The guiding principles of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy are derived from the Pakistan Movement which embodied the struggle of the Muslims of South Asia for an independent and sovereign state wherein they could build a social order based on Islamic values and traditions.

For a State that came into existence as a result of its impelling sense of Muslim nationhood rooted in Islamic ideology, it was only natural that it should give its unreserved support to the liberation of Muslims still under colonial subjugation, and to work ardently for the promotion of Islamic unity and solidarity.

Ethos of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy is also determined by its experience of struggle against colonialism and its commitment to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, which hold out the promise for a just political world order in which nations can live in peace and security and devote their energies for building a prosperous future.

As a non-aligned Islamic country, Pakistan has resolutely supported Islamic causes, anti-colonial and anti-Apartheid struggle as well as struggles for liberation and self-determination in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Support to Just Causes

As a Muslim country, Pakistan has consistently supported the Arab and Palestinian causes. It has fully supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state in Palestine. Pakistan has time and again reminded the world community that they all had a stake in the speedy resolution of the conflict in the Middle East. For this purpose, Pakistan has sponsored a number of resolutions in the Security Council and the General Assembly, which call for the establishment of a just and durable peace in the Middle East, on the basis of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Arab lands and the restitution of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to an independent and sovereign state of their own in their homeland Palestine.

In Africa, where vestiges of colonialism still exist, Pakistan has actively worked for accelerating the process of decolonisation. Pakistan gave material assistance and political support to African national liberation movements in the past. Pakistan also fully supported the efforts of the people of Namibia to achieve independence and has firmly opposed the illegal control of that land by racist Pretoria.

With our deep faith in human equality and universal brotherhood, we also consider the continuation of the abhorrent system of Apartheid as a blot on human conscience. This repugnant anachronism must be completely destroyed and the political and national rights of the suppressed majority of South Africa must be fully restored. Pakistan fully supports the anti-Apartheid struggle of the majority black population of South Africa. Regional Situation

Pakistan’s geo-strategic position is such that since its creation it has faced a succession of challenging situations. In recent years the problems in the region have multiplied in a way that has focused world attention on Pakistan. The most important issue which today faces Pakistan — and the entire region — is that of Afghanistan.

The foreign military intervention in Afghanistan in December, 1979, in flagrant violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, has brought about a qualitative change in the security environment of the region with profound repercussions for global peace. This military intervention has sparked off a national and indigenous resistance movement throughout the length and breadth of Afghanistan.

It has been a constant endeavor of Pakistan to promote a just political settlement that would restore the sovereignty, independence and non-aligned status of Afghanistan and strengthen peace and stability in the region. The fundamental principles for such a settlement have been enunciated in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Organization of Islamic Conference and have been endorsed by the Non-Aligned Movement namely:

(i) Immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan;

(ii) Respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and the non-aligned character of Afghanistan;

(iii) The right of the Afghan people to determine their own economic, political and social system, free from outside intervention, subversion or coercion; and

(iv) The creation of necessary conditions for the voluntary return of the Afghan refugees to their homes in safety and honor.

At the 40th session of the U.N. General Assembly, in November, 1985, the overwhelming majority of the UN membership adopted a resolution with 122 votes to T9, calling for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

The consequences of foreign military intervention have confronted Pakistan with certain inescapable economic, social, political and security problems. Foremost among them is the continuing influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan. Their number has exceeded three million and is likely to increase further. Pakistan has provided this helpless mass of displaced humanity shelter and succor on purely humanitarian grounds and as its Islamic duty. Pakistan wants to see an early end of this vast humanitarian problem.

Solidarity with Islamic World

Pakistan has made consistent efforts to promote solidarity among the Islamic Ummah and for the advancement of the Islamic causes. Pakistan also has extensive economic cooperation with the Islamic countries. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani nationals are engaged in the developmental activities in the Islamic world, especially the Gulf. Pakistan played a significant role in the establishment of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1970, and hosted the Second Islamic Summit in Lahore in 1974. It has also endeavored to contribute to the strengthening of various organs and agencies of the OIC, such as the Islamic Solidarity Fund. In October 1980, the President of Pakistan was accorded the unique honor of addressing the UN General Assembly on behalf of the entire Islamic World.

At the 15th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers at Sana’a in December, 1984, Mr. Sharifuddin Pirzada, a distinguished Pakistan national, was unanimously elected as the Secretary-General of the OIC.

