Pakistan’s Relations with Neighboring CountriesSocio-economic associations and contemporary issues.

INTRODUCTIONThe objective of our presentation and introduction of topic

• Pakistan is bordered by 4 important countries on all sides.• China in the north.• India in the north-east.• Iran in the west.• Afghanistan in the north-west.• Our presentation aims to summarize our economical and social relations with these four countries.

Importance of geo-strategic position and socio-economic exchangePakistan and it’s Neighboring Countries

Countries under discussion

PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINAPakistan’s Socio-economic relations with China

• Pakistan has long lasting terms with China and mutual interest is central point of this strong ties

• Aim to transform strong political relations into strong economic ties.• Relations with China began in 1950 when Pakistan became first

Muslim country accepting People Republic of China as an Independent state.

• Both countries have exchanged tours on high level and have made agreements on many issues.

• China provides Pakistan economic, military and technical assistance. • China is assisting in improving Pakistan’s Nuclear power sector and in

establishment of seaport in Gwadar. • China supports Pakistan on Kashmir Issue while Pakistan supports

China on Tibet, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

Overview

• Pak-China Friendship has reached new heights recently.

• Delegations visit frequently to promote Chinese culture.

• Several community projects like the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad have been completed to promote goodwill.

• Student exchange takes place between two countries every year.

Pakistan-China Social Relations

Inauguration of Pak-China Friendship Center

• In a recent survey on democracy in South Asia, 96% Pakistanis claimed that China was the ‘friendliest’ country.

• Financial aid is also given for social projects.• Chinese language is being taught at few private schools and has

been applauded by Chinese Ambassador.

Pak-China Social Relations Continued

• Economic trade between both countries is increasing

• Free trade agreement has recently been signed.

• Military and technological transactions continue to dominate the

economic relationship between the two nations.

• China has been helping to develop Pakistan's infrastructure

through the building of power plants, roads and communication

nodes.

Pak-China Economic Relations

• Current trade between both countries is at $9 billion, making China the second largest trade partner of Pakistan.

• Investment in Pakistan's energy sectors, amidst a surge of Chinese investment designed to strengthen ties.

• Pakistan has in turn been granted free trade zones in China.

Pak-China Economic Relations Continued

Economic corridor & railway track

• Pak-China Economic Corridor is under construction.

• It will connect Pakistan with China and the Central Asian

countries.

• Gwadar port in southern Pakistan will serve as the trade nerve

centre for China in oil trade.

• Using Gwadar port will reduce the distance these ships must

travel and will also enable oil transfers to be made year-round.

Pak-China Economic Relations Continued

REPUBLIC OF INDIASocio-economic relations with India

• Ever since Independence and the break up of the sub-continent,

Pakistan and India have had less than cordial relations.

• The wars which took place in 1948, 1965 and 1971 further added

to the hostility between the two nations.

• Kashmir issue remains a thorn in relations.

• Now ‘battles’ between India and India are fought on the cricket

pitch, showing that hostility remains in the hearts of the nation.

• Economic relations are strained due to this historical animosity

although the cultural similarities cannot be denied.

Overview

• Pakistan culture is quite similar to Indians as we

Muslims were once Indian Muslims and after

independence we were separated but the rituals and

culture didn’t change.

• They have same degree of cuisines and languages.

• It was even difficult to make a clear distinction

between Pakistani music and Indian music

Social Relations of Pakistan with India

• The millions of Muslims who migrated from India to the newly created Pakistan during independence came to be known as the Muhajir people.

• They are settled predominantly in Karachi and still maintain family links in India.

Social Relations Continued

People migrating to Pakistan in 1947

• Relations between Pakistan and India have also resumed through platforms such as media and communications.

• Aman ki Asha is a joint venture and campaign between The Times of India and the Jang Group calling for mutual peace and development of diplomatic and cultural relations.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

• The Wagah border connects Lahore, Pakistan with Amritsar, India.

• Each evening, the Wagah border ceremony takes place in which flags are lowered and guards on both sides make a pompous military display and exchange handshakes. Ceremony is viewed by 100s of people everyday.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

• Wedding and matrimonial ties are still there. Some Indian and

Pakistani people marry across the border, particularly with

present generation of relatives who had migrated from India.

• Sports like Cricket and Hockey matches between the two have

often been political in nature and are followed closely by the

two nations.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

• Transport between India and Pakistan has been developed for tourism and commercial purposes and bears much historical and political significance for both countries.

• Language is a very important link between social relation as Urdu is technically classified as an Indo-European language on the Western Hindi branch of the language tree.

Indo-Pak Social Relations Continued

Urdu & Hindi

• Trade across direct routes has been curtailed formally. • Actions are being taken for cooperation between the two

countries for the benefit of people through improved economic relations and Pakistan - India trade to bring prosperity to people of two countries. • The bulk of India-Pakistan trade is routed through Dubai. • But now Pakistan, India agrees over greater trade through

land route.• In the TTA with Afghanistan, Pakistan refused to provide

India with land route to Afghanistan through Pakistan.

