The Geo-Strategic Importance of Pakistan

Stephen Cohn describes the Importance of Pakistan in the following words under the title under discussion.. “While history has been unkind to Pakistan but its geography has been of greatest benefit to it. It has resources rich areas in the north-west and people rich in the north-east”. Pakistan is located at a junction of South West Asia and is a way from resource efficient countries to resource deficient countries. Moreover the world is facing energy crisis and terrorism and Pakistan is a route for transportation of oil and a front line state against terrorism. Pakistan is a bridge between South Asia and South-West Asia. Iran and Afghanistan and energy abundant countries while China and India lacking it. China finds way to Indian Ocean and Arabian sea through Karakoram. China with its fastest growing economic growth 9% is developing its southern provinces only because its own port is 4500 km away from Sinkiang but Gawadar (Pakistan port) is only at distance of 2500 km from Sinkiang. Pakistan offers to Central Asian Republics (CARs) the shortest route only of 2600 km as compared to Iran and Turkey. Iran’s port is 4500 km and Turkey’s port is 5000 km away from Central Asian Republics. While Afghanistan is land locked country. The deep waters of Gawadar (Pakistani port) attract the trade ships of China, Central Asian Republics and South East Asian countries.