Survival of the Fittest

The phrase “Survival of the Fittest” encompasses the intrinsic reality of the world, letting us
know survival only belongs to the fittest whether it is an individual or a state. Muslim state,
Pakistan now is the fifth most populous country in the world and the only atomic power in queue
of Muslim states. Pakistan with tens of thousands of problems emerged on the map of the world
in 1947. Elusion by the boundary commission award, unequal distribution of assets, and massive
influx of refugee into newly born state were some issues, Pakistan had to deal with.

It is an astounding fact that Pakistan survived in such callous circumstances without being dismayed.
Now, the question arises what made Pakistan’s survival possible in midst of such arduous
conditions and how Pakistan derived its foreign policy to keep itself alive. Since its inception,
Pakistan has been in swirl of great problems, toiling for its survival. First and foremost, Pakistan
tried to find friends ensuring diplomatic and moral support to newly-born state. Muslim states
embraced Pakistan emergence on the world, giving it political, diplomatic and moral support
because the Islamic ideology was the key factor for strengthening relations with the Muslim
world. Iran was the first country that accepted Pakistan’s independence and extended warmest
welcome to Pakistan.

Paving relations with the Muslim world was the foremost objective of Pakistan’s foreign policy and still this objective is placed at the top of the priority list. Relations with Muslim states, provide helping hand to Pakistan for yielding its interests. Pakistan is still enjoying fraternal relations with the Muslim world. Furthermore, after having moral and diplomatic support from the Muslim world, there was a dire need of exchequer to Pakistan for its survival.

On the other hand, India was screaming that Pakistan would not be able to bear its own
burden and soon would be a part of India. But, Pakistan’s policy makers lashed Indian perception
and proved them wrong by making Pakistan a great state. Pakistan formulized its policy aimed at
procuring aid from the west that was the sole source of bolster at that time. Somehow, Pakistan
did great job by establishing amicable relations with west because USSR (Now Russia) was not
ready to help Pakistan at that time of need.

Being a democratic state, Pakistan was bound to have relations with the west. In the wake of relations with the west, Pakistan had to bear the wrath of the Soviets in form of their relation with the Indians. Therefore, Pakistan joined the group of western powers and proved itself to be faithful friend of westerns. Undoubtedly, Pakistan’s foreign policy has always been Indian-centric, stabilizing the balance of power in the region and Pakistan does not let India to get superiority over Pakistan.

This is how, it can be said that Pakistan’s foreign policy has always been successful in attaining its goals. Although Pakistan is surviving with limited resources, Pakistan did not let anyone to rule over it.

Indeed, Pakistan is also facing some challenges at diplomatic front, but Pakistan is
combating with them with great zeal and zest. Evidently, Pakistan exists in a region where peace
remains at stake because of tumultuous and envious agenda of Indian leadership and communal
riots in Pakistan’s western state, Afghanistan. India’s heinous role in the region, tribalism in
Afghanistan and skirmishes between Muslim states on ideological differences are some of
challenges that Pakistan is facing today.

Pakistan, for the several times, has extended its cooperation on the several fronts and offered negotiation table to India in order to resolve outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Indian unilateral decision to revoke the special status of Kashmir on August 5, 2019 sparked hostility between two nuclear power states.

Pakistan responded to the atrocious act of India at International level, emphasizing the peaceful
solution of Kashmir under the UN resolutions. Now, there are some reports referring
backchannel talks between two states in UAE. Yousaf-al-Otaiba a UAE’s ambassador to
Washington has answered queries about recent detente between India and Pakistan, saying UAE
is behind bringing peace between two states.

Besides these reports, there are rumors of deemphasizing the Kashmir question in current bilateral talks. Above all, Pakistan is doing great by bringing India at negotiation table and Kashmir issue would soon be raised at official level.

Similarly, Pakistan shares its one-third border having length 2430Km with Afghanistan that has
been safest destination for terrorist outlets. Pakistan has reportedly faced an egregious economic
loss estimating $123 billion in war against terrorism. Moreover, seventy thousand citizens
including seven thousand security personnel martyred while defending Pakistan.

Fortunately, Pakistan has been successful in war against terrorism by envisaging and presenting fine art of foreign policy during an era of crises. Eventually, peace treaty is signed among all stakeholdersPakistan is one of them-involved in Afghan crises and now foreign troops are said to be leaving Afghanistan by September 1, 2021. Here again, Pakistan proved itself fittest while maneuvering
its foreign policy.

Since its establishment, Pakistan has been relishing the support of its two great friends, one is Saudi Arabia and the second is Iran, but unfortunately, both Saudi Arabia and Iran has not been very close to each other since 1979. In this foggy situation, Pakistan gets itself entangled in the quagmire of uncertainty whether to go or not. Pakistan cannot dare to deteriorate its relations with both sates because Kingdom is possessing sacred places and Iran is sharing 909 Km long border with Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan decided to be friend of both, that again indicates far-sightedness of policy makers of Pakistan. In a recent interview, Saudi prince Muhammad Bin Salam has brought delicate change in his tone towards Iran, gesturing upcoming détente between two hostile states. Suffice to say, Pakistan is said to be the fittest state while formulating its foreign policy towards states. One cannot even imagine how Pakistan is tackling all ongoing problems. Indeed, Pakistan is a God-gifted state as its founding father once narrated that there is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.

The Writer is a student at Department of International Relations, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. He can be reached at muhammadhaseebpasha@gmail.com