Maneha Bukhtiar
Foreign policy is the set of ideologies and objectives which determines the relations of state to another state. Foreign of Pakistan is based on friendship and goodwill regarding all the nations. Pakistan always give moral support to poor nations of the world. Pakistan’s foreign policy towards India is full of restrictions. Pakistan and India have troublesome relations with the history of wars and bilateral conflicts. Some long term issues territorial dispute of Kashmir , Siachen, Sircrek along with water issues. There are some issues that need to be addressed by both nations . General PervaizMusharraf rebuilt a friendly and soft image of Pakistan towards India and all other nations. The procedure of reunion between both neighbouring countries again started through Agra summit after the period of deadlock since kargil episode of 1999. 9/11 attack changed the behavioursof India and Pakistan. After the terrorist attack on Indian parliament start raising voice against state sponsored terrorism by Pakistan. Pakistan forbid Islamic militant organizations include in jihad held in Jammu and Kashmir due to the pressure of India and this was the major shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy towards India. Pakistan announce that he would not bear the millitants against India and would not let his territory to be use a against any state including India. The historic four point formula of Musharraf over Kashmir efforts towards confidence building, and joint anti terrorism mechanism were the developments during president Musharraf era. In Musharraf’s 1st press conference he showed policy aims towards India in the way that Indian hostility would be met with hostility , peace with peace, threats with threats and one thing is declared that if any country is threatening the Pakistan then the response from Pakistan will be also threatening. The core issue was Kashmir issue and Musharraf place Kashmir issue as the main point in Pakistan’s foreign policy towards India. Major shift in the foreign policy of Pakistan towards India is after 9/11. Pakistan fueled many Islamic militant organizations and also funded ISI for a long time against Indian army occupied in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also become U.S ally in war on terror and made many decisions to eliminate terrorism. Since 9/11 many Kashmiri’s groups which Pakistan long favored as freedom fighters featured prominently on U.S government. The terrorist attack on Indian parliament in Delhi on 13th December 2001 made both states towards the high of confrontation. On 12th January 2002 Musharraf give a speech and in his speech he put a ban on Jaish e Muhammad and lashkar e taiba through freezing their assets. General Musharraf’s speech is translated as beginnings of quantitative change in Pakistan India policies. Pakistan restarted the peace procedure with the comeback of composite dialogue in 2004 and the restoration of diplomatic relations and over fights was the first priority above all which had been broken after the terrorist attacks on Indian parliament in December 2001. Many talks on Siachen, Sircrek, wuller dam, talks on nuclear confidence building measures were the part of peace process.
CONCLUSION:
India and Pakistan had several mutual conflicts since independence which grow with the passage of time. Kashmir remained the main issue between both states since 1947. Pakistan always raised the Kashmir issue in foreign policy towards India and India always ignore this issue. Foreign policy of both countries depend on leadership of both states. Foreign policy of Pakistan always remain under several challenges since independence.
