22 January 2014 1 GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

OF PAKISTAN

Shafiq -Ur-Rehman

Lecturer Of I.R

WHAT IS GEO-STRATEGY?

GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF PAKISTAN

GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

1. PROXIMITY OF GREAT POWERS

2. GATEWAY TO CENTRAL ASIA

3. SIGNIFICANCE AS A TRANSIT ECONOMY

4. IMPORTANT LINK IN THE CHAIN OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES

5. ONLY MUSLIM COUNTRY WITH NUCLEAR CAPABILITY

6. CHINA'S LINK TO THE MIDDLE EAST

7. REDUCE INDIAN HEGEMONY IN THE ARABIAN SEA AND

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Geo means the Earth and strategy means planning, tactics and policy

The term "geo-strategy" was first used by Frederick L. Schuman in his

1942 article "Let Us Learn Our Geopolitics."

It was a translation of the German term "Wehrgeopolitik" as used by

German geostrategist Karl Haushofer.

Many geostrategists are also geographers, specializing in subfields of

geography, such as human geography, political geography, economic

geography, cultural geography, military geography, and strategic

geography

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

“Geopolitical reflects the combination of geographic and

political factors determining the condition of a state or region,

and emphasizing the impact of geography on politics”

“Strategic refers to the comprehensive and planned

application of measures to achieve a central goal or to vital

assets of military significance”

“Geo-strategic merges strategic consideration with

geopolitical ones”

Like NATO is a geostrategic military alliance

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Pakistan is located in South East Asia

24.35 North and 37.05 North latitude

61 East to 78 East Longitude

Area – 7,96096 sq km stretching over 1600 km from

North to South and about 885 Km from East to West

Khyber Pass connects Pakistan and Afghanistan

Khunjrab Pass links Pakistan and China

Pakistan and Iran borders meet at Koh-i-Tuftan

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Direction Country Land Boundary

/Sea Length

Historical Name

of boundary

East India 1650 Km Radcliffe line

West Iran 900 Km Gold Smith Line

North China 600 Km Sino-Pak border

North West Afghanistan 2250 Km Durand line

(1893)

North West Tajikistan

(Wakhan Strip)

27 km

South Arabian Sea 700 Km

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

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1. Proximity of Great powers

2. Gateway to Central Asia

3. Significance as a Transit economy

4. Important link in the chain of Muslim countries

5. Only Muslim country with nuclear capability

6. China's link to the Middle East

7. Reduce Indian hegemony in the Arabian Sea and

Indian Ocean

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Russia and China are busy to give check to US Power in this region and in

other regions like Middle East, Africa, North America, Europe and Far East

ASIA

US interests in this Region

1. Security

Policy of Pax –Americana in order to restraint world dynamics from Uni-

polarity to multi-polarity

US interest in the region to contain the growing china, nuclear Iran, terrorist

Afghanistan

2. Business

To benefit from the market of India and Central Asia

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Central Asia is the center stage of new Great games: Western quest for

resources- oil and energy resources in the central Asia

Pakistan is located very close to the oil rich M.E region and C.A States

Pakistan can influence shipment of oil

Iran is struggling to export its surplus gas and oil to Eastern countries,

Qatar, Pakistan and Turkmenistan pipeline projects highlight the position

In this scare energy world, Pakistan can provide access from energy

efficient to energy deficient state

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land locked Afghanistan now at the phase of reconstruction

finds its ways through Pakistan

China with its fastest economy growth rate of 9% GDP

developing southern provinces because its own part is 4500

km away from Sinkiang but Gawader is 2500 km away

Pakistan offers central Asian regions the shortest route of

2600 km as compared to Iran 4500 km or turkey 5000 km

Gwadar Port with its deep waters attracts the trade ships of

china, CAR and south east Asian countries

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Karakorum Highway Map 22 January 2014 17 GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Geographically, Pakistan is situated at the centre of the Islamic

countries of Africa and Asia

It is linked to these Muslim states through land and sea routes and

thus not only its ideological background, but its geographical centrality

necessities that it supports the unity of Muslim world

Prior to the cessation of East Pakistan, it was the largest Islamic state

and naturally was in the vanguard of the movement for Islamic unity

Even afterwards, it actively works for the mutual alliance and unity of

the Muslims

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Pakistan is the only direct and shortest link between

China and the Middle East

Gulf States possessing 63% of world’s oil reserves

In development of this link PN plays an important role

by making Gwadar a fully functional port with support

of china

Gwadar will prove instrumental in promoting trans-

shipment essentially of containerized cargo besides

unlocking the development potential for hinterland

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

India has a shared interests with the U.S and NATO in

the subjection of Pakistan

As they consider Nuclear weapons of Pakistan as a

threat to Indian national security, NATO operations in

Afghanistan, and Israel

Pakistan have nuclear deterrence since 1998. Pakistan

termed its nuclear bomb as “ISLAMIC BOMB” that

made it centre of attention in the world politics

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The U.S, NATO, Israel, and India to neutralize such a strategic

and tactical threat from emerging in Pakistan

They have made plan underpinned objective of Balkanizing

Pakistan

It’s the reason on that the US has conspired with international

media against PAK NUKES

Most importantly Pakistan has world best missile technology

and perceived enemies capitals are in Pakistan range like

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Missiles Ranges

Shaheen-3 4500 km

Ghori-3 3500 km

Babur-3 1500 km

Tipu-1 5000 km

Tipu-4 12000 km

1. Distance of Israel from Pakistan

Miles 2085

Kilometers 3335

(In range of Ghouri-3)

2. Distance of USA from Islamabad

Washington 11388 km

White house 11600 km

(In range of Tipu-4)

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

Stephen Cohn describes geostrategic importance of Pakistan in these

words,

“While history has been unkind to Pakistan, its geography has been

its greatest benefit. It has resource rich area in the north-west, people

rich in the north-east”

Pakistan is a junction of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia, a way from

resource efficient countries to resource deficient countries. The world is

facing energy crisis and terrorism. Pakistan is a route for transportation, and

a front line state against terrorism

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GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN

To the east of Pakistan _________ is located. To the west of Pakistan __________is located. ____________ separates Pakistan from Tajikistan. Arabian sea is situated to the ________ of

Pakistan. Afghanistan is located to the __________. Pak- Sino border line is _________km long. Pak-India border is _________km long. Pakistan shares a longest boundary of ______km

with ______________. The coast line of Pakistan is _________long.

1. To the east of Pakistan __INDIA______ is located.

2. To the west of Pakistan __IRAN___is located.

3. _WAKHAN___ separates Pakistan from Tajikistan.

4. Arabian sea is situated to the _SOUTH____ of Pakistan.

5. Afghanistan is located to the ___N.WEST______.

6. Pak- Sino border line is __600___km long.

7. Pak-India border is __1650___km long.

8. Pakistan shares a longest boundary of _2250__km with

__Afghanistan___.

9. The coast line of Pakistan is _700km____long.

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1. Why is Pakistan very important from geostrategic point of view in the

world?

2. What role you will play to secure the geostrategic position of Pakistan?

Explain in detail

_______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_________________

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1. Pakistan's Foreign Policy by Shahid M Amin, oxford pub.

2. Pakistan Foreign Policy 1947-2012 by Abdul sattar, oxford pub.

3. International affairs by by Dr Safdar Mahmood

4. Monthly Current Affairs Magazine by Dr Safdar Mahmood

5. www.worldatlas.com 6. www.dailydawn.com 7. www.wikipedia.org 8. www.mofa.gov.pk

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