FOREIGN POLICY OF PAKISTAN (1962 – 1971)

Rethinking about the Alignment Policy

What baffled the Pakistani leaders most was that Pakistan was supplied military equipment in the 50s only after it
joined the U.S. sponsored military pacts which incurred diplomatic cost for Pakistan in terms of its relations with the
developing countries and a number of Muslim states.
In July, 1961, President Ayub Khan, on a visit to the United States, cautioned his hosts against the changes in their
policy towards South Asia and highlighted the importance of Pakistan by suggesting that “if there is real trouble,
there is no other country in Asia on whom you will be able to count.
The only people who will stand by you are the people of Pakistan, provided you are also prepared to stand by them.”
Despite Ayub Khan's pleadings, the U.S. continued with its policy of cultivating India in total disregard to Pakistan's
concerns.
The U.S. and a number of other Western states rushed weapons and military equipment to India after the Sino-
Indian border war in October 1962.
First, Pakistan was perturbed by the Soviet threat of retaliation when it downed an American spy plane, U-2, which
had taken off from Badaber.
Pakistan's policy-makers began a review of their alignment with the U.S. in the early 60s as strains manifested in
their relations.
Second, the importance of land bases declined because the United States developed ICBM and nuclear submarines
fitted with missiles.
Furthermore, the Kennedy administration, installed in January 1961,cultivated India and projected it as a
counterweight to China.
Pakistan was perturbed by these developments.
However, India was not asked to make any security related commitment in return for arms transfers

1) Ayub’s visit to U.S IN 1961

On 11 July 1961, Ayub Khan paid his official visit to the United States as president of Pakistan; he was welcomed
by President Kennedy.
At that time Kennedy declared Pakistan “a powerful force for freedom in its area and praised Pakistan as a first
country who offered support to USA during Korean War.
Kennedy gave assure to Ayub Khan US would not unnoted her friend and Pakistan would receive economic aid, and
the US agency for international development.
After that Ayub informed Kennedy about poor drainage irrigation system in West Pakistan.
On 7th March, 1961, Ayub accepted an invitation from President Kennedy to visit the United States.
Then again in private discussion Ayub informed Kennedy that India is a great threat to his country still US
administration wanted to provide military aid to India.
After few days, Kennedy sent a high level team to Pakistan which prepared a comprehensive plan to attack the
problem.
Ayub Khan warned President Kennedy that “if USA adopts this policy we would withdraw from Pacts and alliances.
Afterwards economic aid played a major role in funding of large scale and successful project to improve the
drainage and irrigation system.
Firstly Ayub planned that visit in November, 1961 but later on the schedule was changed, and Ayub was called
earlier in July 1961 by Kennedy

Improving Relations with the Soviet Union

President Ayub Khan and Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri met in Tashkent in January 1966 on the invitation of
the Soviet Prime Minister and signed a peace agreement, commonly known as the Tashkent Declaration of January
1966 for normalization of their bilateral relations in the aftermath of the 1965 war.
The Soviet Defense Minister, Marshal Andrei Grechkov, visited Pakistan in March 1969 which underlined the
transformed nature of Pakistan-Soviet relations.
Pakistan and the Soviet Union entered into a number of agreements for economic and technical cooperation.
New avenues of cooperation were explored during the visits of Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and
President Ayub Khan to Moscow in January and April 1965 respectively.
By mid-1960s the Soviet Union adopted a balanced approach towards Pakistan-India disputes, including the
Kashmir problem, and urged the two sides to settle their problems amicably.
The Soviet Union consented to assist Pakistan in implementing 30 development projects during the Third Five Year
Plan (1965-70).
The Soviet Prime Minister, Alexi Kosygin, offered help to resolve the problems arising out of the 1965 Indo-
Pakistan War.
Two Pakistani military delegations visited the Soviet Union in June 1966 and July 1968 and the Soviets supplied
some weapons and transport in 1968-70.
They maintained neutrality towards the Rann of Kutch war between Pakistan and India in April 1965.A similar
attitude was adopted when a full-fledged war broke out between Pakistan and India in September.
In 1961, the Soviets offered, for the first time, credit and technical assistance for oil exploration in Pakistan.
They affirmed their desire to extend cooperation between the two countries in economic, cultural, and other fields.
Initially, they decided to diversify their interaction in the international system by improving ties with the socialist
countries on mutually beneficial considerations.
His visit produced several agreements covering trade, machinery for oil exploration, and cultural exchange

