Pakistan is located in South Asia and shares borders with India, Afghanistan, Iran and China. It has faced challenging relations with some of its neighbors throughout its history since gaining independence in 1947. Some key questions related to Pakistan’s enemies are:
Who are Pakistan’s biggest rivals? Pakistan’s biggest rival is India. There is a long history of conflict between the two countries since partition in 1947. They have fought multiple wars and still have major disputes over the Kashmir region.
Which countries support India against Pakistan? The United States has historically backed India and taken an anti-Pakistan stance in conflicts. Russia has also tended to favor India more recently.
Is Afghanistan an enemy of Pakistan? Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of harboring Taliban militants that carry out attacks in Afghanistan. However, Pakistan also hosts millions of Afghan refugees. Overall relations are complex but frequently tense.
Does Pakistan have conflict with Iran? Iran and Pakistan generally have cordial relations. However, Iran has sometimes accused Pakistan’s intelligence services of supporting militant groups that carry out attacks in Iran.
Who are Pakistan’s closest international allies? Pakistan’s closest ally is China. They have strong military, economic and diplomatic ties dating back to the 1960s. Other allies are Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Malaysia.
History of Conflict with India
India and Pakistan have been arch-rivals since the partition of British India in 1947. The violent partition along religious lines left tensions and unresolved territorial disputes between the two newly formed countries.
Some key conflicts include:
– 1947 War: This war erupted shortly after partition over the disputed region of Kashmir. The war ended in 1949 with a UN brokered ceasefire but Kashmir remains divided between India and Pakistan.
– 1965 War: This was a failed attempt by Pakistan to take Kashmir by force. The war ended in a UN mandated ceasefire with no territory changing hands.
– 1971 War: This war led to the independence of East Pakistan as Bangladesh. It was a defeat for Pakistan. India took advantage of the civil war in East Pakistan.
– 1999 Kargil War: Pakistani soldiers infiltrated Indian controlled Kashmir leading to a limited but intense conflict. International pressure forced a Pakistani withdrawal.
– Water Disputes: India and Pakistan have disputes over sharing water from Indus River tributaries that flow through both nations. These remain unresolved.
Kashmir Conflict
The disputed Kashmir region has been the major flashpoint fueling tensions and wars between India and Pakistan. When British India was partitioned in 1947, Kashmir was a Muslim majority princely state that could choose to join either dominion. Its Hindu ruler opted for India but Pakistan contested this.
Key aspects of the ongoing Kashmir dispute are:
– Both countries claim Kashmir in full but control only parts of it. India controls Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. Pakistan controls Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
– India and Pakistan have fought multiple wars over Kashmir, most recently the Kargil War in 1999.
– Anti-India insurgency movements have fought Indian security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir supported by Pakistan.
– India accuses Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. Pakistan denies this.
– Numerous UN resolutions call for a plebiscite to settle Kashmir’s status but these remain unimplemented due to lack of agreement.
– Kashmir remains heavily militarized making it one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints.
Other Territorial Disputes
Besides Kashmir, India and Pakistan have other unresolved territorial disputes stemming from partition:
– Siachen glacier: This contested Himalayan glacier has been the site of military conflict between both nations. Troops remain deployed on the glacier.
– Sir Creek: This marshy estuary separating Gujarat in India from Sindh in Pakistan is disputed between both countries.
– Ladakh border: There are competing claims over some areas like Depsang Plains along the Line of Actual Control dividing Ladakh.
Pakistan’s Allegations of Indian Interference
Pakistan has frequently accused India’s intelligence agencies like RAW of interfering inside Pakistan to destabilize the country. Some alleged activities include:
– Supporting separatists in Balochistan: Pakistan claims India provides covert support to Baloch separatist groups conducting insurgency in Balochistan province. India denies this.
– Causing unrest in Sindh: Pakistan accuses Indian intelligence of stirring up unrest and ethnic tensions in the Sindh region by supporting nationalist groups.
– Maintaining militant camps: Pakistan released a dossier in 2020 claiming India is running militant training camps along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. India termed it “imaginary”.
– Funding the TTP: Pakistan alleges India provides funding and arms to the banned Pakistani Taliban (TTP) that conducts attacks against Pakistan.
– Targeted killings: Pakistan has blamed India’s RAW for targeted killings of Pakistani civilians, journalists and human rights activists especially in Balochistan.
– Sponsoring PTM: The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) has protested human rights violations. Pakistan claims India sponsors PTM to destabilize Pakistan.
– Cyber warfare: Pakistan accuses India of hacking and cyber attacks targeting its critical infrastructure like airports and stock exchange.
