Golden Jubilee of Nepal-Pakistan Relations
Yuba Nath Lamsal
The friendly and cordial relations between Nepal and Pakistan have grown fully mature. It has been fifty years since the diplomatic relationship between Nepal and Pakistan was established. We are, now, marking the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between these two close South Asian neighbours, which is a matter of pride for all of us.
The diplomatic relations between Nepal and Pakistan were formally established in 1960, which is a milestone in the friendly relationship between these two South Asian friends. The residential embassies of both the countries were established in the following year. This decision was made in the bilateral agreement between the two countries when the then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan paid a state visit to Nepal in 1963, which was reciprocated by the then Nepal’s head of State king Mahendra. As per the decision, Nepal opened its residential embassy in Karachi, the then capital of Pakistan, in 1964, which was reciprocated by Pakistan by establishing its residential mission in Kathmandu in 1965.Since then relations between Nepal and Pakistan have grown steadily. These two friendly countries have no problems, at all, in any front. They enjoy perfectly cordial and cooperative ties, which are marked by goodwill and friendship. The relationship between these two countries is based on sovereign equality, mutual respect to and non-interference in one another’s affairs. These are the principles that are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and also are the guiding principles of the non-aligned movement, which both Nepal and Pakistan have always cherished.Nepal and Pakistan do not have common border. But they consider one another a close friend and a friend in need. Both the countries attach greater importance to the friendly relationship and bilateral cooperation and share many commonalities in several bilateral, regional and international affairs. In the regional and international forum like SAARC and the United Nations, the two countries are always cooperative on different matters concerning them, South Asia and developing countries. The common perspectives that they share on several international and regional issues have brought these two countries and people closer.There are many things that Nepal should learn from Pakistan. The defence strategy that Pakistan has adopted should be a lesson for other countries whose strategic position is vulnerable. Since its creation Pakistan has faced threat from the hostile neighbour. Pakistan was created as an independent country after the agreed partition of Indian sub-continent which was under British colonialism, under ‘Two Nation Theory’. The Indian sub-continent, which used to be called as India, was partitioned mutually on condition that the Hindu part would be called Hindustan and the Muslim part Pakistan. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who is Pakistan’s father of the nation and the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, honestly kept his words and promises made at the time of partition and after. But Jawaharlal Nehru and his band in Hindu part broke the agreement made during the time of partition one after another. The beginning of the breach of promises and accords was the decision of Nehru and the pack to call the Hindu part as India instead of Hindustan. Right after the partition, Nehru announced that ‘the new India is the successor of British India’, which was aimed at reinforcing India’s bullying and coercive policy towards its small neighbours under Kautilya’s geo-political assumption that the immediate neighbour is always an enemy. This was the beginning of the mistrust between the two newly created countries. This attitude of India sowed the seed of animosity and mistrust not only between Pakistan and India but also with all other South Asian neighbours.When Pakistan was created, it had nothing except the land and its people. Pakistan began its journey of nation-building from the scratch. There had been an agreement during the partition that both the newly creates states would have their share in the assets and liability of the British raj on proportionate basis. However, India betrayed and denied the legitimate share of Pakistan in the assets of British raj. There are a number of instances that testify India’s non-compliance with agreements and promises. India has violated time and again the agreements made between the two countries including the Liaqat-Nehru Pact of 1949, Tashkent Pact of 1966 and also the UN resolution on Kashmir issue. Nehru had agreed to hold plebiscite to decide the fate of Kashmir. Under the accord, it had been agreed that Kashmiri people would decide whether they wanted to remain as a part of India or the part of Pakistan through plebiscite. However, India later backed out and has not allowed plebiscite in Kashmir. As a result, Kashmir has continued to remain as a disputed territory even today and three wars between India and Pakistan have been fought over the status of Kahsmir.Pakistan began its journey as a nation-state with empty hands. But there was a strong determination in Pakistani people to have their own country with distinct identity and self-dignity that built Pakistan as a strong country. India inherited colonial legacy whereas newly created Pakistan represented spirit of liberation and independence and self-dignity, of which people of Pakistan are always proud.Right after its creation, Pakistan has been faced with threat to its survival and existence. As a result, it has not been allowed to fully concentrate on social and economic development to the desired extent. From the very beginning, more focus had to be laid on its defence. As a result, Pakistan was forced to go militarization because of continued external threat and arm build-up strategy of its bigger neighbour India. This can be well substantiated by Indira Gandhi’s announcement after the creation of Bangladesh in 1972 that India would dump the Two Nation Theory into the Indian Ocean. This is a testimony that India did not recognize the existence of Pakistan.Compared to India, Pakistan is small in size, population and economy, but it has built military capability to maintain military deterrent—both conventional and nuclear. Now Pakistan is fully capable for military and nuclear deterrent. The militarization and nuclear programmes are not its choice but had to do so for its self-defence because of the hostile attitude of its neighbour.India is a regional bully in South Asia that has bled every country of this region—be it Nepal, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s rise is necessary also to counter New Delhi’s ill-design vis-à-vis its small neighbours including Nepal. Against this background, South Asian countries need to develop special relationship with Pakistan and also learn lesson from it for their