1) President Ayub Visit To U.S.S.R

When Khrushchev took the charge of the government, he showed his inclinations towards Pakistan that he wanted
good relations with Pakistan. Interest thing to note here is that both the countries felt that the reason behind their
cool relation was the absence of visits of the leaders to each other. After all Soviet ambassador in Islamabad
conveyed the invitation of Khrushchev to president Ayub and was promptly accepted by the president. Eventually
Ayub’s visit to Moscow took place in April 1965.

2) Soviet Premier’s visited in Pakistan In 1968

Finally, on 17 April 1968, Premier Kosygin paid a visit to Pakistan and was welcomed by President Ayub and the
Pakistan's civil society members with cordial manner. During his visit Alexi Kosygin said: "that relations between
Pakistan and the Soviet Union are very good indeed and we should want more and more to strengthen and better
them."The Soviet Premier’s visit in April 1968 was the first of its kind state visit and was of outstanding
significance. Kosygin agreed to the granting of aid for a steel mill, a nuclear power plant and also economic aid on a
broad range of development projects. During the time of Kosygin’s reception, renowned poet Hafeez Jullundhri,
sang out a poem, comparing Kosygin’s visit to the coming of the dawn, which would bring self-determination and
justice to the Kashmiri people. Kosygin enjoyed the amusing poetry, but remained silent on this issue. Alexei
Kosygin said:
There were many forces in the world which did not want to see friendship growing between the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR) and Pakistan. Pakistan would achieve great success in all spheres under the leadership
of President Muhammad Ayub Khan......

Improving Relations with China

They reaffirmed their solidarity with Pakistan during Ayub Khan's visit to Beijing in March 1965, and stood by
Pakistan during the latter's war with India, first in the Rann of Kutch area (April-May 1965), and then the full-
fledged armed conflict (September 1965).
Pakistan began to plead for the seating for china in the UN and supported China in its efforts to neutralize American
efforts to isolate it at the international level.
Chinese were equally supportive of Pakistan's independence and territorial integrity.
These included an agreement on trade, commerce and shipping in January 1963, a border agreement for demarcation
of Pakistan-China boundary in March 1963, an air services agreement in August, and a barter trade agreement in
September.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its regular air service to china on April 29, 1964.
The visits of Chinese President Liu Chao Chi, and Foreign Minister, Chen Yi (March 1966), Zhou Enlai (stopover
visit in June 1966), President Yahya Khan (November 1970) and several senior military officers, showed that they
attached importance to their bilateral relations, and consulted each other regularly on matters of mutual interest.
The scope of Pakistan-China cooperation continued to extend in the diplomatic, economic (including trade),
security, and cultural fields in the subsequent years.
Zhou Enlai declared Chinese support to the right of self determination for the people of Kashmir during his visit to
Pakistan in February 1964.
They signed several agreements in 1963 to expand their bilateral relations.

