Write note on the post 9/11 foreign policy of Pakistan. What role do you foresee for Pakistan in regional and global politics in the near future?

Introduction

After 11 September 2001, General Pervez Musharraf told the nation in a televised address on 19 September 2001 that Pakistan had to choose its course in light of its national interest; his later slogan "Sab se pehle Pakistan" (Pakistan first) summed up that approach. The attacks transformed Pakistan's foreign policy: overnight it went from being a sanctioned state that recognised the Taliban to a frontline ally of the United States. Since then, Pakistan's foreign policy has had to balance the United States and China, manage a hostile India and an unstable Afghanistan, and respond to terrorism and economic crises. These experiences also point to the role Pakistan may play in regional and global politics.

Overview

Before 9/11, Pakistan faced sanctions for its 1998 nuclear tests and the 1999 coup, and it was one of only three countries that recognised the Taliban regime. After 9/11, it joined the US-led coalition, received aid and became a Major Non-NATO Ally (2004). At the same time, it deepened ties with China, culminating in CPEC (2015), opened to Russia, joined the SCO (2017) and adopted a geo-economic approach in its National Security Policy (2022).

Main features of post-9/11 foreign policy

1. Alliance with the US in the war on terror.

Pakistan provided bases, logistics and intelligence, received over $30 billion in US assistance between 2002 and 2018, and suffered heavy losses in the war. (Reference: Congressional Research Service, Direct Overt U.S. Aid Appropriations for and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2020; Finance Division, Pakistan Economic Survey 2017-18.)

2. Deepening strategic partnership with China.

China became Pakistan's main arms supplier and investor; the partnership was upgraded to an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with the launch of CPEC in 2015. (Reference: Joint Statement on Establishing the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, 20 April 2015.)

3. A shifting Afghan policy.

Pakistan abandoned the Taliban in 2001, dealt with the Karzai and Ghani governments, facilitated the Doha Agreement (2020) and then engaged the Taliban government after 2021, while facing TTP attacks from Afghan soil. (Reference: Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, 29 February 2020; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan statements, 2021-2023.)

4. India: from composite dialogue to crises.

After the 2001-02 military standoff, the two countries began a composite dialogue (2004) that made progress, including on Kashmir, until the Mumbai attacks (2008). Later crises followed in 2016, 2019 and 2025. (Reference: Joint Press Statement, Islamabad, 6 January 2004; Ministry of Foreign Affairs statements, 2019 and 2025.)

5. Outreach to the Muslim world.

Pakistan maintained close ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Qatar and Iran, receiving financial support and remittances, and hosted the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in 2022. (Reference: OIC, Islamabad Declaration, March 2022; State Bank of Pakistan, Saudi and UAE deposits.)

6. Engagement with Russia and Central Asia.

Pakistan improved relations with Russia, signing a defence cooperation agreement (2014), holding joint exercises and pursuing energy projects, and launched Vision Central Asia. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Pakistan-Russia relations; Vision Central Asia, 2021.)

7. Multilateral diplomacy.

Pakistan joined the SCO, served on the UN Security Council (2003-04, 2012-13 and 2025-26), chaired the G-77 in 2022 and helped secure the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27. (Reference: UN Security Council membership records; UNFCCC, COP27 decisions, 2022.)

8. Economic diplomacy and geo-economics.

The National Security Policy 2022-2026 made geo-economics central, seeking trade, investment and connectivity rather than relying on geopolitical alignments. (Reference: National Security Policy of Pakistan 2022-2026.)

Pakistan's likely role in regional and global politics

1. A connectivity hub.

With CPEC and planned railway links to Central Asia, Pakistan can become a hub connecting China, Central Asia, the Gulf and South Asia. (Reference: Long Term Plan for CPEC (2017-2030); UAP railway framework agreement, 2023.)

2. A bridge between China and the Muslim world.

Pakistan's ties with both China and Muslim countries allow it to act as a bridge, as when it helped arrange US-China contacts in 1971. (Reference: Henry Kissinger, White House Years, Little, Brown, 1979, on Pakistan's role in the 1971 opening to China.)

3. A stabiliser for Afghanistan.

No settlement in Afghanistan is possible without Pakistan, which can promote stability, trade and counter-terrorism there. (Reference: UN Security Council Resolution 2593 (2021).)

4. A responsible nuclear state.

Pakistan can contribute to strategic stability in South Asia through credible deterrence, crisis management and arms-control proposals such as a Strategic Restraint Regime. (Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, proposal for a Strategic Restraint Regime in South Asia, 1998 onwards.)

5. A partner against terrorism.

With its experience in counter-terrorism, Pakistan can work with regional and global partners against groups such as ISIS-K and Al-Qaeda. (Reference: National Action Plan, 2014; SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.)

6. A voice for the Global South and Kashmir.

As a leading developing country, Pakistan can champion climate justice, debt relief and self-determination, including for the people of Kashmir and Palestine. (Reference: UNFCCC, COP27 Loss and Damage Fund; UN Security Council Resolution 47 (1948).)

7. A contributor to peacekeeping.

Pakistan's long record in UN peacekeeping will keep it an important contributor to global security. (Reference: UN Department of Peace Operations, troop contributor data.)

8. A balancer among great powers.

As US-China rivalry grows, Pakistan can maintain balanced relations, avoiding bloc politics while engaging both. (Reference: National Security Policy of Pakistan 2022-2026, section on foreign policy.)

Conclusion

Allama Iqbal wrote in Bal-e-Jibril: "Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqdeer se pehle, Khuda bande se khud pooche bata teri raza kya hai" (Raise your selfhood so high that before every decree of fate, God Himself asks you what you desire). A self-reliant Pakistan is the precondition for an independent foreign policy. Pakistan's post-9/11 foreign policy has moved from a frontline alliance with the United States towards a broader, more balanced approach centred on China, the Muslim world, Russia, Central Asia and geo-economics. In the near future, Pakistan can play a valuable role as a connectivity hub, regional stabiliser, bridge between powers and voice of the Global South, but only if it strengthens its economy, achieves internal stability and resolves its disputes through diplomacy.