GEO-STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF PAKISTAN

1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS GEO-STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE?

Geo-strategic significance means the importance of a country with respect to its

geographical location. Whereas geo political importance is defined as, stressing the
influence of geographic factors on the state power, international conduct and
advantages it derives from its location. Sullivan writes, “Geo-politics is the study of the
geography of relations between wielders of power, be they rulers of nations or of
transnational bodies.” A place could be strategically important for different reasons
like:

• Owing nearness to strategic location, such as choke points on major sea route

• On crossroads of great powers

• Immediacy to mineral rich areas

• May be reservoir of strategic minerals, like oil, iron, uranium ores etc.

• Large dealer of food.

The elements of geography and politics, or the geo-politics deeply influence the
policy-making and conditions of a state in international affairs. The geo-politics and
geo-strategy are applied to evaluate the strategic importance of a state.

2. GEO STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan enjoys great geo strategic significance by virtue of its geographical

location. Pakistan is located at a region which has great political, economic and
strategic location. Stephen Cohn describes the importance of Pakistan, “While history
has been unkind with Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit.” Pakistan's
geostrategic location has made it a country of pivotal importance from the Cold War to
the present day. Geography not only shapes Pakistan's foreign policy, but also its
defense considerations and strategic outlook. Pakistan is considered as a window of
strategic opportunity. Pakistan‟s crucial position in South Asia, with its proximity to the
Arabian Peninsula and access to the Horn of Africa and Central Asia makes it a
strategically attractive and unavoidable state for global and regional powers.
 3. PAKISTAN GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES:

Pakistan is located in the North Western part of the South Asian subcontinent.
Pakistan occupies a position of great geostrategic importance, bordered by Iran on the
West, Afghanistan on the North West, China on the North East, India on the East, and
the Arabian Sea on the South. The total land area is estimated at 803,940 square
kilometers.

a. BOUNDARY WITH IRAN

The boundary with Iran, some 800 kilometers in length, was first delimited by a
British Commission in 1893, separating Iran from what was then British Indian
Baluchistan. In 1957, Pakistan signed a frontier agreement with Iran, and since then
the border between the two countries has not been a subject of serious dispute.

b. BOUNDARY WITH AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan's boundary with Afghanistan is about 2,250 kilometers long. In the

north, it runs along the ridges of the Hindu Kush (meaning Hindu Killer) mountains and
the Pamirs, where a narrow strip of Afghan territory called the Wakhan Corridor extends
between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
 The boundary line with Afghanistan was drawn in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand,
then foreign secretary in British India, and was acceded to by the amir of Afghanistan
that same year. This boundary, called the Durand Line, was not in doubt when Pakistan
became independent in 1947, although its legitimacy was in later years disputed
periodically by the Afghan government as well as by Pakhtun tribes straddling the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border. On the one hand, Afghanistan claimed that the Durand
Line had been imposed by a stronger power upon a weaker one, and it favored the
establishment of still another state to be called Pashtunistan or Pakhtunistan. On the
other hand, Pakistan, as the legatee of the British in the region, insisted on the legality
and permanence of the boundary. The Durand Line remained in effect in 1994. Now,
the US and NATO troops fighting in Afghanistan are well aware that they are heavily
dependent on Pakistan for winning the war in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has other
neighbours also such as Iran, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, but Pakistan provides the
easiest route for the provision of NATO supplies to the forces in Afghanistan. Moreover,
being a land locked country; Afghanistan has to rely heavily on Pakistan for its cross
border trade and economy.

c. BOUNDARY WITH CHINA

From the eastern end of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a boundary of about

520 kilometers runs generally southeast between China and Pakistan, ending near the
Karakoram Pass. This line was determined from 1961 to 1965 in a series of agreements
between China and Pakistan. By mutual agreement, a new boundary treaty is to be
negotiated between China and Pakistan when the dispute over Kashmir is finally
resolved between India and Pakistan. China is the upcoming superpower both in
economic and military terms. In the times to come, it is likely to be the only rival of the
US economically as well as militarily. China naturally seeks closer ties with Pakistan.
Furthermore, for its rapidly flourishing international trade, China looks towards Pakistan
for giving it an easy access to the Muslim countries of Central Asia and the Middle East.
It is worth remembering that sea transport is 10 times cheaper than the land transport.
Realizing this fact, China has invested heavily in the Gwadar Port Project. China is fully
aware of its potential economic and commercial benefits. It is generally believed that
Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. But it is not known to many
people that some mountainous snow clad unpopulated area of Kashmir near Siachin
Glacier is under Chinese control. Thus, China is also a party to the Kashmir dispute and
there can be no just, permanent and comprehensive settlement of the dispute without
active participation of China.