1) PAKISTAN – CHINA BOUNDARY AGREEMENT 1962kistanchina

The agreement commencing from Pakistan’s north western frontier at the height of 5,630 meters, the boundary line
runs eastward from that point and then South-eastward along the main tributaries of the Tashkurgan River on the
one hand running till the tributes of the Hunza river of the Indus river system on the other, through the Kilik Daban ,
the Mintake Daban , the Kharchanai Daban , the Mutsgila Daban and the Parpik Pass reaching the Khunjerab Daban.
Besides this controversy, the agreement changed the regional balance by bringing Pakistan and China closer to each
other but making the ties between Pakistan and the United States strained at the same time.1962 The boundary
between China and Pakistan had never been demarcated before.
According to the Chinese map, the boundary line having left the south-eastern point runs along the small section of
the Koliman Su to arrive at its confluence with the Kelechin River.
Having passed through the Khunjerab, the boundary line goes generally southward along the afore-mentioned main
watershed and the Taghumbash River and the Koliman Su (Oprang Jilga) on the other hand.
The Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement finalizing the border between Pakistan and China was signed in March
1963.
The two parties have agreed that: i) “Wherever the boundary follows a river, the middle line of the river bed shall be
the boundary line.
From this point, the boundary runs up the Kelechin River along the middle line of its bed along its confluence with
the Shorbulak Daria.
The two parties further agreed that on the settlement of the Kashmir dispute, both sides will reopen talks on the
boundary issue.
From the confluence, the boundary line ascends the top of the spur and runs the Karakoram range’s main watershed.
The agreement was beneficial economically for Pakistan as she received grazing lands in the agreement.
It formed part of an overall growing association between China and Pakistan that was started after the war between
India and china.
The Pakistani side leaves the south-eastern tip of this spur, reaching the bend of Skgam or Muztagh River.
This agreement became quite controversial owing to Indian refusal to acknowledge it because she also asserts
sovereignty over some of the areas.
ii) Wherever the boundary passes through a pass, the water-parting line thereof shall be the boundary line.
Moreover, after defining the borders, both the countries also entered into a bilateral agreement on trade and air-
travel as well.
All this resulted in distancing Pakistan from the United State.
The agreement was very significant for the Cold War politics as well.
The two parties agreed to do so on the basis of tradition.

2) Ayub’s Visit To China

On February 9th it was announced that President Ayub Khan would visit China. On 2 nd march 1965 President Ayub
khan with his officials takes off to China on eight day visit. During his visit a joint communiqué was issued on
7th March in which the matters of common interests were highlighted with full assurance of friendly mutual co-
operation. The President Ayub Khan visit to China in 1965 is of great importance because it was the first visit by
any of the Pakistani President which demonstrated the change in Pakistan’s foreign policy in 60’s and afterwards
almost all the Presidents visited China.
Now onwards the foreign policy of both the countries was based on friendly mutual co-operation and the visit of
President Ayub Khan was the sign of goodwill toward China. During his visit he met with the Chairman Liu Shao-
Chi and the Premier Chou En- lia. A joint Communiqué was issued on 7th march stated that in order to make the
relation of the two countries more co-operative and friendly talks were held.
. President Ayub also invited the Chinese Chairman to Pakistan which was accepted warmly. On his return from
China on 9th March 1965 he was greatly satisfied with the progress during the visit.
The visit was of a great importance in the foreign policy of Pakistan as Pakistan started friendly relations with
China. This friendly relation proved very helpful in coming years as China became an all weathers friend. China
proved to be a sincere friend by helping Pakistan in all the difficult times.

3) ZHOU ENLAI visit To PAKISTAN

In February 1964, Premier Zhou Enlai visited Pakistan and in December Pakistani President Ayub Khan visited
China. This visit by the Zhou Enlai to Pakistan was a series of tours of various Asian and African countries. The
visits were most concentrated in the developing countries. But this tour of Zhou Enlai helped to further strengthen
the Pak-China relation. In this meeting there were various issues discussed. New agreements of cooperation were
signed
This visit by Zhou Enlai was helpful in the settlement of border disputes between China and Pakistan. The arch
enemies of Pakistan were also shocked when the cooperation between the two countries ware developed to these
heights

Diminishing Ties with the U.S.

