i. Central Position in the Muslim World
By virtue of its location, Pakistan occupies a central position in the Muslim countries of the world. Pakistan is located in the midst of the extensive chain of the Muslim nations spreading from Morocco in the west to Indonesia in the Far East. Appreciating this esteemed position, the Vice-President of Libya Adus-Salam Jalud during his visit to Pakistan in 1978, called Pakistan "the heart of the Muslim world".
ii. Importance in World Politics
Pakistan came into being only two years after the termination of the Second World War. In the post-war period the USA and the USSR emerged as super powers. These two countries struggled hard to win the support of the smaller countries of the world and enhance their respective spheres of influence. During this period, generally referred to as 'Cold War Era', Pakistan decided to side with the American block. Due to its geographical position Pakistan became the frontline state in the alliance of states formed by the USA to contain the so called "Russian expansionism". Pakistan also joined SEATO and CENTO, the anti- Russia military alliances formed under American umbrella. Notwithstanding the merits and demerits of this policy, we must admit that Pakistan could rise to this position of superb importance in world politics only due to her strategic location.
iii. Leadership of the Third World
Due to her unconditional loyalty with the American block Pakistan could not attain a respectable position amongst the non-aligned and the third world countries. In the later period when Pakistan adopted a policy of non-alignment her image in the Third World countries started improving. In the year 1979, the then President of Pakistan was designated to represent the Muslim world at Havana Conference of non-aligned countries. In 1980 he was again given the honour of addressing the UN General Assembly as the spokesman of the entire Muslim World.
iv. Anti-Expansionist Stance
In spite of her meagre resources, Pakistan took a firm stand against the expansionist designs of the Soviet Union and offered sustained resistance to the Russian intrusion in Afghanistan. The entire free world now appreciates that it was Pakistan's heroic fighting spirit that defeated the Russian designs in Afghanistan and lead to the ultimate dismemberment of the Super Power in 1991.
v. Centre of Trade and Transit Routes
Pakistan is placed in a highly strategic position on the world map. It is located in the centre of the road and rail links between the countries of the Far East and Iran, Turkey and Europe. Air and sea ports of Karachi offer a central transit point between the European and the Asian states. Pakistan's warm water sea ports remain operative throughout the year.
vi. Transit Facilities for Afghanistan and the Landlocked Central Asian States
Pakistan started in the days when the Supreme Soviet Empire was enjoying a position of command in the world affairs. The Soviet Union occupied enormous area, larger than any other state in the world. Pakistan did not share boundaries with the Soviet Union, only a small 20 km strip of Afghan territory known as 'Wakhan' separated Pakistan from the Soviet state of Tajikistan. In the year 1989, as a result of her defeat at the hands of Afghans, Soviet Union withdrew her forces from Afghanistan. Ultimately the Soviet Empire dismembered in 1991 and the states that made a part of the Soviet Union were liberated. Russia is the most important of these states.
Many Muslim majority states that formed part of the defunct Soviet Empire are now independent; most important of these are Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. These Muslim states taken together are referred to as the Central Asian Muslim States. Pakistan has friendly relations with Afghanistan and all these Muslim states. Bond of Islamic fraternity join us together. Afghanistan and most of these states are landlocked; they have no access to sea. Coastal areas of the defunct Soviet Union are extremely cold and water in the sea adjoining it remains frozen throughout the year, rendering navigation impossible or extremely limited to a few months during the year. Since transportation through sea is the cheapest means of conducting import and export of goods, no country in the world can maintain a favorable balance of trade without the help of maritime trade facilities. Nature has endowed Pakistan with the gift of warm water seaports. Pakistan's sea ports remain operative throughout the year. Pakistan maintains two fine seaports i.e., Karachi and Port Qasim. Still other seaports i.e., Ketty Bandar and Gawadar are under process. Work on Gawadar port, especially, is being carried out very speedily.
Pakistan extends transit trade facilities to Afghanistan and the Central Asian States, in the same manner as it did in the days of the defunct Soviet Empire. Goods consigned for these states are first unloaded from ships at Pakistan's seaports and reloaded on road transport to reach their destinations in Afghanistan, Russia and other Central Asian States. With a purpose to expedite and expand the transit facilities, an extensive network of motorways was planned during the last decade of the twentieth century. In 2013 China and Pakistan started an enormous joint venture CPEC. China Pakistan Economic corridor aims at building an extensive infrastructure of roads, power and processing facilities from China to Gwadar seaport.
