Identity and interests: History of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and the Middle Eastern Muslim States, 1947 to 1956

Abstract

This study discusses Islam as a “strategic entity” in Pakistan’s quest for identity and interests, in its formative years, 1947 to 1956. The end of the post-colonial era not only re-defines the geography of the world but equally redistributes the power structures between the retired empires and the new states. The new players in the pursuits of identity and interests restarted the old game of gain according to their political paradigms. In subsequent events, Pakistan’s immediate neighbors created unfavorable conditions for its Identity and Security. Pakistan also wants to cease its immediate colonial past and to safeguards its territorial integrity. Islam suits Pakistan in all aspects, it got independence on the slogan of separate Muslim land, thus Islam became the cornerstone of its domestic and foreign policies. The primary investigation of this study is centered on Pakistan’s relationship with the Middle East Muslim countries. Islam was very much in the consciousness of Indian Subcontinent Muslims; therefore Pan-Islamism had a wider appeal for Indian Muslims and it dates back when they regarded Ottoman Caliphate as a symbol of religious unity and political Islam. After independence, Pakistan’s Islamic character and cordial relationship with Middle Eastern Muslim states became an important and constant factor in the country’s foreign policy. But, on contrary the often-reiterated metaphor of Pan-Islamism failed to impress Pakistan’s other counterparts in the Muslim world.

Keywords

• identity
• interests
• pakistan
• middle eastern muslim countries
• pan-islamism