Pakistan’s External Affairs

or Foreign Policy
FPSC Guidelines about
CSS Current Affairs Paper

 Candidates will be expected to display such general knowledge of history, politics

and International Affairs, as deemed necessary to interpret current affairs.
 Introduction
 External affairs or foreign policy can be defined as a state’s external
behaviour and interaction with other states.
 In recent times, a country’s policy toward non-state actors and
international terrorist networks is also considered as part of foreign policy.
 Foreign policy is an integral part of a country’s governance and social
policy.
 Definition

Encyclopedia Britannica defines Foreign

Policy as ‘general objectives that guide the
activities and relationships of one state in its
interactions with other states’.
Pearson defines Foreign Policy as ‘the
strategies governments use to guide their
actions in the international arena’.
Internal Environment (vs) External Environment

 Foreign Policy analysis suggests that the state as a social institution exists in
two environments.
 On the one hand, there is the internal environment that is composed of all
the other institutions located in the territory demarcated by the state and
their interactions with it and with one another.
 On the other, there is the external environment composed of all other
states and their interactions with it and with one another.
 The state is constantly involved in attempts to intervene in both
environments, that is, engaged in ‘domestic’ and ‘foreign policy’.
External Affairs are more important or internal affairs are more
important?
 EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ARE BASED ON
INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Foreign policy is an aspect of national policy. If national

governance is dysfunctional, foreign policy cannot deliver. This is
because no coherent political framework for a successful foreign
policy will be available. Countries like Pakistan face such issues.

Elections alone can never transform bad governance into good

governance. Without the rule of law, political accountability and
a sufficiently informed and minimally educated public opinion,
there can be no working democracy, including a credible foreign
policy. Talking strategy becomes meaningless.
 Difference between Domestic
and Foreign Policy
 A state can make its domestic policy (such as economic policy, educational
policy) and also implement it independently because it has the administration
and police to enforce its policies.
 While a country can make its foreign policy but cannot implement it
independently.
 In foreign policy, outcomes are the product of interdependent decision-making.
The state cannot expect that other states will respect its authority because in an
anarchical system, no state possesses authority enforce its decisions
independently.
TOOLS USED TO ACHIEVE GOALS IN
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
1. Military force: The US used its military force in Vietnam,
Afghanistan and Iraq.
2. Alliances: NATO, Warsaw Pact, SEATO, CENTO,
3. Diplomacy: Diplomacy on Iran nuclear deal, US-North Korea
diplomacy, Indo-Pak diplomacy in Musharraf era.
4. Economic investments, loans and aid: China’s BRI and
CPEC, USAID
5. Sanctions: US sanctions against Iran, Venezuela and North
Korea
6. Intelligence operations:
 Foreign Policy is Part of National
Governance and Administration
 Foreign Policy is one of the government’s important
instruments for national governance and administration whose
main objective is to safeguard national interests and protect
national sovereignty in all international dealings.
 As such, it must contain appropriate set of strategies that are
anchored to certain set of principles that reflects the state’s
shared values and national identity.
 These parameters are themselves varied from one nation to
another, but the term ‘national interest’ (the basic aim of
foreign policy) is somewhat generic. It consists of state’s
sovereignty, general prosperity and international recognition
that must be safeguarded at all cost.
Different states have different External Objectives

 For example, Pakistan’s foreign policy is characterized by the principles of

sovereign equality, mutual respect for territorial integrity, mutual non-
aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, peaceful
settlement of disputes as well as mutual benefit in relations.
 Whereas the United States’ foreign policy is marked by international policing.
Similarly Indian foreign policy is characterised by an ambition to dominate its
neighbours and South Asian region.
The Evolution of External Affairs

