Pakistans Foreign Policy 1947-2019: A Concise History

by Abdul Sattar

Written with the express purpose of providing a reference book for students of history, political science, international relations, and Pakistan Studies, this book offers an objective history of policy stances along with the rationale behind decisions made by Pakistani state leaders. It provides an insight into the making, implementation, and consequences of Pakistans foreign policy from Partition up to 2019. It will facilitate a deeper understanding of the strategic compulsions that have driven decision making in Pakistans national security and foreign policy.

This book incorporates new contours in relations with India, the US, China, and Afghanistan. Further updates pertain to developments in such key areas as terrorism, Kashmir, and the Middle East.

Genres: Pakistan, History

414 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2020

Reviews

[hamda]

As the title claims, the book is a concise chronological introduction to the historical conditions that have shaped Pakistan's foreign policy, attempting to analyse the reason and logic behind the choices made. It's vital to know the mistakes and the ensuing repercussions, so they're not repeated anymore. I would recommend the book for people who have no prior knowledge on the subject, though it might be a tad repetitive to people who even have a beginner's knowledge. It can still be kept as a quick reference guide.

[Muhammad Pattal · Rating 4 out of 5]

In contemporary world order, the secret yet operating principles of power politics can be described in 3 proverbs:
(a) Beggars are not choosers
(b) God helps those who help themselves
(c) Might is right
Pakistan's foreign policy has been based and dependent on begging (aid) from world powers/ developed economies. Consequently national economic and foreign policies became an instrument of fulfilling strategic goals of super power(s) at the cost of national interests. This vicious cycle of national prostitution firmly stands on immoral code of conduct of the Pakistani elite, state and establishment due to lack of education/ cognizance of Qura'an Majeed, Seerat un Nabwi (SAWW) and Hadith. And unless the Pakistani nation strives to gain understanding of above-mentioned 3 sources of wisdom/ Deen, the vicious cycle is unlikely to upend.

[Muhammad Usama · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides a thorough overview of Pakistan's Foreign policy since its inception. Abdul Sattar, a seasoned diplomat, have provided an unbiased view of the country's policies in accordance with the shifting global power dynamics. The book also discussed the causes of failure of various treaties aimed at bringing peace and cooperation among south asian nuclear neighbours. The on again off again strategic partnership between USA and Pakistan is also analysed with great detail. The book is easy to follow and instead of bombarding the pages with quotes, Abdul Sattar has presented an overview of various situations and presented concrete evidence at required places. The book is a must read for anyone interested in Pakistan studies, international relations and global power politics.

[Hussnain Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book proves exceptionally valuable not only to students of international relations but also to anyone keen on understanding Pakistan's foreign policy stances and the decisions made in the past. It offers clear, precise, and accurate insights into the determinants of foreign policy and the various patterns and behaviors exhibited by Pakistan's foreign policy over the years, spanning from 1947 to 2019. This comprehensive guide delves into the 'what' and 'why' of Pakistan's historical events, rooted in the external environment.

It's a must-read, especially for those unfamiliar with Pakistan's past. The book provides accurate details about significant historical events, including the 1947-48 Kashmir war, the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the Shimla Accord, the 1999 Kargil war, the US policy towards Pakistan, and Pakistan's approaches to different dimensions of foreign policy. To sum it up, this book is truly exceptional.

[Vyas Rajput · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who wants to become acquainted with Pakistan's history in the context of international relations. This book provides the much needed "international" angle on Pakistan's domestic policies; the opportunities and challenges of why Pakistan went down certain roads.

[Sadam Hussain Sario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Issues in Pakistan foreign policy, bureaucracy since 1947, and decisions and effects of decisions of establishment on the Pakistan political economy through national and international foreign policy are well defined in this book.

[Al Huda]

good book

[Hamza Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

jjjd

[Danial Qazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to understand the fundamentals of Pakistan's Foreign Policy

[Syed Ihtesham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read book for every student of Political Science and IR who wants to hold a firm grip on historical perimeters of Pakistan's foreign policy

[Huzaifa Javed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfectly articulated all the major and minor events, Highly recommended.

[Faisal Jahania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very good foreign policies of Pak

[Rehan Balghari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent ... meh. Not very well written. Starts off decent and falls apart after chapter 20. Is a complete mess by the end: unnecessarily repetitive, entire sections repeat in the second half with lots of irrelevant stuff.
Has some nice analytical moments. It's worth reading but don't expect too much. Its decent at best; understandably biased, structurally a mess, alright content. Worth reading still :)

[Khuram Shahzad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved to read books on international issues and especially about our state since my childhood. I remember I used to discuss these issues of Kashmir, the 65 war, Afghanistan, and so on, again and again with my teachers and elders. Besides, Pakistan affairs have always taken a deep attention of mine. I was the one who used to ask a lot of questions about budget, economy, diplomacy, and agreements during the Pak study class. After the graduation I got a chance to revisit those ideas with a more mature mindset. This book was suggested to me last year by Miss Faiza who instructed current affairs to us in the context of CSS preparation. I read the book 3 times and it provided me with a good level of understanding about the major issues in Pakistan's Foreign Policy. I am very impressed by Abdul Sattars passionate and professional way of narrating Pakistan's stance. His language is very sophisticated. After getting done with the third reading, words like "instigated, ousted, reneged, in a lurch, envisaged, embarked and retrospect" were echoing in my mind. I think we don't have any other book that provides such a structured background of Pakistan's Foreign Policy.