Atiqa Tariq
Pakistan’s geography has significant geostrategic, geopolitical, and geoeconomic importance as it share borders with India, Iran, Afghanistan, China, and the Arabiansea which connects it with Indian Ocean. Pakistan is the junction point between energy producers i.e., middle east, central Asia and energy consumersi.e.,China, Japan. It provides central Asiathe shortest route to the sea of 1600 km throughGwadar and Pasni port as compared to Turkey that offer approximately 5000km. Pakistan also offers China a shortest trade route via Gwadar port of approximately 2,500km for importing oil from middle east and exporting technological and other industrial goods to the worldwide market. In other words, Pakistan is the natural bridge that connects huge markets ofmiddle east, central Asia, south Asia, and east Asia. Speculating this, one can call the geography of the Pakistan a huge blessing but that is not the case. Pakistan’s geography serves more as a curse than as a blessing ever since its independence or one can call it a blessing in disguise. Because Pakistan has suffered more harm than good due to its geography. Ever since the independence, Pakistan has been the centre for the geopolitical foreplay for power, first between United States and Soviet Union and now between United States and China. Especially, Pakistan’s geographical location has been used as puppet at the hand of the United States. Whether it was US policy of containing Soviet Union, combating terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11, or now containing China, Pakistan’s role is significant. Pakistan was the ally of US during cold war and it was the frontline state in the Soviet-Afghan war. US sent various arms, money, training, and drugs in and out of Afghanistan through Pakistan. Pakistan’s Intelligenceagency ISI and CIA recruited thousands of Mujahadeens from almost 40 Muslim nations, trained them and made them participate in so called “Jihad”. Consequence of Afghan Jihad is still suffering by Pakistan. Islamization, initiated during that era, resulted in the religious polarization, Islamic radicalism, and extremism in Pakistan that can be consider major factors behind halted political, social, and economic progress of the country. In the aftermath of 9/11 attacks, US-led coalition invaded Afghanistanand Pakistan, once again, found itself as a frontline state in war against terror. Isolation of country, because of Chagai nuclear tests, Kargil war, and Musharaf military coup, began to end and the American, British, and other world officials started visiting Islamabad to gain its assistance. Pakistan has cooperated with US in numbers of ways which included providing logistics facilities, sharing intelligence information and handing over Al-Qaeda terrorists. In the end, Pakistan paid heavy cost of approximately 80,000 human causalities, economic loss of almost 126 billion dollars and bear the burden of millions of Afghan refugees for its active participation in combating terrorism. Despite all these struggles and sacrifices, Pakistan faced the immense backlash from international community for allegedly supporting Taliban and Al-Qaeda. And nothing much has changed, despite twenty years long and successful struggle of eliminating terrorist organizations, Pakistan is facing a new wave of terrorism. Now it is 21st century and we are witnessing dramatic change in world affairs where China, the rising super power, is replacing the existing Hegemone, the United States. Belt and Road initiative (BRI) is the Chinese grand strategy through which it is intended to expand its military and economic outreach throughout the world to counter United States. Of all the six economic corridors of BRI, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) is the most important flagship project because it has the potential to connect China to the Indian Ocean and shortens the trade route of China by more than 70%. Moreover, China’s role in the Pacific Ocean already got disputed because of South China Sea conflict with Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia. China also needs to alleviate the Malaccan Dilemma and search for the alternate land routes for which Pakistan is the best option. CEPC also has many benefits to Pakistan which includes enormous job opportunities, rapidindustrialisation, reducing energy crisis and rapid economic growth. On the other hand, United States is trying to maintain the status quo and preventing China from becoming the world most powerful state. US grand strategy is to contain China in the region by bewildering it with regional conflicts and once again, Pakistan’s geographical location became very significant. The regime changes in 2022 in Pakistan, claimed by than PM Imran Khan, is the one aspect of US grand strategy. In my opinion, the US’s intention behind this regime change was to create political turmoil and instability in the country so asto divert their attention completely from CPEC. And this is exactly what is happening in Pakistan. Though, PMLN is pro Chinese and they have worked so much on CPEC in their previous government and brought prosperity to the country to some extent. But this time, gaining power is more important to them than pursuing national interest. Geographical location of Pakistan played role both of curse and blessing but more as a curse. Despite all these negatives, Pakistan has shown excellent resilience. But authorities have to redefine Pakistan’s stance in international community more vigorously and pursue their own national interest instead of being the pawns of great powers.