 The process of foreign policy making has evolved from ancient times to
the middle ages when states were commonly ruled by single unitary
authority (a king or monarch) who made national decisions without any
democratic participation, including foreign policy decisions.
External Relations in era of Kings
In those periods of classical sovereignty, national identity and
sovereignty was vested in the ruler instead of the citizens or territory.
Therefore, foreign policymaking and decisions were exercised
exclusively by these monarchs, although some of them had a senate
or a royal council to advise rulers in state matters (such in the case of
Roman Empire and British Empire.
There were plenty of examples from ancient and middle ages’
empires to support this explanation; the Akkadian Empire (2334 –
2154 BC), the Babylonian Empire (circa 1792 – 539 BC), the Ancient
Egypt (3150 – 343 BC), the Roman Empire (27 BC – 1453 AD), the
Abbasid Caliphate (750 AD – 1258 AD), Ottoman Empire (1299 AD –
1922 AD) and the British Empire (1497 AD – 1997 AD).
 From Renaissance (circa 1500 AD)
till WW 2 (1945 AD)
 The period between Renaissance (circa 1500 CE)
and early 20th century saw widespread burgeoning
of the intellects and the middle class, who were
mainly not associated with nobility and aristocrats
at that time.
 These people began to considerably influence
political and social order, including state’s decisions
in international relations.
 However,
their influences were indirect and mostly
permeated through ideas and general discussions.
 Foreign Policy Making After Second World War

 The situation shifted dramatically after the devastation of

World War 2 when independent scholars and political
observers started to give specific attention to the study about
formulation and implementation of foreign policy.
 The shift was also concurrent with the emergence of
democracy and socialism as major doctrines for national
governance which replaced the ancient world order whereby
the sovereignty of a state is vested upon the territory instead
of the ruler.
 With these transitions, international relations and diplomacy
became a subject of public debate and scrutiny and no longer
an exclusive domain of the elites and the ruling classes.
Foreign Policy-Making in the Contemporary Era

 Nowadays countries are no longer governed single-

handedly by an absolute authority (with the exceptions of
few absolute monarchies such as Brunei and Saudi Arabia).
 Elected officials who represent state’s citizens govern the
country and together with national bureaucracies, they
make state’s decision on behalf of the electorate, including
foreign policy decisions.
 Further to that, non-state entities such a Multi-national
Corporations (MNCs) like Exxon Mobil, Apple and Facebook
which hold major socio-economic stake in modern societies
also began to influence state’s foreign policy decisions for
one reason or another via direct and indirect channels.
Should External Affairs be based on
Conflict or Cooperation?
Realism: Basic assumptions
Realism’s message can be summarized by the following assumptions:

 People are by nature selfish and are driven to compete with others for
domination and self-advantage.
 According to the realists, state is the basic unit in international system.
 Realism says that international system is anarchical, without any central
authority.
 So all states are motivated by national interest, defined in terms of power.
States are power maximizers.
 Decision makers (rulers) are rational actors (are they really?)
 States have to rely on three “S” formula.
Realism: 3 “S” Formula
 Statism: Statism is the centerpiece of realism. This involves two claims. First,
the state is the most important actor in world politics. Second, state
“sovereignty” signifies the existence of an independent political community.

 Survival: the primary objective of all states is survival; this is the supreme
national interest to which all rulers must adhere.

 Self-help: every state has to rely on its own power. No other state can be relied
upon to guarantee your survival.
Power?

Power can have different meanings in

different contexts.
For the realists, at the top of the list is
military power.
However, other variants of power also serve
the same purpose of national interest. Such
as:
Power: US Warship
Power: Russian Military equipment
Power? Economy, Shanghai, China
Power: Economy
Power: Technology
Worth of MNCs: Trillion Dollar Apple
Power? MNCs
Thailand Pakistan South Korea
Power? Culture
How can Stability be achieved
according to Realists?