Afghanistan’s Grievances Against Pakistan
Ever since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have been complex and frequently tense. From the Afghan perspective, Pakistan is blamed for the following:
– Supporting the Taliban: Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of nurturing, training and providing sanctuary to the Taliban militants that fight Afghan and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies actively supporting the Taliban.
– Undermining Afghan governments: Afghanistan believes Pakistan’s spy agencies have constantly worked to undermine elected Afghan governments through proxy militant groups and political interference.
– Disputed border: The Durand Line border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is disputed by Afghanistan. It does not recognize the boundary.
– Limiting trade: Pakistan is blamed for restricting Afghan transit trade and exploiting landlocked Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistan for access to ports.
– Mistreating refugees: There are 1.5 million registered and 1 million unregistered Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Harassment and mistreatment of refugees by state agents has worsened relations.
– Using extremism as policy tool: Afghan officials believe Pakistan uses extremist groups as “strategic assets” to retain influence in Afghanistan and counter Indian presence.
– Seeking “strategic depth”: Some experts think Pakistan wants influence in Afghanistan to gain “strategic depth” against India and train militants.
Impact on Relations
The grievances held by Afghanistan against Pakistan have manifested in the following ways:
– Afghanistan has increasingly aligned strategically with India against Pakistan.
– Border tensions remain high with frequent clashes and closure of border crossings by both sides.
– Millions of Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan in poor conditions.
– Afghanistan opposes major development projects initiated by Pakistan in Afghanistan like the CASA-1000 electricity transmission line.
– Talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan to build trust have largely failed.
– No formal defense cooperation exists between the two countries.
Iran’s Problems with Pakistan
In contrast to the openly hostile relations between Pakistan and India or Afghanistan, Pakistan’s ties with Iran tend to be more complex. The relationship has seen both cooperation and tensions over the years:
– Cooperation during sanctions: Pakistan maintained trade and economic ties with sanction-hit Iran despite international pressure. Pakistan also initiated gas pipeline projects with Iran.
– Security coordination: Both countries have cooperated in combating drug trafficking across the border. Some coordination also exists against militant groups like Jundullah that operate along the border.
– Border tensions: Sporadic clashes occur between Iranian border guards and Baloch insurgents allegedly based in Pakistan. Iran has threatened hot pursuit across the border.
– Sectarian mistrust: Iran’s Shia leaders are distrustful of Pakistan’s links to Saudi Arabia and generally pro-Sunni foreign policy tilt.
– India ties: Pakistan’s close ties with Saudi Arabia and growing alignment with India worries Iran.
– Militant attacks: Groups like Jaish-ul-Adl based in Pakistan have carried out deadly attacks against Iranian security forces. Iran alleges Pakistan harbors these anti-Iran groups.
– IP gas pipeline: After initially agreeing to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Pakistan has stalled the project under Saudi and U.S. pressure frustrating Iran.
Future Prospects
Despite some tensions, shared interests between Iran and Pakistan prevent any major confrontation:
– Both nations need stability in Afghanistan. Cooperation to facilitate an Afghan peace process is mutually beneficial.
– Curbing the narcotics trade requires close coordination particularly border security cooperation.
– Pakistan remains an important avenue for Iran to break sanctions induced isolation and reach international markets.
– Pakistan has affirmed it will not become party to any Saudi led anti-Iran alliance. This reassures Iran.
– Completion of the IP gas pipeline would interlink both economies and incentivize stable bilateral ties.
China’s Strategic Relationship with Pakistan
China has been Pakistan’s closest and most reliable ally since the 1960s. Defense, economic and diplomatic ties are highly robust between the two countries described as “iron brothers”.
– Defense Ties
| 1960 | Defense cooperation starts |
| 1966 | Arms supply and war assistance treaty signed |
| 1970 | Pakistan facilitates US-China rapprochement |
| 1979 | Military and economic aid provided to Pakistan |
| 1980s | Joint development of JF-17 fighter jet |
| 1998 | Nuclear cooperation after Pakistani nuclear tests |
| 2016 | $350 million arms sale to Pakistan |
Key aspects of defense partnership include:
– China has been the main supplier of arms to the Pakistani military including fighter aircraft, warships, tanks and missiles.
– China assisted Pakistan’s nuclear program and missile development.
– Strong intelligence sharing especially about India.
– China has vetoed UN resolutions against Pakistan like one against Hafiz Saeed.
– Economic Ties
| 1963 | Boundary agreement settles border disputes |
| 2002 | Free trade agreement signed |
| 2013 | China becomes Pakistan’s largest trading partner |
| 2015 | $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor agreed |
| 2017 | Chinese companies get 40% of Pakistan’s LNG import contracts |
Key aspects of economic partnership include:
– China is Pakistan’s largest investor, trading partner and source of imports. Bilateral trade is worth $15 billion.
