Pakistans Look-Africa Policy by M Nawaz Khan - Pakistan-African relations stand today on solid grounds in a rapidly changing world. The independent African states and Pakistan are among the developing countries, which are aiming at rapid development and economic independence. Pakistan shares with African nations more or less a common background and similar post independence problems. Therefore, it has sought closer economic, social and cultural cooperation with the African nation states. Moreover, Islamabad has Resident Missions’ in more than fifteen African countries while others are covered through concurrent accreditation. Basically, strengthening ties with the African countries is in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The main objective of the Pakistan’s foreign policy is to promote foreign relations through economic diplomacy. Despite challenges, there is a great potential for mutually beneficial relations with African counties. Pakistan has the status of an observer in the African Union (AU). It is also linked with Africa through Asian African Regional Organization Conference (AAROC), Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation and several Muslim countries through Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). These fora provide institutional framework for cooperation between Pakistan and Africa. Islamabad has condemned the atrocities of racialist and colonialist regimes in Africa and backed the African stand in the UN relating to apartheid, Southern Rhodesia, Namibia etc. Furthermore, it is the first country to support Eritrea’s independence and also extended support to Kenya, Zimbabwe and many other African countries in their liberation struggles. During these struggles, North African leaders actually travelled on Pakistani diplomatic passports. Pakistan has also been a very strong anti-apartheid state. Likewise, the African countries’ support to Pakistan has been instrumental to its success at various international fora. Pakistan has played an important role in the decolonisation of African countries and maintenance of peace by Pakistani soldiers through contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Missions, is indeed commendable. It has been the second largest contributor to the UN Peacekeeping Operations in Africa with 8252 troops of Pakistani Army. The presence of a large Pakistani diaspora in eastern and southern Africa has been a source of trade and exchanges in education, medicine, information technology and defence. Over the last 20 years, 27 African countries have sent at least 2,000 students to study in Pakistan. Besides, Islamabad is offering training to African diplomats in the Foreign Service Academy, Defence Services Academies and also offers scholarship under Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme. It attaches great importance to its relations with the African countries and is serious in engaging substantial economic relations with them. Though Pakistan and African countries are cooperating at many international forums, especially at the UN Security Council, the volume of interaction between them is not as great as it should be. The Government of Pakistan under the guidance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accords great importance to its relations with Africa, a continent with which Islamabad has deep-rooted historic and cultural ties. The present government has adopted the foreign policy to have good relations in the region and at international level on the basis of mutual respect and honour. The existing cordial relations would be further strengthened in the years ahead. There is a great potential for further promoting and strengthening Pakistan’s relations with African countries. Thus, a set of recommendations is suggested in ensuing lines to further enhance Pak-African relations. Pakistan has recorded significant achievements in the fields of science and technology, information technology, telecommunication, agriculture and agro-allied industries. In many of the above mentioned fields, Pakistan experience sharing with the African countries would be invaluable. The economic potential present in African countries should be fully utilised by Pakistan with the help of its friends like China. Since Pakistan and Nigeria are undergoing through similar situations, they need to work more closely to overcome the internal security threats. Pakistan should also learn from the experience of Tanzania to improve its literacy rate. There is great potential for further promoting Pakistan-Africa ties in all fields with the help of more people-to-people contacts, organizing seminars on trade promotion and holding exhibitions of Pakistani products. This would facilitate in identification of areas where mutual trade and investment are feasible. The government should focus on enhancement of trade ties through exchange of high-level delegations and institutionalising relations. Such visits are usually followed by beneficial fall out by way of useful discussions, signing of memoranda of understandings and agreements, which facilitate trade and enhance diplomatic understanding. Considering the fact that many Ministerial Commissions of Pakistan and African countries have been inactive, it is recommended that appropriate bodies be created to resuscitate those inactive ones. In short, despite the opportunities, business to business contacts have so far been below the potential with African countries. Now it is the propitious moment to translate Pakistan’s political goodwill into tangible trade and commercial relations. In this regard, there is a dire need to have a pro-active policy for further cementing brotherly relations with African Countries. Moreover, Islamabad should work out beneficial programmes of activities and set targets for them to achieve.The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) For feedback or other inquiries: [email protected] To book advertisements: [email protected] ift.tt/1oyCFhk
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 10:26:17 +0000
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