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Pakistan
Middle East
Pakistan also maintains close relations with the Islamic countries
of the Middle East. These ties are important for religious, strategic,
political, and economic reasons. In 1955 Pakistan, together with
Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, joined the Baghdad Pact, a security arrangement
later called the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) after Iraq's
withdrawal. CENTO was buttressed in 1964 by a regional arrangement
among Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey called the Regional Cooperation
for Development (RCD), and economic cooperation activities overshadowed
the security aspects of the countries' relations. CENTO was disbanded
in 1979 with the overthrow of Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi's government
in Iran, and the RCD dissolved. The RCD was effectively revived
in 1984 as the ECO.
Pakistan's foreign policy fostered stronger ties with the Middle
East through expanded trade. In addition, Pakistani workers employed
in the Persian Gulf states, Libya, and Iran provided remittances
to Pakistan that were a major source of foreign-exchange earnings.
The loss of remittances caused by the 1991 Persian Gulf War was
a serious concern to Pakistan. During the war, Pakistani units
were sent to Saudi Arabia as components of the multinational forces.
Pakistan has also contributed to the defense systems of several
Arab states, supplying both officers and men. Pakistan has strengthened
its Islamic ties by playing a leading role in the Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and has also supported the Palestinian
cause, withholding recognition of Israel.
Pakistan's ties with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states
were strained during the 1990-91 crisis in the gulf. Although
a member of the United States-led international coalition, Pakistan
played only a limited role, sending a force of 11,000 troops tasked
with "protecting" religious sites in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless,
during the war a vocal segment of public opinion in Pakistan supported
ousting the Kuwaiti monarch and approved of Saddam Husayn's defiance
of the United States-led coalition. The then chief of the army
staff, General Mirza Aslam Beg, also expressed support for Iraq,
resulting in further embarrassment for Pakistan's government.
Following the Persian Gulf War, Pakistan undertook diplomatic
efforts to recover its position in the region. In addition, many
Pakistani expatriate workers returned to their jobs, and cooperative
defense training activities continued. As a result, Pakistan largely
restored its position as an influential player in the region.
Data as of April 1994
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