Introduction
A Country or state is an independent and sovereign government that controls a defined and bounded area, which is internationally recognized by other states. It is important for the survival of a state that its people remain happy and safe. So the priority of the state is to improve the quality of life.
For this, a country or state formulate a comprehensive set of policies.
Foreign policy is one such policy to achieve the quality of life of the people of a country.
AS new fissures appear in the governing elites in Pakistan, the fulcrum of global politics seems to be running away from the country
Pakistan is part of the greater Indian subcontinent and is situated at the crossroads of the Middle East and Asia. Iran and Afghanistan on the west, China on the North, Jammu Kashmir on the Northeast, India on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the south. And so, the region where Pakistan lies is important politically, economically, and militarily. Pakistan plays an important role in global politics and international stability.
The geographical location could be an asset as well as a liability depending upon the context.
Pakistan is the direct neighbor of the two most populous/nuclear countries.
Buffer state between gas-rich Central and gas-poor India.
A state between the oil-rich Middle East and oil import-dependent India.
It is part of the biggest market for goods/services -military and consumer.
This assignment explains the challenges faced by the foreign policy of Pakistan in its rapidly changing regional Apparatus and how to respond to them.
What is Regional Apparatus?
The Regional Apparatus of a country refers to the threat posed and opportunities available to a country from the conflicts and or cooperation among the countries in the region due to global or regional politics which could adversely or positively, impact upon the efforts of a country to safeguard its national interest.
Resultantly there are four determinants of a country‘s regional apparatus
- Geographical location(discussed in the introduction)
- Regional dynamics
- Global politics
- Trends and events
Regional Apparatus – Regional Dynamics
We have one question how the country is affected by the regional conflicts and crises ?
The country is affected by the regional conflicts and crises. Crises is basically a time of intense difficulty or danger when we take important decisions and when wars among the adjacent countries and crises occurs then the country affected.
If we take the example of civil war which is the war between the citizens of same country then the country affected .
Geopolitical configurations also related to the formal or informal alliances among the regional countries . These alliances and antagonisms are the blessings of global powers . Global powers may be political power, power between the nations and army power.
Regional dynamics – affecting Pakistan
Regional dynamics have many affects on Pakistan ,as ;
- India -America strategic partnership
- China -Pakistan economic corridor
- China -Iran strategic Agreement
- Shanghai regional cooperation
- India -Hegemonic designs
1.India- America strategic partnership
India -America partnership was a planning for the organization. That was the long-term planning in which India becomes the partner of America but this strategy had negative impacts.
2China-Pakistan economic corridor
This is also the organization that occurs between Pakistan and China for economic corridor. This organization was for the development, growth and peace in the economy of Pakistan. This organization had positive impacts on Pakistan.
3.China – Iran strategic Agreement
This was the planning between China or Iran for the agreement which has positive impacts on Pakistan.
4.Shanghai Regional Cooperation
This was the Eurasian political , Economic and security organization. This was the largest organization in terms of geographical scope or population.
This was the largest organization because it covered 60% area or 40% world population.
5.India -Hegemonic designs
This was also the planning in which India had many powers authorities and leadership but they retain in India and now open these powers ,leadership and authorities called India-hegemonic designs.
They had also many regional dynamics like as;
Russia -India friendship
This was the planning which had negative impacts on Pakistan.
Iran-India friendship
They had neutral impacts on Pakistan.
India -Afghanistan friendship
They also had negative impacts which affect the Pakistan.
REGIONAL APPARATUS – Global Politics
In global politics we include global agenda in which nearer countries or neighbour countries provide diplomatic support, economic help and military aid to each other but their mutual interaction would have serious impacts on the foreign policies of each country .
In global politics we use two-way Street term which related to major powers .Major powers also affected by regional conflicts which causes confusion in fashion competition.
For defending the geographical frontiers of the state ,it is necessary to formulate and practice the vibrant foreign policy
There are three basic needs of a foreign policy:
- The number one deals with taking cognizance of the routine developments in all around world and formulating policies as an effective response.
- The number two requirement is of a proactive nature. It comprises tailoring a particular policy or policies to project the interests of the country so the world in a manner that it moulds the opinions to generate the understanding and acceptability of the narrative.
- The number three component deals with the framing the urgent response to the emergent situations arising out of wars, earth quakes, floods, or other catastrophes.
Global politics-Affecting Pakistan
1.Advent of cold war 2 :
This was the war without powers and nuclear powers called cold war because this was the political ,social, ideological informational war without nuclear powers .
This war occurs between the developed countries China or declining country America in which the United States of America was diminished in power Geo politically , militarily, financially, economically etc.
2.China efforts of global connectivity :
This was the efforts for development ,growth and peace in economic of Pakistan.
In this efforts ,Pakistan and China had no benefits but it had positive impacts because it had benefits for Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia.
3.American – Sanction on Iran :
This was the planning of America in which America has sanction on Iran and restarting the economic growth of Iran which had negative impacts on Iran and Pakistan.
4.Iran-Saudi Arabia Rivalry :
Due to the rivalry of Iran to Saudi-Arabia causes retarding oil supplies, expatriates and terrorism which had negative impacts on Pakistan and also many countries affected.
5.China -Russia friendship :
China -Russia friendship had positive impacts on Pakistan because china and Russia friendship give many opportunities to Pakistan like economically and militarily or financially.
REGIONAL APPARATUS – Trends and events
In trends and events every country affected directly or indirectly by any significant event or trend happening anywhere in the world
Some events affects every country like :
1. Climate change :
When global climate or environment changes then the overall countries affected.
2.Nuclear proliferation :
If we use nuclear weapons then every country affected because nuclear powers had many harmful effects which was dangerous for every country.
3.COVID-19 :
This was the disease which spread all over the world and affected all countries in the world .In one year of Covid-19 ,1.62 million people all over the world ,died, 72.8 million people diseased.People could not see off their loved ones before dying .
Some trends affects every country like ;
Human rights movements :
Human-right movements like colonism ,imperialism, slavery , segregation etc.
Trends and events – affecting Pakistan
There was many events and trends which affects Pakistan like;
1.Religious extremism in Pakistan and India :
Religious extremism also affects Pakistan because in the country of Pakistan ,Muslims and Hindus live .Muslims loves Islam and Indians loves Hindus which causes conflicts between the India and Pakistan and had impacts on the Pakistan.
2.Rising sub-nationalism :
Rising sub-nationalism also had bad impacts on the Pakistan. In the Pakistan ,only the Muslims nation established but now this nation divided into sub-nations because this nations contains Muslims, Hindus and Sikh which causes sub-nationalism and had bad impacts on Pakistan.
3.Global terrorism :
Global terrorism affects the every country in the world . because global terrorism causes global conflicts in every country which causes wars among the countries. So, global terrorism is dangerous for all countries.
4.Arms Race :
It occurs when two or more countries increases the size and quality of military resources to gain military and political superiority over one and another. This had also bad affects all over the world and causes wars among the countries and citizens of same country.
5.Nuclear proliferation :
When we use nuclear weapon and nuclear power for wars than it had harmful affects on the countries and produces dangerous gases which is harmful for humans ,animals , birds etc.
Nuclear weapons had bad affects on countries and destroyed the whole world.
6.COVID-19 :
This was the disease which had harmful impacts on countries and affected the all countries in the world .Due to the COVID-19 ,many people diseased and died . Due to this pandemic, population rate decreased .