Economic Relations with India

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRANSocio-economic relations with Iran

• Iran was the first to extend recognition to the new State. • It established diplomatic relations with Pakistan in May

1948.• Iran-Pakistan relations have fluctuated over the years. • Iran supported Pakistan whenever it faced the serious crises

and was in danger. • It extended moral, political, diplomatic and financial

support to Pakistan. • However the events of 9/11, the growing US-Pakistan

relations, and wars on Iran’s flanks have had their effect on the relations between the two states.

Overview

• Iran Centre of Culture (Khana-e-Farhung) was established but

was not fully successful in promoting goodwill.

• Social tensions are likely to continue in both the countries in

future.

• The deepening differences based on ethnicity, language,

religious sectarianism and economic disparities in Pakistan

would have wider results and slow down the performance of the

domestic political system as well as the pursuit of the external

policies.

Pak-Iran Social Relations

• Shia-Suni sectarian clashes, in particular, could have far-reaching Impact on Iran-Pakistan relationship.

• More importantly, Iran’sgrowing relations with India particularly in defense could affect Iran-Pakistan relations in the coming years.

Pak-Iran Social Relations

• Quantum of trade is relatively low. • Iran exported US$265 million to Pakistan whereas Iran

imported US$92 million from Pakistan during the financial year 2003-2004. • The Pak-Iran gas pipeline, also known as the Peace

pipeline, is an under construction pipeline to deliver natural gas from Iran to Pakistan, thought to be finished in December 2014.

Pak-Iran Economic Relations

• The principal items of trade between Iran and Pakistan are textile, agricultural products, fruits and iron ore.• Iran has also shown keen interest to make investment in

various economic, industrial and mining sectors in Pakistan.• An agreement to promote bi-lateral trade was signed by

Governor of Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan Province, Hussain Amini and his counterpart from Pakistan’s Southwest Baluchistan province, Owais Ghani.

Pak-Iran Economic Relations Continued

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN

Socio-economic relations with Afghanistan

• Pakistan shares its longest borderline with Afghanistan in the north-west, the Durand Line, that of 2250 km.

• Both countries, being Islamic Republics, were expected to have a somewhat friendly relation.

• However, this prediction was proved wrong right in the beginning ever since Afghanistan refused to recognize Pakistan as a sovereign state in 1947.

• Ever since then, Pakistan’s social, economical and political relations with Afghanistan have been turbulent.

Brief history and background of relations.Overview

• There is a grave social issue of Afghan refugees who crossed over legally and illegally when the USA attacked Afghanistan decade ago.• Increase in crime rate took place due to this.• Pakistan also was under economic stress due to refugee camps.• Pakistan and Afghanistan have never had a written socio-cultural agreement promoting friendship between the two countries.

Social Relations of Pakistan with Afghanistan

Transit Trade Agreement• The Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement is a

two-sided contract signed first in the 1950s. • Its terms have been renegotiated several times and the

latest contract was signed in 2010.• This treaty allows Afghanistan access to the port of Lahore,

and also access to a land route to export goods to India.

Pak-Afghan Economic Relations

• Trade between the two countries has increased from 830.2 million USD in 2006-07 to 2.5 billion USD in 2010-11 due to non commercial goods. • It declined in the following years. • Bilaterally formal trade is increasing but informal trade is

higher than formal trade.

Pak-Afghan Economic Relations Continued

• The two states signed a MoU for the construction of rail tracks in Afghanistan to connect with Pakistan Railways (PR), which has been in the making since at least 2005.

• In November 2010, the two states formed a joint chamber of commerce to expand trade relations and solve the problems traders face.

Other Actions Taken to Improve Trade

Pak-Afghan Border

• Another trade issue is the smuggling of goods, usually across the turbulent area of Torkhem.• It is thought that this illegal trade makes up more GDP

then the legal trade between the two countries. • All kinds of goods, even vehicles, are transported illegally

in containers across the border through Torkhem.• Government officials have been thought to be involved in

this scandal.• It is still on-going with no solution visible.

Issue of Smuggling

CONCLUSIONBrief summary of topic

• Pakistan has a fierce independent foreign policy, especially when it comes to issues such as development of nuclear weapons, construction of nuclear reactors, foreign military purchases and other issues that are vital to its national interests.• The relations of Pakistan with India are always under the

black clouds, both the countries do take steps towards the betterment like Aman ki Asha but still there is a great hurdle between the two countries.• Iran has been a respected, popular, and favorable nation

among Pakistanis, with 76% of Pakistanis have consistently view their western neighbor positively, making Pakistan the most pro-Iran nation in the world.

Conclusion of Topic

• China is the only country with Pakistan has friendly relations as Pakistan was the first one to recognize them as a new state. Pak-china friendship is going towards betterment day by day.

• Relations with Afghanistan has always been critical, although Pakistan being the most supportive state for Afghanistan but still there are a number of things which cause trouble.

• Pakistan is doing its best to strive for a strong yet friendly foreign policy to promote goodwill but also remove threats from its neighbors.

Conclusion Continued

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