The United States imposed an arms embargo on South Asia which adversely affected Pakistan's combat
effectiveness because, unlike India, Pakistan's defense procurement was almost entirely American.
A total embargo was re-imposed when a new war broke out between Pakistan and India in November 1971.Pakistan
procured weapons and military equipment from several non-American sources.
The United States described the Sino-Pakistan air agreement as “an unfortunate breach of the free world solidarity.”
It advised Pakistan not to invite Zhou EnLai for an official visit in 1964.
The divergence between the two states widened as Pakistan was unable to invoke any security arrangement with the
United States during the course of its war with India in September 1965.
No new combat equipment was allowed to be sold to either country but Pakistan was provided with some arms and
equipment during 1970-71 as a 'special one time exception' extended by President Nixon.
Pakistan also decided to pay more attention to indigenous production of weapons and defense equipment.
One year later, the United States allowed the sale of spare parts for the military equipment supplied in the past.
The embargo was partly eased in March 1966 to allow the sale of non-lethal military equipment (i.e. trucks, medical
and engineering supplies and communication items).
The United States was unhappy over Pakistani's efforts to improve its relations with the Soviet Union and China.
The same happened with the meeting of the Aid-to-Pakistan Consortium which was to consider Pakistan's request
for aid for the Third Five Year Plan.
It also secured weapons from France, Great Britain, West Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union.
The latter retaliated by withdrawing the offer of financial assistance for the construction of a new airport at Dhaka;
Ayub Khan's schedule visit to the U.S in April 1965 was postponed.

1) Ayub’s Visit postponed To U.S In 1965

Pakistan’s relation with United States reached at the lowest ebb, when President Johnson cancelled Ayub Khan’s
visit to Washington in April, 1965. A few weeks later he also stopped Pakistan’s funds for the third five year plan.
During Indo- Pak war, which was started, 6th September, 1965, US stopped the supply of weapons for both India
and Pakistan. On 15th September, 1965, Ayub requested to Johnson for the solution of Kashmir issue. He replied that
the US would work through the United Nations. Ayub Khan visited America in December 1965, and USA President
Johnson met him in Washington, White House. Although Ayub wanted help from Johnson for solution of Kashmir
issue, but received poor response. According to “Abdul Sattar” when Ayub Khan visited London and Washington in
December before going to Tashkent, Johnson told him that the alliances between the US and Pakistan is over. He
said if Pakistan wants military aid from USA, in future then you would have to avoid relations with China.
Pluralistic Perspective
It vowed to cultivate mutually advantageous bilateral relations with all states irrespective of their ideological
disposition and argued that its interaction with one state would neither influence its relations with any other state nor
were these ties directed against any particular state.
It was Pakistan's determination to pursue an independent foreign policy that it did not endorse Asian Collective
Security System advocated by the Soviet Union in 1969.
Thus, while expanding its relations with the Soviet Union and China, it did not abandon its membership of the U.S.
sponsored pacts, although their importance was downgraded.
Moreover, Pakistan had cultivated very friendly and cordial relations with China and it did not want to be a party to
any political networking directly or indirectly aimed at China.
This proposal envisaged the establishment of a Soviet-oriented collectivity of states in the backdrop of the widening
rift between the Soviet Union and China.
Pakistan, thus, moved away from the policy of alignment with the West to an independent and pluralist perspective
on foreign relations.
Pakistan, having developed distaste for bloc politics, could not be inclined towards this proposal.

Relations with India

Six rounds of talks were held between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan on Kashmir during December
1962 and May 1963 on the initiate of the UK and the U.S. These talks proved inconclusive because the two sides
refused to show any flexibility in their positions on Kashmir.
India and Pakistan again went to war against the backdrop of the civil strife in the then East Pakistan in November-
December 1971.
This war came to an end when Pakistani troops surrendered to Indian troop in East Pakistan on 16 December 1971.
Pakistan's relations with India continued to be characterized by the conflicting national aspirations and mutual
distrust.
Pakistan and India engaged in three wars during this period.
East Pakistan emerged as an independent state of Bangladesh.
The first war was limited to the Rann of Kutch, an area situated on the Sindh-Gujarat border, in April-May 1965.
This was followed by a full-blown war in September 1965, involving three services of the armed forces.
The Kashmir problem was the major stumbling block in the normalization of their relations.

