul in 1996 and Pakistan recognized Taliban regime improved relation in
1997.