An overview of Pakistan's foreign relations with neighboring countries China, India, Afghanistan and Iran.

1. Socio-economic associations and
contemporary issues.

2. INTRODUCTION
The objective of our presentation and introduction of topic

3. • 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 exchange
Pakistan and it’s Neighboring Countries

4. Countries under discussion

5. PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Pakistan’s Socio-economic relations with China

6. • 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

7. • 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

8. • 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

9. • 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

10. • 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

11. • 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

12. REPUBLIC OF INDIA
Socio-economic relations with India

13. • 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

14. • 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

15. • 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

16. • 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

17. • 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

18. • 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

19. • 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

20. • 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

21. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Socio-economic relations with Iran

22. • 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

23. • 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

24. • Shia-Suni sectarian clashes, in particular, could have far-
reaching Impact on Iran-Pakistan relationship.
• More importantly, Iran’s
growing relations with India
particularly in defense could
affect Iran-Pakistan relations
in the coming years.
Pak-Iran Social Relations

25. • 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

26. • 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

27. ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
AFGHANISTAN
Socio-economic relations with Afghanistan

28. • 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

29. • 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

30. 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

31. • 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

32. • 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

33. • 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

34. CONCLUSION
Brief summary of topic

35. • 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

36. • 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