PAKISTAN is enhancing its relations with the states within the region and extending its ties with them more than ever. Foreign policymakers have finally realized that strengthening the bond with the West is not enough in the changing international arena.
Pakistan must have options other than the West because history indicates that the West helped Pakistan only when it needed her. In the prevailing economic scenario, Pakistan should refrain from only depending on western influenced IMF. It is a dire need of time for Pakistan to extend relations with the states within Asian region in energy, technology, population mobility, agriculture, regional connectivity and education sectors.
Foreign relations of Pakistan with other countries in the Asian region had fostered under the current government. Pakistan has recently increased its bilateral ties with Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, China, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Middle East states, etc.
This farsighted, non-aligned and friendly foreign policy will help Pakistan to grow its continuously declining economy. The increased interdependence of regional states with Pakistan will also decrease the regional security issues for Pakistan.
During the early months of 2023, Pakistan signed several agreements with the states in the Asian region. In February, Ambassador Kistafin showed Kazakhstan’s desire to sign a Transit and Trade Agreement (TTA) with Pakistan which is very important as it will provide a legal framework for the businesses of both countries to develop trade ties. The exports of Pakistan to Central Asian States reached $35.742 million this year. This data reflects a substantial increase of $30.302 million compared to the $5.440 million recorded in March 2022.
The Qatar Investment Authority Chief expressed his keen interest in investing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants, airports and solar power parks in Pakistan. Pakistan and Iran inaugurated Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace and Polan-Gabd Electricity Transmission Line at the Mand-Pishin border crossing point.
Another foreign policy achievement in May was that Pakistan and Azerbaijan agreed to enhance and diversify bilateral trade and expand cooperation in energy, information technology, labour mobility, agriculture, transport connectivity and education. During the Prime Minister’s visit to Iraq, Pakistan and Iraq agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties.
A significant success of Pakistan’s foreign policy in 2023 is implementing a barter trade agreement with Russia, Iran and Afghanistan in June this year. This barter trade system will help Pakistan lower the mounting pressure on its foreign exchange reserves. Recently, Pakistan’s central bank announced it had received a $1 billion loan from China. These all are the manifestations of Pakistan’s pragmatic foreign policy.
Now a question arises here if Pakistan’s foreign policy is achieving its goals, then why is Pakistan facing so many problems? The answer to this is simple. Pakistan has started reshaping its journey and strengthening ties with regional and friendly countries. It will take time to yield results particularly new relations with Russia.
To see the results of this vigilant foreign policy, Pakistan has to continue its relations with these regional states. Moreover, it has to implement the agreements signed with these states. If Pakistan’s foreign policy continues to achieve these milestones of friendly foreign policy within the region, it will soon be able to grow its economy, technology, trade, infrastructure and energy sector.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