d. BOUNDARY WITH INDIA

In the northeastern tip of the country, Pakistan controls about 84,159 square
kilometers of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. This area, consisting of
Azad Kashmir (11,639square kilometers) and most of the Northern Areas (72,520
square kilometers), which includes Gilgit and Baltistan, is the most visually stunning of
Pakistan. The Northern Areas has five of the world's seventeen highest mountains. It
also has such extensive glaciers that it has sometimes been called the "third pole." The
boundary line has been a matter of pivotal dispute between Pakistan and India since
1947, and the Siachen Glacier in northern Kashmir has been an important arena for
fighting between the two sides since 1984, although far more soldiers have died of
exposure to the cold than from any skirmishes in the conflict.

The Pakistan-India cease-fire line runs from the Karakoram Pass west-southwest
to a point about 130 kilometers northeast of Lahore. This line, about 770 kilometers
long, was arranged with United Nations (UN) assistance at the end of the Indo-
Pakistani War of 1947-48. The cease-fire line came into effect on January 1, 1949, after
eighteen months of fighting and was last adjusted and agreed upon by the two
countries in the Simla Agreement of July 1972. Since then, it has been generally known
as the Line of Control. The Pakistan-India boundary continues irregularly southward for
about 1,280 kilometers, following the line of the 1947 Radcliffe Award, named for Sir
Cyril Radcliffe, the head of the British boundary commission on the partition of Punjab
and Bengal in 1947. Although this boundary with India is not formally disputed,
passions still run high on both sides of the border. Many Indians had expected the
original boundary line to run farther to the west, thereby ceding Lahore to India;
Pakistanis had expected the line to run much farther east, possibly granting them
control of Delhi, the imperial capital of the Mughal Empire. The southern borders are far
less contentious than those in the north. The Thar Desert in the province of Sindh is
separated in the south from the salt flats of the Rann of Kutch by a boundary that was
first delineated in 1923-24. After partition, Pakistan contested the southern boundary
of Sindh, and a succession of border incidents resulted. They were less dangerous and
less widespread, however, than the conflict that erupted in Kashmir in the Indo-
Pakistani War of August 1965. These southerrn hostilities were ended by British
mediation, and both sides accepted the award of the Indo-Pakistan Western Boundary
Case Tribunal designated by the UN secretary general. The tribunal made its award on
February 19, 1968, delimiting a line of 403 kilometers that was later demarcated by
joint survey teams. Of its original claim of some 9,100square kilometers, Pakistan was
awarded only about 780 square kilometers. Beyond the western terminus of the
tribunal's award, the final stretch of Pakistan's border with India is about 80 kilometers
long, running west and southwest to an inlet of the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan‟s eastern neighbour India with its huge market and its nuclear capability
is also ambitious of becoming a global power with a permanent seat in the Security
Council. There is also apprehension that the prevailing regional instability may lead to
more violence and terrorism in India as well.

4. GEO POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PAKISTAN

The world is facing terrorism. Pakistan is a front line state against terrorism. The
geo political significance of Pakistan has attracted the attention of major global players.
Pakistan is located at the junction of great powers. Located at the northwestern part of
the Indian subcontinent; Pakistan is a neighbour to the growing China, the nuclear Iran,
„terrorist‟ Afghanistan and the favorable market of India. In its neighbors, one world
power Russia and the other emerging power China lie. Any alliance among world
powers enhances Pakistan‟s significance further. At present, security and business are
two main interests of the USA in the region while Pakistan is playing a front line role
and a major non NATO ally in the war against terrorism. The world is aware of the fact
that war against terrorism could never be won without the help of Pakistan. Iran's
nuclear ambitions and the growing consensus among the Great Powers to curb these
ambitions boost the geostrategic value of Pakistan in the region.

