A country looking forward to a successful and honorable existence in the comity of nations is bound to frame its foreign policy on the basis of the objective conditions it is faced with. In order to achieve the highest ideals we have, and the value structure we cherish, we should frame our foreign policy on the basis of ground realities. Given below is a brief survey of the guiding principles that are supposed to determine the course of our foreign policy:
Pakistan Ideology
Our country has an ideological basis. Pakistan was established with the sole objective of providing the South Asian Muslims with a homeland where they could live with dignity and honor and in the light of democratic principles enunciated by Islam. The founders of Pakistan believed that the Muslims should invoke separate Muslim identity as a positive sentiment. This did not imply hatred for any other nation. The Pakistan Ideology demands that Pakistan should establish friendly relations with all its neighboring countries. The peace covenant of Hudaibia established the principle that in the case of a dispute, if one of the warring factions refuses to fall back, the other party should make unilateral concessions for the attainment of peace. History bears witness that at times, nations are able to achieve through peaceful means what they otherwise could not have achieved through war. (Conquest of Makkah by Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah is an outstanding example, which followed within a short period of two years time after the Treaty of Hudaibia).
Regional Factors
The land of Pakistan had become an arena of the power struggle between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Fall of the Soviet Empire brought about far-reaching changes in the world politics, but this change did not affect Pakistan's position as the most important country of the region.
The People's Republic of China, which is the emerging economic super power of the world, has very close friendly relations with Pakistan. Afghanistan has undergone rapid changes during the last two decades. Pakistan's western neighbor Iran is struggling hard to come out of its internal strife between conservatism and modernism, set in after the Revolution of 1979. Landlocked Central Asian states depend upon Pakistan for access to hot water sea ports. These states are overwhelmingly Muslim and have religious ties with Pakistan. These are the facts that should guide our policy makers towards the formation of a balanced and fruitful foreign policy.
Islamic Identity
As a part of the global Muslim community, Pakistan occupies a central place in the chain of Muslim countries stretching from Africa to Far East. The Quaid-e-Azam attached great importance to Pakistan's relations with the Muslim countries, so did his successors. On the other side, all Muslim countries of the world, Arab and Non-Arab alike, look forward to Pakistan for guidance in their cherished cause of establishing international Muslim brotherhood. While working for a fruitful co-ordination among the Muslim countries of the world, Pakistan cannot and should not, compromise on her security and existence. In this matter we have to follow the example of Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah who stands as a role model for us. Under the Covenant of Hudaibia Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah in categorically resolved not to extend any support to the Muslims living in Makkah. Although Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah knew that these Muslims were maltreated and subjected to suppression, yet he advised them to live as the law-abiding citizens of the state of Makkah. The course of events that followed, proved that in the given circumstances it was possibly the wisest and the most prudent decision a leader could take. Through this policy of peace and restraint Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Ullah led his nations to a glorious victory over his enemies in the shape of Fath-e-Makkah. This proved that policy of instigating or arousing helpless people against their resourceful governments can do them no good. What can be achieved through peace and restraint cannot be achieved through war and emotional frenzy.