1) Bhutto Swaran Singh Talk 1962

Second round of talks was January, 1963 Pakistan was talking of partition based on population while India came up
with more workable plan of rational distribution of Kashmir valley.
There is a considerable amount of truth in the statement that the Kashmir issue has always been an obstacle in the
way of peaceful and brotherly relations between Pakistan and India.
But, unfortunately, the talks failed due to the provisional agreement between China and Pakistan that earned
criticism from India.
Ayub Khan, the president of Pakistan demonstrated his anxiousness for bridging the gulf between two countries and
come to some sort of negotiated settlement between the two countries First round of talks was set to be held in
December 1962, in Rawalpindi.
There is no denying the fact that talks have been arranged at numerous occasions to come to a workable solution of
the Kashmir issue, but nothing concrete has been achieved.
However, it failed to cede to either Pakistan or India and became a disputed region which brought about unceasing
animosity and bone of contention between the two states.
India came up with a plan that they would give some 1500 sq miles of Kashmir valley to Pakistan.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Swaran Singh, the Indian foreign minister held many rounds of talks in 1962.
The gap was bridgeable but lack of sincerity from both sides caused unfavorable environment resulting in failure of
talks.
Historically speaking, Kashmir was a predominantly Muslim state under the rule of Hindu Maharaja
 2) TASHKENT DECLARATION 1966
The United States and the Soviet Union forced the United Nation to play its part for the peaceful settlement and
compelling them for an amicable resolution of all the issues between the two countries because the war affecting the
global peace. The efforts of the United Nations brought peace because both countries agreed for the ceasefire.
Besides this, Soviet Premier Aleksey Kosygin also played a significant role in bringing the countries to the
negotiation table as he invited the two parties in Tashkent.
The Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and the Pakistan’s President Ayub khan met on 4 th January 1966 in
Tashkent. Both the leaders signed a pact which is called the Tashkent Declaration of 1966

Crisis in East Pakistan and International Response

The Soviet foreign Minister visited New Delhi in August 1971 and signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
which encouraged India to adopt a more strident policy towards the civil strife in East Pakistan.
India invoked Article 9 of this treaty in October to secure concrete Soviet support for its policy on the East Pakistan
(Bangladesh) crisis.
Accusing Pakistan of resorting to aggression against India, the Soviet Union exercised veto power thrice in the UN
Security Council on December 5, 6, and 13, 1971, to stall a ceasefire resolution, which gave India enough time to
overrun East Pakistan.
The Soviets not only extended diplomatic support but also airlifted arms and equipment to strengthen India's
intervention policies in East Pakistan and its invasion in November 1971.
Expressing support for the territorial integrity of Pakistan, the United States endeavored to encourage Pakistan to
seek a political solution to the Bangladesh crisis.
The Soviets were also perturbed by Pakistan's role in bringing about Sino-American rapprochement in July 1971
which set the stage for U.S. President Nixon's visit to Beijing in February 1972.
Since Pakistan was instrumental to the establishment of these ties, the Soviets decided to fall back on India to
pressure Pakistan.
The United States and China did not endorse Pakistan's military action in East Pakistan but they avoided any public
criticism of Pakistan's policies.

Conclusion
However the Era of (1962-1973) was very good form the repect of foreign policy of Pakistan. Pakistan established a better
relation with socialist country and some other powerfull country like Soviet Union ,China and USA .A border agreement was
signed between Pakistan and China in the year 1963 become a keystone in Pakistan’s foreign policy The Soviet Premier’s
visit in April 1968 . Kosygin agreed to the granting of aid for a steel mill, a nuclear power plant and also economic aid on a
broad range of development projects. A Tashkent declaration was also signed between Pakistan and India.

References:

1. The Express Tribune

2. http://www.thecsspoint.com/product/Pakistan -foreign policy: an overview
3. http://www.Historypak.com/category/pakistan-foreign policy 1962-1973