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Is Pakistan's Global Diplomacy Working?
Diplomacy underlies all ties between nations. Diplomatic relations form the basis of travel, trade and investment between countries. The probability of armed conflict increases in the absence of diplomacy. In light of the recent failure to keep Pakistan off the terror financing watch list, the following question is being asked by political commentators and pundits: Is Pakistan's diplomacy working? To begin to answer this question, let's first look at where Pakistan ranks on Lowy Diplomacy Index. The 2017 Lowy Institute's Global Diplomacy Index visualizes the diplomatic networks of 60 G20, OECD and Asian nations, allowing users to view and compare some of the most significant diplomatic networks in the world.
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Pakistani Diplomatic Mission Around the World. Source: Lowy Institute |
Lowy Institute Data:
Pakistan has 116 diplomatic missions around the world. This figure includes 85 embassies, 29 consulates and 2 permanent missions. Pakistan ranks 27th among 60 countries ranked by Lowy. It ranks 7th in Asia .
Pakistan's arch-rival India has 181 missions, including 124 embassies and 48 consulates. India ranks 12th in the world and 3rd in Asia on Lowy Diplomacy Index. United States is number 1 and China is number 2 on diplomacy index. US has 273 diplomatic missions while China has 268. France ranks 3rd, Russia 4th and Japan 5th in the world.
Foreign Policy Objectives:
Pakistan does have a large network of diplomats and extensive presence of diplomatic missions around the world. But what is it for? The answer to this question requires understanding Pakistan's foreign policy objectives.
Pakistan, like any other nation, needs to ensure its national security in all its dimensions: political, economic and military. The nation has to participate in various international fora. It needs to project its soft power to cultivate friendly cultural and educational ties. Part of it is encouraging people-to-people contacts by promoting travel, trade and tourism.
Pakistani Diplomats Responsibilities:
Pakistan foreign service officers posted around the world have the responsibility to not only project Pakistan and its policies in a positive way but also to be the nation's eyes and ears giving information and feedback to policymakers back home.
Pakistani diplomats need to engage with their host nation's influencers as well as other nations' diplomats in foreign capitals and international institutions to promote friendship and goodwill for advancing Pakistan's foreign policy agenda.
Pakistani Diaspora:
Pakistani missions have the responsibility to provide services to 9-million strong Pakistani diaspora, the world's sixth largest. This diaspora not only sends home nearly $20 billion a year but can also help in promoting Pakistan's friendly ties with the host nations. Pakistani diaspora represents a huge market opportunity for Pakistani exporters. Highly accomplished overseas Pakistanis can be a source of investment and expertise for their country of origin.
International Geopolitics:
All policies must take into account the shifting geopolitics of the world. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger put it best when he said: “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.”
Rapidly unfolding events confirm shifting post-cold-war alliances in South Asia. The Cold War ended in early 1990s when Pakistan was closely allied with the United States. Now China-Pakistan defense collaboration is strengthening. Chinese President Xi Jinping has committed investment of over $45 billion in Pakistan, representing the single largest Chinese investment in a foreign country to date.
Pakistan's Key Relationships:
Pakistan's key relationships are with China, US, India, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran and the European Union. These relationships require the greatest attention by Pakistani foreign and security policy establishment to advance the country's foreign policy agenda.
These relationships need the most care and feeding to achieve the objectives of peace, development, security and prosperity. The best and the brightest of Pakistani diplomats need to be assigned to manage these crucial ties.
Current Assessment:
It's not fair to judge the entire foreign policy establishment based on the negative outcome of just one meeting at FATF. However, Pakistan needs to learn from it and fashion its policy in a rapidly evolving geopolitical reordering. Long term, Pakistan needs to continue to cultivate close ties with its traditional friends in China and the Middle East. Pakistan must take seriously what Henry Kissinger said about US friendships: “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” It must also assume that other leaders in the rest of the world say privately what Kissinger said publicly.
Summary:
Diplomacy underlies all ties between nations. Diplomatic relations form the basis of travel, trade and investment between countries. Pakistan ranks 27th in the world and 7th in Asia on Lowy Diplomacy Index. The 2017 Lowy Institute's Global Diplomacy Index visualizes the diplomatic networks of 60 G20, OECD and Asian nations, allowing users to view and compare some of the most significant diplomatic networks in the world.
In light of the recent failure to keep Pakistan off the terror financing list, the following question is being asked by political commentators and pundits: Is Pakistan's diplomacy working? It's not fair to judge the entire foreign policy establishment based on the negative outcome of just one meeting at FATF. However, Pakistan needs to learn from it and fashion its policy in a rapidly evolving geopolitical reordering. Long term, Pakistan needs to continue to cultivate close ties with its traditional friends in China and the Middle East. Pakistan must take seriously what Henry Kissinger said about US friendships: “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” It must also assume that other leaders in the rest of the world say privately what Kissinger said publicly.