3“S” Formula
Accumulation of Power
Maintaining the Balance of Power
Use of Military Force
Balance of Power

 Bipolar: Cold War, US and USSR

 Uni-polar: USA after the Cold War

 Multi-polar: BRICS and USA

Idealism/Liberalism: Introduction
Liberalism has been called the
“strongest contemporary challenge to
realism”.
Human nature can be cultivated. Man
can cooperate for shared benefits.
Power is not the only thing that
matters. Cooperation is good for all.
We all need one another.
Idealism: Basic assumptions
 Like Realism, Liberalism also acknowledges that the there is anarchy
in the international system. (i.e. no global ruler or world government)
 But unlike realists, the liberalists hope that the application of reason
and universal ethics to international affairs can lead to a more orderly,
just, and cooperative world.
 Trade is the key common interest
 Interdependence will make war too risky. IR is not a zero-sum game.
 International system should be based on laws (Treaties) and
institutions (UN, WTO)
 International law can help resolve conflicts.
Basic Assumptions (continued)

 Liberals view the individual as the seat of moral value and assert that human
beings should be treated as ends rather than means.
 Politics at the global level is more of a struggle for consensus and mutual
gain than a struggle for power and prestige.
 The importance of individuals—their essential dignity and fundamental
equality throughout the course of history, and the analogous need to place
the protection and promotion of human rights and freedom ahead of national
interests and state autonomy;
 The use of the power of ideas through education to arouse world public
opinion against warfare.
 International public opinion can help against violence.
How can peace and stability be achieved according
to the Liberals or Idealists?

 Peace and Stability can be achieved through:

I. Diplomacy
II. Free Trade
III. Global Institutions
IV. By Spreading democracy
V. Accountability, Checks and Balances
VI. Focusing on Shared Benefits
World: Interconnected by Optical Fiber Cable
International public opinion: FACEBOOK

 At least 2 billion people log into Facebook at least once a day.

 At least 2.5 billion people log into Facebook at least once a month
Diplomacy
Trade Interdependence

Wal-Mart in China
US companies in China
Chinese footprints in USA
Global Institutions: UN General Assembly
International Court of Justice,
The Hague, Netherlands
WTO, Geneva
Liberal World View
What are the factors which determine
Pakistan’s foreign policy?

Major Determinant’s of a country’s external relations are:

Internal/Domestic Determinants

1.Ideology based on Islamic principles

2.Historical background linked with Muslim rule of India
3.Social and political culture
4.Leadership and political organization
5.Military capability
6.Economic strength
7.Public opinion
8.Technological advancement
External/Foreign Determinants

1. Pakistan’s external alliances

2. Economic ties with other nations such as CPEC the China
3. Geographic location and neighbours
4. Soft power or country’s image in international arena
5. International law (Vienna Convention, Geneva Conventions and others)
6. International/regional organisations (UN, ICJ, SCO, SAARC, IMF, World Bank and
others)
 MAJOR THEMES OF PAKISTAN’S FOREIGN
POLICY
Pakistan seeks to protect, promote and advance its national interests in the
comity of nations. Quaid-i-Azam outlined the objectives of Pakistan’s foreign
policy On August 15th 1947:
“Our objective should be peace within and peace without. We want to
live peacefully and maintain cordial and friendly relations with our
immediate neighbours and with world at large. We have no aggressive
designs against any one. We stand by the United Nations Charter and
will gladly make our contribution to the peace and prosperity of the
world.”
Major Themes of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy

Primacy of national security (Examples: Proactive Defence, Full

Spectrum Deterrence, Tactical Nuclear Weapons to Counter Indian Cold
Start Doctrine)
Economic interests (Examples: CPEC with China and extensive
economic relations with Saudi Arabia)
Islamic solidarity (Examples: Pakistan’s stance on Palestine and
Kashmir issues)
Peaceful co-existence (Examples: manifested in repeated offers of
dialogue to India, Opening of Kartarpur Corridor)
Adherence to international law (Examples: Case of Kulbushan Yadhav
in ICJ)
Environment protection (Examples: Pakistan is part of Paris Climate
Agreement and is pursuing the ambitious recent Tree Plantation
Campaign throughout Pakistan)
Pakistan’s Relations

 In coming classes, we will study Pakistan’s relations with:

 The United States of America
 China
 India
 Afghanistan
 Saudi Arabia
 Iran
 And some other countries.
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