6. BRIDGE BETWEEN SOUTH ASIA AND SOUTH WEST ASIA: GATEWAY TO

CENTRAL ASIA

Pakistan is at junction of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia. Pakistan can be a
bridge and gateway for the countries in South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia. It is at
way from resource efficient countries to resource deficient countries in these regions.
Central Asia is at a center stage of new Great Game because of the western quest for
resources like oil and energy. After the disintegration of USSR, new quest has started
which is clearly manifested by politics of oil. Pakistan is also located very close to the oil
rich Middle Eastern countries. The belt started from Iran and extended to Saudi Arabia.
Thus, Pakistan can influence shipment of oil. Iran is struggling to export its surplus gas
and oil to the eastern countries. Qatar, Pakistan and Turkmenistan pipeline projects
highlight the position. In the energy scarce world, Pakistan is located at the hub of
energy rich countries like Iran and Afghanistan: both are energy abundant while India
and China are lacking. China finds way to the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea
through Karakoram highway. The present era is an era of regionalism which focuses on
regional interconnectivity and interdependence of countries located in any region.
Pakistan has great importance in enhancing regional connectivity among various blocks
like ECO, SAARC, SCO etc. and can in a way serve as a gateway and bridge among
regional countries.

7. SIGNIFICANCE AS A TRANSIT ECONOMY OR TRADE CORRIDOR:

Pakistan has the potential to develop as a transit economy on account of its strategic
location. Afghanistan which is a land locked country is passing through the phase of
reconstruction finds its ways through Pakistan. China with its fastest economy growth
rate of 9% us developing southern provinces because its own part is 4500 km away
from Sinkiang but Gwader is 2500 km away. Moreover, Pakistan offers central Asian
regions the shortest route of 2600 km as compared to Iran 4500 km or turkey 5000 km.
Gwader port with its deep waters attracts the trade ships of China, CAR and south east
Asian countries., also the coastal belt of Balochistan can provide outlet to China‟s
western provinces to have access to middles eastern markets with the development of
coastal highways and motorways.

Importance of Pakistan with respect to trade

Arabian_Sea_map from commons.wikimedia.org

Pakistan has an access to the warm waters through the Arabian Sea. It can trade
throughout the year through the Arabian Sea which is the heaven of trading. Pakistan
has two major coasts Gawadar and Karachi.
Pakistan is the gateway to trade in Far East areas, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives,
Sirilanka and Australia. Pakistan is separating India from Iran and Afghanistan, and Iran
has huge natural resources like natural oil and gas. Pakistan is very important trade
way for china to approach the trade markets of Middle Eastern and Arabian countries.
China‟s own coastal areas are far away and the shortest approach for China to trade is
Pakistan. Pakistan and China have friendly relations with each other. Both countries
trade on the bases of “Barter trading”. Gawadar port is located between three major
and important regions Central Asia, South Asia and Oil rich areas of Middle East.
Shahrahe Karakuram is the way from which Pakistan and China can trade.

8. GEOGRAPHICAL IMPORTANCE OF BALOCHISTAN AND POWER GAME

Ahmad (1992) writes, “Serious observers of the contemporary scene

cannot miss the importance of certain new, or tainted, geo-political realities
vis-à-vis Baluchistan which will impinge upon and help shape the future
history of Pakistan and the region.”

It is important to note that the location of Balochistan, connecting Iranian Plateau with
South East Asia, Central Asia to its long coast line in the shores of the Arabian Sea,
makes it geographically an important place. Balochistan is a mountainous desert area,
consisting of 3.5 lakh sq. kms. It borders Iran, Afghanistan and its Southern Boundary
is the Arabian Sea with strategically important port of Gwadar on the Makran Coast,
commanding approach to the Strait of Hormuz. Its total population is 7.5 million.
Balochistan occupies 43.6 percent of Pakistan‟s total area and is least populated.
Though the poorest, yet it provides gas and coal (consisting of 200 coal mines) to the
industrial infrastructure of the country. Around 60 percent of Pakistan‟s domestic and
industrial requirements are met through the gas obtained from Dera Bugti. Balochistan
contains the twin character as ecologically, it is connected with Central Asia while
politically with South Asia. Strategically, Balochistan is unique in terms of the following
factors which are crucial in its strategic calculations:

• Largest in terms of size

• Having largest coastline

• Sensitive borders

• Arm of Arabian Sea

• Lying under the lines of Machkinder‟s rim land, Western and North Eastern portions
(Wassan, 2008: 118)

Placed extremely next to the oil lanes of the Persian Gulf and covering a common
border with “Iran and Afghanistan”, Balochistan is strategically too significant;
commanding almost the entire coast of the country-470 miles of the “Arabian Sea and
boasting of a deep sea port”, completed with Chinese support at Gwadar (Balochistan).