The people of Pakistan are deeply anguished by the continuation of the tragic conflict between Iran and Iraq. As Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference, President Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq undertook goodwill peace missions to Teheran and Baghdad, in September, 1980. Since then, he had made several efforts individually and within the framework of the Islamic Peace Committee to bring this conflict to an end.

Search for Peaceful and Cooperative Relations

Pakistan adheres scrupulously to the policy of non-alignment. Pakistan has developed and expanded its relations with major powers as well as with neighbors.

Sino-Pakistan friendship is a model of relations between states, particularly those with differing socioeconomic systems. A distinguishing feature of Pakistan-China friendship is the frequent high-level visits between the two countries. As Prime Minister of Pakistan, the first official tour of a foreign country undertaken by Prime Minister Mr. Mohammad Khan Junejo was to China. SinoPakistan cooperation extends over many spheres. China has extended to Pakistan valuable assistance in the field of economic development and in strengthening its defense capability.

Pakistan enjoys ties of close friendship and cooperation with the United States. Like China, the United States shares the view that strong Pakistan capable of defending itself, is important for the peace and security of the region. In order to meet Pakistan’s economic needs and help in strengthening its defense, the American Administration has extended a six-year program of economic assistance and credit for military sales concluded in 1981.

Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo paid an official visit to the United States in July, 1986. The visit reaffirmed Pakistan’s friendly ties with the United States and in the process paved the way for closer relations in economic, technological and cultural fields.

While Pak-US relations are progressing well, it cannot be overlooked that Pakistan’s modest nuclear program has been a target of hostile propaganda and unwarranted speculation in certain western and American media. However, Pakistan’s assurances on the subject have been well received in Washington.

Pakistan desires, and has endeavored, to maintain friendly and cooperative relations with the USSR. Economic, commercial and cultural relations between the two countries have developed steadily. “Pakistan Steel” in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest industrial project, built with Soviet assistance, is a symbol of Pakistan-USSR cooperation in the economic field.

One problem affecting bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Soviet Union is the Afghanistan issue on which Pakistan has adopted a position of principles.

Pakistan’s policy towards India seeks the establishment of tension-free, good-neighborly and cooperative relations. An impetus was given to relations between the two countries following the President’s meeting with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi in November, 1982, which led to the establishment of the Joint Commission and consultations on Pakistan’s proposal of a “Non-Aggression Pact” and India’s counter-offer of a “Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation”.

Pakistan seeks a solution of the Jammu and Kashmir Dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and in the light of the Simla Agreement.

Pakistan has played a pivotal role in the formal launching of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at Dhaka in December, 1985, comprising seven South Asian States, namely Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives. Its charter stresses promotion of the welfare of the people of South Asia, improvement of their quality of life, and acceleration of their economic, social and cultural development.

Disarmament and Equitable Global Economic Order

Sharing the universal concern of our age, Pakistan maintains the position that if mankind is to survive, the nuclear arms race must be halted. Pakistan has suggested that the United Nations should examine the regional perspectives on nuclear non-proliferation with a view to devising effective and equitable means to prevent the spread of nuclear arms. Pakistan has also made several equitable and non-discriminatory proposals by which Pakistan and India could keep our area free of nuclear weapons. These include:

One: Simultaneous accession by India and Pakistan to the Nuclear-Proliferation Treaty;

Two: Simultaneous acceptance by both count-tries of full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

Three: Mutual inspection of each other’s nuclear facilities;

Four: Joint declaration renouncing the acquisition or development of nuclear weapons; and

Five: Establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in South Asia.

Pakistan is prepared to enter into any agreement or arrangement with India on the basis of sovereignty and reciprocity to keep our area free of nuclear weapons. Pakistan would welcome any ideas, participate in any consultations, attend any conference in order to achieve this objective.

Pakistan believes that if economic deprivation, hunger and disease are unacceptable anywhere, they must be abolished everywhere. The restoration of stable and sustained global economic growth requires simultaneous action to increase concessional assistance, build food security, resolve the debt burden, eliminate trade barriers, promote monetary stability and enhance scientific and technological cooperation.

Pakistan has played an active role in the formation of new international organizations to facilitate the development of the Third World countries. Individually and as a member of Group of 77, Pakistan has supported the North-South dialogue as a means of creating a more just and equitable international economic order.