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Diverse landscapes and diverse Cultural Panorama
Pakistan, the land of diverse landscapes and diverse cultural panorama, it graces the world at the Western end of the Indo Gangetic Plain bordering India, China, Afghanistan, Iran and the Arabian sea coast. Geography has blended with the destiny of the country in more than one way: proving to be an opportunity at times and a handicaps at others. The region where Pakistan locates has been focus of the geopolitics for centuries. There is a Great Game going on between regional states and other world’s power to grasp over the energy and oil resources of Central Asian Republics. The Great Game was actually a term used for strategic rivalry between British Empire and Russian Empire to gain supremacy in Central Asia. The New Great Game is a current competition between the US, Rsussia, Turkey, Iran, China, India and Pakistan to secure reliable long-term resources of petroleum and natural gas through the construction of oil pipelines in the post Soviet Nations of Central Asia.
At the end of the Cold War the opening up of new Muslim Central Asian Republics who were rich in resources but landlocked heightened the geo-strategic importance of Pakistan. The Russian withdrawal from central Asia after its defeat created a power vacuum in Central Asia. Pakistan having its cultural and historical links with Central Asia is fully capable to fulfill this vacuum.
The flux at the end of the cold war provided the context that allowed Pakistan to pursue this strategic vision. Even after the end of the cold war Pakistani rulers believed and hoped that Pakistan because of its geostrategic importance is capable to fulfill US,s strategic and geo-economic interests in the region. Pakistan sought front line state despite of the withdrawal of Soviets and US from Afghanistan.
In fact contrary to popular perceptions Pakistan has assumed the role of a front line state much before even the Soviet Union’s intervention in Afghanistan. There is evidence that Islamabad’s involvement with Afghan mujahideen goes back to 1974 while USSR intervened in 1978-79 in Afghanistan. The politics of aiding mujahideen was linked with objectives of geopolitical objectives of the Pakistani rulers. They had visualized a role for Pakistan the contours of which went much beyond Afghanistan and included the Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union.
A friendly govt. in Kabul was to provide the much-needed strategic depth against India and a land bridge toward Central Asian. After the disowning of Central Asians states by Soviet Union Pakistan rushed into fulfill the gap. Pakistan was the First country to send delegation to all the Central Asian countries in November-December 1991, led by the then economic affairs minister of state Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali.
Domination in Afghanistan
Domination in Afghanistan was important to Pakistan to exercise control over the southern corridors of Central Asian. This was the only way to enhance the Pakistan’s geopolitical standing in the West in shaping the future evolution of Central Asia. It covers quietly fit into America’s political and strategic objectives in the Central Asia region, which provided advantageous ground for preventing Russian hegemony in the region, containing Iran and playing a balancing role against emerging powers such as China.
The control over the Pakistan Afghanistan corridor and creating an opening from the South would also be vital for the West in gaining access to oil and natural gas to the region.
Gawadar important from import and export
Central Asian countries and West China are closer to Arabian waters through Pakistan. The new port of Gawadar is the best route to import and export their goods. Indian economy can boost itself by devising a route to the gas and oil pipeline through Pakistan. Currently peace pipeline is under discussion and Pakistan is on the tip toe of expectations to fulfill her long cherished dream of fueling her mills through Iranian oil and gas and receive multi-billion dollars as sent by transporting Iranian hydro-carbens to India and world at large.
Gawadar is under constant focus by global powers because of its strategic location. Gawadar is located on the South-Western coast of Pakistan, close to the state of Hormuz on the Persian gulf. More than 13 million barred oil pass through the strait. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions. The oil-rich Middle east, heavily populated south Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central- Asia.
Balochistan Situation
The current situation in Balochistan can also be seen as a Great Game. Anti Pakistan forces are trying to destabilize to harm Pakistan’s interests in the region. These anti Pakistan forces are fueling the anti Pakistan’s emotions in Batbchistan to become an independent state so the hegemonic forces can gain control over Balochistan and take control of trade route and energy supply from Central Asian Republics to the outer world. What is must Leaders is to secure the situation in Balochistan so that further complications can be avoided and people of Balochistan would work with more enthusiasm for the development. The development in Balochistan is prim,rily beneficial to Balochis. And if once the B.Iochis feel the taste of econ” prosperity than no wheels of the time can be swinged and old days of suppression of Balochis would be over.
War going on against terror
The current war going on against terror is nothing but an extension of Great Game to reach to the energy resources of Central Asia and to supply them to the outer world. Pakistan had no option but to be a part of the anti-terror war after the incident of 9/11. It was the supreme interests of the country to participate in war against terror being geographically and politically so important rather than to see Great Game as a silent spectator. Pakistan has been playing a vital role in dismantling terrorists structure. Pakistan’s armed forces are continuously engaged in war near Afghan border. Pakistan had suffered many economic losses and the most precious thing is the lives of the soldiers.
