Impacts of 9/11 on the Foreign Policy of Pakistan

Abstract

This study aims at describing and analysing the impacts of 9/11 incident on Pakistan Foreign Policy that occurred in USA. Pakistan from its very inception always inclined towards the super powers especially USA for its security challenges. The USA has a strong influence on the foreign policy of Pakistan. The incident of 9/11 affected Pakistan severely and Pakistan revised its foreign policy objectives as advised by the USA. The country went against Taliban in the favor of USA despite the fact that it was among those countries who recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Pakistan became a frontline state due to USA pressure in the war against terrorism. This shift in the foreign policy of Pakistan provided short-term benefits but had heinous impacts on the overall foreign policy of Pakistan. The posing capacity of the right to self-determination on Kashmir declined due to the hatred created by media against terrorism. The presence of terrorists on Pak-Afghan border created concerns at international level that they might reach and take the nukes of Pakistan. Due to the presence of USA in Afghanistan, the sovereignty of Pakistan compromised due to drone attacks on the territory of Pakistan. In spite, the fact that Pakistan was a major non-NATO ally but the USA and India blamed Pakistan for supporting Taliban, so the international status of Pakistan declined. In view of all these developments, this study summarized that 9/11 incident weakened Pakistan at every level especially at international for which Pakistan’s government struggled hard to recreate a better position in the comity of nations. This study uses qualitative research design and analyzes the impacts of 9/11 incident on the foreign policy of Pakistan.