a. GWADAR PORT MAKING BALOCHISTAN STRATEGICALLY VALUABLE

Gwadar is an important district of Balochistan, having 600 Kilometers long

border. Until 1958, it had been a part of the State of Oman. On December 1958,
Pakistan bought it with an amount of 550 million Rupees. It was suggested as a
suitable sight for port in 1964 and thus in 2002, the construction of the port was
initiated with the help of China. The Gwadar Port, being the third largest port of the
world, is situated at the doorway of the Persian Gulf (180 nautical miles from the Strait
of Hormuz through which 40% of World‟s Oil passes) and at the largest trade route of
the world. It is due to this fact that makes it geo-strategically more important to the
world powers. In addition to that, due to Iraq-Iran War, Gulf War and Russian
disintegration, that led to the emergence of new Central Asian Republics (CARs) has
added to its value, as it will provide the shortest route (Quetta to Chaman) to Central
Asia. The potential of Gwadar is not new, but the geo-economics of today and even of
tomorrow has converted a national potential treasure to an international potential
treasure.

b. RICKODEK AS A HILLOCK OF GOLD

Rickodek, the part of Chagi (Tehsil of Balochistan), means “Hillock of Gold”.

Pakistan and International media has highlighted a new discussion on „Rickodek‟. It is
the world‟s 4th largest deposit of gold and copper. It has dawned that the mountains of
Balochistan are filled up with much costly reservoirs of mineral. Nevertheless, it has also
been proved that the gold and copper reserves of about $260 billion are buried under
the Rickodek. But it is unfortunate enough on the part of Pakistan that in this developed
age; Pakistan is dependent upon foreign companies for their exploring, mining,
surveying and refining. The borders of Iran and Afghanistan are also not so far from
here. The decision of the Supreme Court about Rickodek has exposed that “under and
around this hillock of gold, there exists 10 billion kilo gram copper and 370 million gram
gold”. In order to attain this wealth, the international powers are being exposed under
their agendas.
 It has been observed throughout the history that, “the location of Balochistan
has enticed foreign powers to venture its latitude”. China is keen and has a focused
eye on Balochistan. The Gwadar Port has been completed with its help because China
wants to import raw material and oil from Middle East and Africa and export goods
through a land corridor that would extend from Gwadar to China‟s Sinkiang Province.
Strategically, this port is situated near the Straits of Hormuz, “A Major Oil Shipping
Lane” and China wants entrée to the sea for its land-locked western provinces.
America- Pakistan is important for America due to Balochistan. In order to counter Iran,
America has already given the signals of attack to Israel and US Congress has agreed
over it. The main factor is “China”. The experts are of the opinion that in the next 30 or
40 years that there are chances that the natural resources of China and oil of the Arab
world will eliminate and after that the US will be dependent of Central Asia, Iran and
Afghanistan; and for which the US would have to cross Balochistan and its Coast.
Therefore, it would not be an easy job, owing to the interference of China. In this
regard, the Gwadar Port and coastal line of Balochistan will play a key role.

9. PAKISTAN AND THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES

Pakistan is known as the door of Islam/Fort of Islam. If we look at the map of

Muslim countries, Pakistan occupies a central location among the Muslim world. Thus, it
can actively participate in the activities of Muslim world-economic development.
Pakistan is the only Muslim country having nuclear capability. Pakistan has great
influence on the political and socio-economic activities in the Muslim world and the
Organization of Islamic Conference especially.

10. NUCLEAR CAPABILITY OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan‟s strategic position in the world has been considerably increased ever
since it has achieved nuclear capability, which has made it the only Muslim country
armed with atomic weapons. After acquiring the nuclear capability, the balance of
power in the region is restored.

11. CONCLUSION

Pakistan is very important country in the world with respect to its geographic
location. Its importance is enhanced as a gateway to among countries in the various
regions. Pakistan‟s geo-strategic importance can be best understood in the regional and
global perspective. In geographical terms, it is surrounded by four countries:
Afghanistan, Iran, India and China, each of which is a major player in international
politics. In one way or the other, Pakistan is vital for these countries and this raises its
international stature. Afghanistan which is now the focus of world‟s attention is
generally regarded as the breeding ground of all the international terrorism, militancy
and opium production. The whole world, including the US realizes the fact that no
peace is possible in Afghanistan without the active support and cooperation of Pakistan.
Situated in South Asia, Pakistan is a gateway to Central Asia and its Arabian Sea
provides an easy access to the countries of the Middle East. It lies in the neighbourhood
of China and India which due to their huge markets are supposed to be the economic
giants of future. To sum up, among the innumerable gifts bestowed upon Pakistan by
nature, perhaps one of the most important ones is its ideal and highly strategic
geographical location. If it is prudently used, it can make our country the hub of
international trade and commerce, opening up new doors of progress and prosperity for
its people.