Exploitation of oil and energy resources
The exploitation of oil and energy resources will generate wealth. The U.S.A will broach an arrangement to trans-ship immense amount of gas from Iran to India and Pakistan will earn as $500 million as trans-ship fee per year. U.S will build a gas pipeline from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan overland Afghanistan and Pakistan to the port of Karachi, earning Pakistan immense fees and make them overlords of energy to South East Asia, Japan and even to China. Trade between India and Pakistan will hit $2 billion a year.
The critical role of Pakistan as a factor in International stability and global politics can’t be denied. Pakistan had very close contacts with Muslim countries. It is seen with eyes of respect in Islamic countries because it is unique in its identity as a Muslim country.
There is another aspect of similarity that is Culture of Pakistan which is part of Iran and Arabia as well as Central Asia and Turkey. So Pakistan in its cultural aspect is very close to its neighbors. The millions of Pakistanis working in Gulf states are sending money by remittances.
Membership of Organization of Islamic Cooperation had been very helpful in moral, political and sometimes economical support for Pakistan. The 13% population of India is muslim and it is one of the factor Which links Indian Muslims and Pakistani interests.
Pakistan’s unique geography lends it a distinct strategic importance ideally placed to be a force for peace in its region and in the world. It has also potential to become inter- regional trading hub. Pakistan had, positioned itself to offer trade and energy corridors to the Central Asian states. However at the same time, the location of Pakistan places excessive demand of security.
By far the most serious bone of contention among Pakistan and India seems the problem of Kashmir. It was decided to have a plebiscite in 1948 with cooperation of United Nations. But India refused to act upon the instrument unless Pakistan withdraw its forces from northern areas. India considers Kashmir a part of India and thinks the issue is over but three wars 1948, 1965, 1971 has been taught consecutively for Kashmir with India. Thousands of Kashmiris have been killed and hundreds of women had been raped by the Indian army But even than no end seems.
For this Pakistan’s security concerns should be given respect by the international community and concrete efforts must be made to national peace. And it will be a helping hand to materialize the oil and gas exploitation plans from the Central Asian’s Republics.
Geography has placed Pakistan in the lap of strategy. Towards its eastern horizon in South Asia and Western perimeter extends 9ght up to Europe through the Middle East. Its shores are washed by the Arabian sea, which sweeps down into the Indian Ocean, to make Pakistan a part of the South East Asian subsystem and that of the great Afro—Asian macrocosm — South Asia together with Southwest Asia or the Middle East is, therefore, ,e fulcrum of Asia where China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and the Persian 3utf States meet in amity and enmity.
Today, Pakistan itself, rather than its Geology or Islam is at stake. Geopolitically and o-strategically, Pakistan is at the cross road t continents and of history—or destiny getting overawed by these constraints can be ‘armful as indifference to them. Extremes excesses (whether of the right or left, north or south, east or west), resulting either from panic or complacency, euphoria and over
confidence, are to be avoided, alike, through neutrality, moderation, balance and independence within the limitations imposed by our traditional policy compulsions, including bilateralism, Muslim brotherhood and third world orientation or rationalization, which should scrupulously avoid any confrontation or polarization.
lnter-action and inter-linkage of trade and transport provides the most potent input for economic cross-fertilization to Pakistan through boosting the inherent dynamics of the economy, motivating and promoting development of new productive capacities, generating new job opportunities and additionally contributing to the GNP.
Pakistan enjoys vividly a competitive edge as potential transit route for the trade of its immediate neighbors as well as the Central Asian Republics (CAR). Realization of this potential could mark an impressive addition to our economic capacities. However this would require up gradation, alignment and integration of individual modes of transport to have an integrated system, efficient and capable to come up to the requirements of trade as regional transit hub-Geopolitical compulsions and geo-strategic constraints are also what national policy and ideology make of them in order to safeguard national interest through national power. Much depends on the collective national leadership in Pakistan and the institutions and traditions, policies and principles, values, socio-economic models and political system it floats.
Sincere leadership, social adaptability, regional alliances especially with China, Iran, CARs, resolution with India, visionary qualities, and “Pakistan First”, make all of us really independent from all socio-economic strains and financial dependencies. This is the way through which Pakistan can translate its strategic and geographic importance into the goal of ambitious glorious, perfect and developed Pakistan.
In the words of Z. A. Bhutto:
“Pakistan’s importance should not be distorted merely in terms of India and Pakistan; Pakistan has different frontiers as well. There are the related questions of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the whole region. If Pakistan or Iran suffered, then all countries would meet a similar fate right up to Spain and the encirclement would be complete”.
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