Pakistans National Interest

Introduction
A states national interest as the name implies, comprises of all the interests of a nation as a
whole. Any countrys primary national interest is survival. In order to achieve survival, one
country has to aim for other goals such as national security, economic prosperity, seeking
alliances among other interests. Pakistans national interest has always been influenced by
external powers. Pakistan as a nation must aim at attaining self-reliance in pursuing its
national interests that must relate to the economic vision of the country and should be
achieved with pragmatism.

Meaning & Definition

a. The national interest is a country's goals and ambitions whether economic, military, or
cultural. We can also say national interests are expression of the national purpose,
national aspirations and national objectives.
b. Often referred to by the French expression raison d'tat ("reason of State")
c. In the words of Hans Morgenthau, It is not only a political necessity, but also a
moral duty for a nation to always follow in its dealings with other nations but one
guiding star, one standard for thought, one rule for action: The National Interest.
(Hans J. Morgenthau, In Defence of the National Interest: A Critical Examination of
American Foreign Policy, Knopf, 1951).

d. National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, Pakistan. National interests are the most
important wants and needs of a nation. At the highest level of abstraction, national interests are
the wellspring from which national objectives, policy and strategy flow. The overriding
national interests are normally stated in terms of national survival, national identity and well
being. Preservation of territorial integrity, freedom, independence, socio-political institutions
and honour are fundamental to the survival of a nation (defined by NDU for academic
purposes).
Pakistans National Interests
a. National Security for survival and Safety of the Nuclear Program
b. Economic Prosperity; the nation-state must possess, produce, procure and trade for
the means of survival at a predetermined level which reflects its means and
aspirations
c. Sovereignty of the state
i. the ability to resist coercion
ii. the ability to coerce other states
d. Seeking alliances that may break the isolation

1|Page
 Pakistans National Interest

e. Attaining the ability to achieve internal reform in order to avoid foreign pressure of
all sorts
f. Avoiding international isolation to prevent other states from getting together within
the United Nations to use international law to harm it
g. Embracing pragmatism in the conduct of the state to come close to a theoretical basis
for the understanding of the conduct of a weak state.

Evolution of National Interest of Pakistan

a. Pakistan's primary interest was to remain independent and viable in the face of a
much larger and powerful neighbor.
b. The nation then adopted several other goals;
i. the struggle of Kashmir to join Pakistan - or become independent from
India;
ii. a friendly and cooperative Afghanistan to ensure strategic depth vis-a-
vis India ;
iii. close relations with Saudi Arabia representing a religious socio-
economic nexus of interests;
iv. affirming itself as a front-line state of the religiously tolerant West
pitted against a God-less USSR.
c. Whilst Pakistan's role as a front line state was galvanized and pivotal during the
Russian invasion of Afghanistan, it became ambiguous and anachronistic in the new
world order.
d. Pakistan immediately bolstered its relationship with China, that it had been
developing over many years after the Sino-Soviet split in the seventies as US
strengthened its ties with India.
e. The end of the cold war and the abandonment by the US and its allies of Afghanistan,
and Pakistan, forced the latter to initiate a plan of action
f. It combined its policy objectives of maintaining strategic depth in Afghanistan; in
accordance with its military doctrine of riposte vis-a-vis its arch enemy India, and
close ties with Saudi Arabia
g. Thus enabling the Taliban to become pervasively established, and receiving Saudi
largesse to finance it all, resulting in the eventual dominance of the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
h. America had ignored and distanced itself from all Saudi-Pakistani action in
Afghanistan from 1991 until the late 90's until the emergence of wahabist-jihadists,
Al-Qaeda.
i. The test came when, after 9/11, Pakistan had to choose between its interests in
maintaining the Taliban in Afghanistan and that of the US, where the latter's objective
was to oust the government that had provided a safe haven to the alleged perpetrators
of 9/11.
2|Page
 Pakistans National Interest

j. Apparently, Pakistan had to forego its interest and bow to US demands, furtively,
however, this did not prove to be the case as the War on Terror developed.
k. After the war had begun, a paradigm shift took place, during the decade, several
attacks and assaults began targeting Pakistan and its armed forces along with Afghan
Taliban. Once NATO's ISAF and other US troops arrived Pakistan had to recalibrate
its policy in Afghanistan.

It follows that the country's prime interest, that of Security, is not "secure," that its other
interests such as a stable and friendly Afghanistan, self-determination of Kashmir, its
economic stability, are failing and under attack from exogenous forces."

What Pakistan needs to do?

a. Pakistan needs to reaffirm its commitment to maintaining a coherent geo-strategy
towards India; political nationalism is now getting superfluous and obsolete and
economic relations are taking on the driving seat.
b. It must redefine its commitment to Kashmir and redouble its efforts to find a political
solution to the plight of Kashmiris
c. It must re-examine its bond with Saudi Arabia and achieve an equitable mix
d. It must capitalise on, and foster the economic and military relationship with China,
Pakistans most venerable and valuable ally
e. American and Pakistani interests do not coalesce any longer; therefore, new
parameters should be drawn up by both nations that limit and phase out bilateral
security cooperation
f. Pakistan must seek out its own path; independently, whilst remaining faithful to its
raison dtre; selfishly, whilst maintaining unity amongst its peoples; and confidently,
whilst maintaining discipline in every field of its endeavor.

Conclusion
In summary, external forces are dictating and organizing Pakistans national interests.
Internally there is incoherence in defining the national interest as the various political and
economic elites identify and explain it in terms of alignment with the US, which is seen as
indispensable for progress. Several others, in the country feel that this is a pernicious attempt
to change the norms and values of the country and, therefore, are partial to realignment,
extracting Pakistan from the American sphere of influence. Hence the national interest of
Pakistan lies in being a liberal and progressive Islamic state.

3|Page