Related Links:
Riaz Haq
Lowy Institute Power Index: Pakistan is a middle power in Asia.
The country’s overall score has remained unchanged over the past year.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40027514
Pakistan performs best in the future resources measure, where it places 7th, reflecting an anticipated demographic dividend to 2050. Its lowest ranking is in the economic relationships measure, coming in at 20th place.
In 2020, Pakistan saw its greatest improvement in economic capability, resilience and diplomatic influence, where it moved up one place. However, it has also slipped by two places in the defence networks measure relative to 2019.
Pakistan exerts less influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s negative power gap score. While Pakistan is a net underachiever in Asia, its negative power gap improved in 2020.
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Pakistan 15th most powerful country in Asia with biggest gains in diplomatic influence: Report
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40027514
Pakistan's major improvement has been in future resources measures, economic capability and resilience
India's overall score declined by 1.3 points as it trended down in cultural influence, future resources, economic relationships and diplomatic influence
Key figures
The report stated that in 2020, Pakistan had the biggest gains in diplomatic influence with (+3.8) points. However, it lost some points in cultural influence with (−3.9).
Elsewhere, it improved in resilience with (+1.3) points and future resources (+1.2) points, while trending down in defence networks with (−1.9) points. Its military capability stood at (−0.8) points and economic relationships at (−0.2) points. The score for economic capability remained unchanged this year.
Pakistan's major improvement has been in future resources measures, where it is placed on 7th rank reflecting an anticipated demographic dividend to 2050. Its lowest ranking is in the economic relationships measure, coming in at 20th place.
In 2020, Pakistan saw its greatest improvement in economic capability, resilience and diplomatic influence, where it moved up one place. However, it has also slipped by two places in the defence networks measure relative to 2019, the report mentioned.
Pakistan's negative power gap also improved in 2020, the report stated.
India's score declines
On the other hand, Pakistan's neighbouring country India lost the most points in cultural influence with (−5.3) points. Elsewhere, it trended down in future resources with (−4.9) points, economic relationships at (−2.9) points and diplomatic influence with (−2.6) points.
The report maintained that India's overall score declined by 1.3 points as compared to 2019. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has also affected the economic forecast of the country for 2030.
India also slipped into 7th position for economic relationships, as it falls further behind in regional trade integration efforts. The decision to withdraw from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has been damaging in this regard.
Oct 20, 2020
Riaz Haq
Pakistan to open diplomatic mission in Djibouti. #ImranKhan underlined the salience of #Pakistan’s “Engage #Africa” policy, which aims at forging closer ties with the continent by expanding Islamabad’s diplomatic footprint and deepening economic engagement http://v.aa.com.tr/2094111
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday announced that his country would soon establish its resident diplomatic mission in Djibouti.
He made the announcement during a meeting with a 12-member parliamentary delegation of the African Union led by President National Assembly of Republic of Djibouti, Mohamed Ali Houmed, in capital Islamabad, according to a statement from prime minister office.
The delegation is on a week-long official visit to Pakistan.
Welcoming the delegation, Khan underlined the salience of Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” policy, which aims at forging closer ties with the continent by expanding Islamabad’s diplomatic footprint and deepening economic engagement.
Both sides affirmed the shared desire to broaden bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, the statement added.
The two sides also exchanged views on the importance of peace and security in neighboring regional context of both Pakistan and Djibouti.
Houmed, for his part, appreciated Pakistan’s “historical” support and expressed hope that visit of parliamentary delegation would help further consolidate Djibouti-Pakistan relations.
The chairman of Pakistan’s upper house -the Senate-, Sadiq Sanjrani, was also present during the meeting.
Dec 31, 2020
Riaz Haq
Ranked: Countries with the Most Embassies Around the World
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/countries-with-the-most-embassies-...
China 173
US 168
France 158
UK 156
Japan 152
Germany 148
Turkey 145
Russia 143
Brazil 135
India 135
Italy 124
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Saudi Arabia 104
Indonesia 92
Pakistan 89
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66 countries 714 cities Posts 7701
https://globaldiplomacyindex.lowyinstitute.org/
1. China 274
2. US 271
3. Turkey 252
4. Japan 251
5. France 249
6. Russia 230
7. UK 225
8. Germany 217
9. Italy 206
10. Brazil 205
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11. India 194
27. Pakistan 121
46. Bangladesh 80
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Asia
1. China 274
2. Japan 251
3. Russia 230
4. India 194
5. South Korea 187
6. Indonesia 130
7. Australia 124
8. Pakistan 121
9. Taiwan 110
10. Malaysia 106
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14. Bangladesh 80
Jul 14