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Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Challenges in 2022

Dr Qaisar Rashid 0
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JANUARY 12, 2022

Though the year 2022 begins with some newly found fervor bordering on ambitions, it brings along certain

challenges, especially related to Pakistan’s foreign policy. In this regard, three main challenges can be
counted.

The first challenge is that Pakistan is finding it difficult to balance its relations between the Afghan Taliban
and the United States (US). Both allege that Pakistan is siding with the other party. Both allege that
Pakistan battens on them without returning anything substantial. Both consider that they are the victims of
Pakistan’s sophistry. Interestingly, both are on a retribution course.

Afghanistan is inflicted with the tyranny of perennial internecine conflicts. The country is factious to its core
bracing volatility. Instability has been a recalcitrant hallmark. Sometimes, it seems that Pakistan has been
using Afghanistan’s instability against Afghanistan since the 1970s by extending support to certain groups
in the hope that Kabul will not interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs. Pakistan dislikes when Kabul refuses
to acknowledge the Durand Line as the international border. The shoals of Afghanistan are treacherous.
Since 1991, all agreements and schemes to introduce harmony into Afghanistan’s body politic have
foundered on either ethnicity or sectarianism. The urge to hold on to power is more potent than human
lives. Though Pakistan has also fished in Afghanistan’s troubled waters, Pakistan has avoided entering
into a conflict with the Afghans, even with those who have recently rooted out the barbed wire meant for
fencing the Pak-Afghan border representing the Durand Line established since 12 November 1893.

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Since 1991, all agreements and schemes to introduce harmony into Diplomats, business
Afghanistan’s body politic have foundered on either ethnicity or leaders stress for active
role of women in economic
sectarianism. activity

Traders call for removing

On the other hand, the US thinks that the key to peace in Afghanistan has been mislaid somewhere in hurdles in regional trade
Pakistan. On 14 December 2021, in a statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US’
ambassador-designate to Pakistan, Donald Blome said, “Mission Pakistan also plays an important role in
Pakistan’s IT exports likely
encouraging an inclusive Afghan government that respects and promotes the human rights of all
to surpass $3b this year
individuals, including women and girls and members of minority groups, and ensuring that Afghanistan
never again becomes a haven for international terrorism.” Implied in the statement, the allegation is
obvious: Pakistan is opposed to permitting the formation of an inclusive Afghan government in Kabul. Biden says US can confront
Currently, Pakistan has been sandwiched between the Afghan Taliban and the US government. inflation ‘without
sacrificing’ economic gains

The second challenge is that Pakistan is finding it difficult to balance its politico-economic relations
SMEDA to organize
between China and the US. Both consider that Pakistan is prevaricating on its undertakings. Both view
workshop on tourism, travel
Pakistan as an ingrate. Both weigh that their clout over Pakistan is thinning. Both doubt Pakistan’s intent. businesses
Both are reserved on bailing Pakistan out financially.

PAKISTAN
Pakistan has been an old ally of the US but Pakistan is also an old friend of China, which supported
Pakistan in the Security Council several times besides helping Pakistan develop its nuclear energy. Both
countries demand that Pakistan stay the course along with them. Tottering under all internal hiccups and President returns NAB,
election reforms bills
external exigencies, Pakistan has been shifting its focus from geo-politics to geo-economics. Internal
hiccups because the shift has been an agonizing process politically. From 2009 to 2018, civilian
governments faced resistance and bore condemnation on this account. External exigencies because the Fix the country now, Imran
European Union (EU) has been asking Pakistan to do regional trade to seek experience for doing challenges PM Shehbaz

international trade, as the EU cannot permit Pakistan for a long time to export its product on the quota
facility and keep on dumping products at the cost of local industries.
PM wants load shedding
reduced to two hours

