Living in a Zero-Sum game - Explaining Pakistan's Foreign Policy by Aparna Pande (A book review)
Good friend Aparna Pande's book hit the bookstalls in May this year. While I had been privileged to go through excerpts of it, it was an absolute pleasure reading this book. Explaining Pakistan's Foreign Policy - Escaping India, published by Routledge is among the most insightful of books on complexities of South Asian foreign policy.
Book discusses how Pakistan's foreign policy has evolved over time because of fear of a large neighbor India with whom Pakistan has shared the blood-feud of partition. It discusses in detail how the desire to counter India has been at the fore of Pakistan's desire for an Islamist identity, its quest for strategic depth, its efforts for Pan-Islamism and having a mid-eastern identity, and its opening up to China. The strongest, and at least for me the most insightful, portion of book is the one that deals with analysis of how events before and soon after partition led to an increased insecurity vis-a-vis India. Dr. Pande has not let her Indian nationality come in the way of objective analysis of how mistakes by Indian leaders cemented those fears and that makes her criticism of Pakistani policies on terrorism and Pakistan's insecurity of India all the more relevant.
The book is among the most honest attempts at dealing with Pakistan's foreign policy issues. Dr. Pande in the concluding section also discusses in detail the achievements of Pakistan and why it does not make much sense to continue with policy of insecurity any more. However, one thing that Dr. Pande has not covered in this book and I am sure she will in her subsequent books is the changing orientation of Pakistan's foreign and security policy.
In last two decades, Pakistan's foreign policy has moved from escaping India to countering India to now seeking a broader role in the region. Though defining a national identity remains an issue for Pakistan, the differentiation vis-a-vis India is becoming less and less an issue as the partition generations on both sides are fading into oblivion and indigenous generations are taking over the affairs. As the time passes, the military with its slow but gradual waning influence will also find it difficult to exploit India factor for her own survival. These factors along with a desire to be the energy conduit between Middle Eastern and Central Asian energy reserves and their markets, and focus on securing water reserves is changing the focus of Pakistani foreign policy. A lot of events of 2000 and beyond must be seen in light of these changing developments.
It is perfectly legitimate for Pakistan to pursue these national interests but the real challenge for policy makers will be not to repeat the mistake of using terrorism as a tool of security policy which ultimately hits the hardest back home. Whether Pakistan succeeds in achieving its security and foreign policy objectives sans terrorism will in great part determine the destiny of Pakistan. And I am sure Dr. Pande very soon will reward us with another book on South Asia encompassing emerging realities.
Till then, go grab a copy of the book. You might or might not agree with all that you read but you will finish it being more informed and more knowledgeable about Pakistan and evolution of its security and foreign policy and in admiration of Dr. Pande's intellect and her deep insight into the issue.
Book discusses how Pakistan's foreign policy has evolved over time because of fear of a large neighbor India with whom Pakistan has shared the blood-feud of partition. It discusses in detail how the desire to counter India has been at the fore of Pakistan's desire for an Islamist identity, its quest for strategic depth, its efforts for Pan-Islamism and having a mid-eastern identity, and its opening up to China. The strongest, and at least for me the most insightful, portion of book is the one that deals with analysis of how events before and soon after partition led to an increased insecurity vis-a-vis India. Dr. Pande has not let her Indian nationality come in the way of objective analysis of how mistakes by Indian leaders cemented those fears and that makes her criticism of Pakistani policies on terrorism and Pakistan's insecurity of India all the more relevant.
The book is among the most honest attempts at dealing with Pakistan's foreign policy issues. Dr. Pande in the concluding section also discusses in detail the achievements of Pakistan and why it does not make much sense to continue with policy of insecurity any more. However, one thing that Dr. Pande has not covered in this book and I am sure she will in her subsequent books is the changing orientation of Pakistan's foreign and security policy.
In last two decades, Pakistan's foreign policy has moved from escaping India to countering India to now seeking a broader role in the region. Though defining a national identity remains an issue for Pakistan, the differentiation vis-a-vis India is becoming less and less an issue as the partition generations on both sides are fading into oblivion and indigenous generations are taking over the affairs. As the time passes, the military with its slow but gradual waning influence will also find it difficult to exploit India factor for her own survival. These factors along with a desire to be the energy conduit between Middle Eastern and Central Asian energy reserves and their markets, and focus on securing water reserves is changing the focus of Pakistani foreign policy. A lot of events of 2000 and beyond must be seen in light of these changing developments.
It is perfectly legitimate for Pakistan to pursue these national interests but the real challenge for policy makers will be not to repeat the mistake of using terrorism as a tool of security policy which ultimately hits the hardest back home. Whether Pakistan succeeds in achieving its security and foreign policy objectives sans terrorism will in great part determine the destiny of Pakistan. And I am sure Dr. Pande very soon will reward us with another book on South Asia encompassing emerging realities.
Till then, go grab a copy of the book. You might or might not agree with all that you read but you will finish it being more informed and more knowledgeable about Pakistan and evolution of its security and foreign policy and in admiration of Dr. Pande's intellect and her deep insight into the issue.
Comments