– Major infrastructure projects are being built by Chinese firms under CPEC including highways, power plants and Gwadar Port.
– Pakistan relies heavily on loans, aid and investment from China as well as technical expertise.
– Energy projects like hydroelectric dams and solar parks are being developed with $25 billion Chinese financing.
– Diplomatic Cooperation
China has provided strong diplomatic support to Pakistan:
– Backing Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, terrorism, and nuclear issues on global platforms.
– Preventing sanctions or blacklisting of Pakistani militants by the UN.
– Limited criticism of Pakistan’s human rights violations.
– Priority support to Pakistan in times of crisis like war.
Pakistan’s Ties with Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has been an important Muslim ally of Pakistan offering economic aid, cheap oil and security cooperation:
– Defense Cooperation
– Thousands of Pakistani troops are stationed in Saudi Arabia for security.
– Pakistan has provided military training to Saudi forces.
– Saudi Arabia funds training of Pakistani troops and provides discounted oil in return.
– Pakistan has nuclear ties with Saudi Arabia and may transfer technology.
– Economic Assistance
– Saudi Arabia has given aid worth billions of dollars to Pakistan over the decades.
– It provided oil facility worth $3.2 billion in 2018 to ease Pakistan’s balance of payments crisis.
– Saudi Arabia has invested in several sectors of Pakistan’s economy especially energy.
– Around 2.5 million Pakistanis work in Saudi Arabia sending back $6 billion in remittances.
– Ideological Links
– Both follow orthodox Sunni Islam and propagated an extreme interpretation globally.
– Pakistan relied on Saudi support against India by presenting itself as a unique Sunni nuclear power.
– Saudi Arabia supports some extremist groups linked to the Pakistani military.
– Pakistani military helped the Saudi monarchy build capacity and contain internal threats.
However, Saudi pressure on Pakistan to join its war in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi rebels has strained ties recently. Pakistan also declined to actively participate in an anti-Iran alliance promoted by Saudi Arabia. Still, defense and economic ties remain robust.
Turkey’s Alliance with Pakistan
Pakistan and Turkey have an enduring alliance spanning defense collaboration, cultural links and economic ties:
– Defense Ties
– Close military cooperation including joint exercises and exchange programs.
– Turkey has provided missile technology and modern combat aircraft to Pakistan.
– Plans exist to jointly develop and produce advanced tanks and navy vessels.
– Intelligence sharing particularly about anti-government groups.
– Cultural Connections
– Both societies follow historically linked Sunni Islam interpretations and Sufi traditions.
– Turkish cultural influence on Muslims in South Asia dates back centuries especially under the Ottoman Empire.
– Turkish TV drama serials are hugely popular in Pakistan. Tourism also remains robust.
Economic Engagement
| 2005 | Creation of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council |
| 2012 | Preferential Trade Agreement |
| 2015 | $1 billion defense deal |
| 2016 | $20 billion bilateral trade target set |
– Bilateral trade stands at around $1 billion currently with both sides aiming for $5 billion.
– Turkish companies have invested significantly Pakistan’s construction and energy industries.
– Strategic Economic Framework setting long term economic goals was signed in 2017.
Turkey supports Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and favors its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group blocked by India. Both nations see cooperation as mutually beneficial against shared regional rivals.
Malaysia’s Friendly Ties
Malaysia has emerged as an important Muslim ally of Pakistan in recent years:
– Defense Cooperation
– Joint production of aircraft, battle tanks and naval ships are planned.
– Military training exchanges take place annually between armed forces.
– Malaysia has shown interest in purchasing JF-17 fighter jets and Super Mushak trainer planes from Pakistan.
– Economic Relations
– Bilateral trade stands around $1.5 billion currently with both nations aiming to triple it.
– Malaysia has shown interest in joining CPEC projects especially infrastructure and energy investments.
– Around 600 Malaysian firms do business in Pakistan especially in telecom, banking and real estate sectors.
– Diplomatic Support
– Malaysia has provided consistent diplomatic backing to Pakistan on Kashmir.
– It supports Pakistan’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
– Strong backing in the UN and OIC on blasphemy and Islamophobia issues.
– Malaysia has also sought Pakistan’s efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad has been a strong vocal supporter of Pakistan’s stances. Malaysia seeks to emulate Pakistan’s economic progress and development. Both nations see the relationship as mutually beneficial.
Conclusion
Pakistan faces tensions with immediate neighbors like India, Afghanistan and Iran rooted in territorial disputes, proxy warfare allegations and regional rivalries. However, it enjoys reliable alliances with China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia who provide extensive diplomatic, military and economic support. Pakistan will likely have to improve ties with bordering countries to ensure regional stability while maintaining strategic relationships that counterbalance India.