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Interestingly, whereas China sees the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a framework for regional
connectivity which would benefit both the countries financially, the US ambassador-designate to Pakistan, More Posts from this Category
Donald Blome said, “Pakistan is pursuing expanded economic linkages with the United States as part of
what it calls ‘geo-economics’.” Over the years, both China and the US have invested in Pakistan politically BUSINESS
and financially, and now both incite partiality. Pakistan can neither refuse China nor can Pakistan disregard
the US. Similarly, Pakistan cannot disrespect Saudi Arabia which wants Pakistan to side with the US.
Gold prices up by Rs100 to
Rs139,200 per tola
The third challenge is that Pakistan is finding it difficult to strike a balance between its stance on geo-
economics and soaring relations with India. The concept of geo-economics, which was fraught with risks
before 2018, demands that Pakistan improve its trade ties with India. Pakistan feels constrained because Govt releases Rs1,949.72m for 13
petroleum sector projects in 11 months
of its stance that without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, Pakistan cannot normalize its trade
relations with India. For the past three years, Pakistan has been found muted on the Kashmir dispute, as PARC working on new breeding
Pakistan finds itself cornered in the world. Pakistan cannot compel India to restore the pre-August 2018 technologies to enhance crop production

autonomous status of the Indian-occupied Kashmir. It means that Pakistan’s geo-economics would be
Stock markets fall after US jobs report
lopsided by factoring out India from its sphere of trade.
Sheryl Sandberg to quit Facebook after 14
As if this were enough! Pakistan is beset with two challenges internal to its affairs. The first is economic years
instability and the second is political uncertainty. Inexperience coupled with gaffes has delivered Pakistan
economic instability. Interestingly, the same reason has been instigating political uncertainty. Similarly, More Posts from this Category
Pakistan is tormented with two challenges external to its affairs. The first is how to deal with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the second is how to do away with the Financial Action Task Force WORLD
(FATF). The IMF has been demanding from Pakistan to scale up income to contend with the country’s
expenditures. The IMF implies that Pakistan needs to cut down its expenditures to meet its income. The
US proud of long-standing partnership
FATF is unforgiving of the human and material loss that the Mumbai attacks of 2008 inflicted on the land of with Pakistan
India. Both IMF and FATF have been impinging upon Pakistan’s sovereignty. The world is unkind and the
time is unpleasant. Eight killed in factory explosion in India

Russia ‘throwing all its power’ at

Altogether, these seven main challenges will keep on wobbling Pakistan in 2022.
Severodonetsk: Ukraine governor

The writer can be reached at qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

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Rajan Rao
All the above are self-inflicted wounds. Regarding relationship with India, Pakistan issued empty threats, indulged
in chest thumping and closed / recalled its embassies, consultates etc. which were all its own decision. India
never started cutting trade and closing embassies. In fact, accorded Pakistan Most Favoured Nation (MFN)
status as per the WTO agreemeent and pakistan did not adhere to even this but expects india to adhere to
Online Jobs from Pakistan. Salaries May Surprise
UNSC. Double speak. See how India and China are conducting trade despite the border differences and border
You
clashes. That is the maturity and trade is the only… See More
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Like · Reply · 1 · 20w
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Satish Kumar Chadha
The writer's worries will be over soon as the "U-Turn Master of the World" in new Security Policy (as per today's
newspapers) is giving go ahead for trade with India pending Kashmir issue.

Indians love PMIK and hope him to contiune to rule for years to come.
Like · Reply · 20w

Mehmood Syed
Aprreciated
Like · Reply · 20w

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3 Comments Sort by Oldest

Add a comment...

Rajan Rao
All the above are self-inflicted wounds. Regarding relationship with India, Pakistan issued empty threats,
indulged in chest thumping and closed / recalled its embassies, consultates etc. which were all its own
decision. India never started cutting trade and closing embassies. In fact, accorded Pakistan Most
Favoured Nation (MFN) status as per the WTO agreemeent and pakistan did not adhere to even this but
expects india to adhere to UNSC. Double speak. See how India and China are conducting trade despite
the border differences and border clashes. That is the maturity and trade is the only… See More
Like · Reply · 1 · 20w

Satish Kumar Chadha

The writer's worries will be over soon as the "U-Turn Master of the World" in new Security Policy (as per
today's newspapers) is giving go ahead for trade with India pending Kashmir issue.

Indians love PMIK and hope him to contiune to rule for years to come.
Like · Reply · 20w
Show More Comments
Mehmood Syed

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