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.