national survival and existence. This is more so in the wake of annexation of Sikkim to India. After Sikkim, India is eying on Bhutan and Nepal. Had Pakistan not been there as a countervailing force, South Asian security would have been further vulnerable.So far as the bilateral relations between Nepal and Pakistan are concerned, they are excellent both at the official as well as people’s levels. Both of them respect each other’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan is eager to see political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal. Similarly, Nepali people believe that a politically stable and economically vibrant Pakistan is in the best interest of Nepal.Given the strategic location of Pakistan, it can play the role of bridge between South Asia and Central Asia; Central Asia and East Asia; and East Asia and South Asia through the Karakoram Highway. As it is well positioned geographically, it can be a commercial hub for land-locked Central Asian countries. The Karakoram Highway links Pakistan with China and beyond in the east. Based on this geographical location, Pakistan has the potentials of rising as a center of Asian gas grid that can link Central Asia, Europe and Russia, South Asia and East Asia by a common gas pipeline. Pakistan is always willing to cooperate with and help its friendly neighbours to take benefit from its well-positioned geo-strategic and geo-economic significance. Nepal can enter central Asian countries and diversify its trade through Karakoram Highway for which Islamabad seems to be positive.Pakistan’s assistance to Nepal is selfless, which is guided by the intention of contributing to Nepal’s development and modernization. If we look back in retrospect, Pakistan has been a true friend of Nepal throughout its history. When Nepal was effortful to get UN membership, Pakistan wholeheartedly supported Nepal’s bid for UN membership. So there is enormous level of goodwill and friendship between the people and the governments of these countries which need to be taken to a newer height in future for peace and prosperity in South Asia.Pakistan is willing to cooperate with Nepal despite its limited resources. There are already several projects in which Pakistan has been assisting Nepal. Pakistan has been assisting in the field of culture, agriculture, communication and science and technology. Pakistan and Nepal are cooperating in the field of tourism. Pakistan provides scholarship to Nepali students and professionals to study various streams of science and technology from which Nepal has benefited a lot.As far as bilateral trade is concerned, the volume, so far, is very small. The bilateral trade between Nepal and Pakistan is slightly over $4.7 million. Nepal exports mostly tea and spices to Pakistan whereas it is importing textile and food items from Pakistan. But there is great scope for expanding and diversifying the volume of trade between Pakistan and Nepal. Trade exhibition and exchanges of visits by business delegations from both the countries are other measures being taken by Nepal and Pakistan to promote bilateral trade.
The friendly and cordial relations between Nepal and Pakistan have grown fully mature. It has been fifty years since the diplomatic relationship between Nepal and Pakistan was established. We are, now, marking the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between these two close South Asian neighbours, which is a matter of pride for all of us.
The diplomatic relations between Nepal and Pakistan were formally established in 1960, which is a milestone in the friendly relationship between these two South Asian friends. The residential embassies of both the countries were established in the following year. This decision was made in the bilateral agreement between the two countries when the then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan paid a state visit to Nepal in 1963, which was reciprocated by the then Nepal’s head of State king Mahendra. As per the decision, Nepal opened its residential embassy in Karachi, the then capital of Pakistan, in 1964, which was reciprocated by Pakistan by establishing its residential mission in Kathmandu in 1965.Since then relations between Nepal and Pakistan have grown steadily. These two friendly countries have no problems, at all, in any front. They enjoy perfectly cordial and cooperative ties, which are marked by goodwill and friendship. The relationship between these two countries is based on sovereign equality, mutual respect to and non-interference in one another’s affairs. These are the principles that are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and also are the guiding principles of the non-aligned movement, which both Nepal and Pakistan have always cherished.Nepal and Pakistan do not have common border. But they consider one another a close friend and a friend in need. Both the countries attach greater importance to the friendly relationship and bilateral cooperation and share many commonalities in several bilateral, regional and international affairs. In the regional and international forum like SAARC and the United Nations, the two countries are always cooperative on different matters concerning them, South Asia and developing countries. The common perspectives that they share on several international and regional issues have brought these two countries and people closer.There are many things that Nepal should learn from Pakistan. The defence strategy that Pakistan has adopted should be a lesson for other countries whose strategic position is vulnerable. Since its creation Pakistan has faced threat from the hostile neighbour. Pakistan was created as an independent country after the agreed partition of Indian sub-continent which was under British colonialism, under ‘Two Nation Theory’. The Indian sub-continent, which used to be called as India, was partitioned mutually on condition that the Hindu part would be called Hindustan and the Muslim part Pakistan. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who is Pakistan’s father of the nation and the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, honestly kept his words and promises made at the time of partition and after. But Jawaharlal Nehru and his band in Hindu part broke the agreement made during the time of partition one after another. The beginning of the breach of promises and accords was the decision of Nehru and the pack to call the Hindu part as India instead of Hindustan. Right after the partition, Nehru announced that ‘the new India is the successor of British India’, which was aimed at reinforcing India’s bullying and coercive policy towards its small neighbours under Kautilya’s geo-political assumption that the immediate neighbour is always an enemy. This was the beginning of the mistrust between the two newly created countries. This attitude of India sowed the seed of animosity and mistrust not only between Pakistan and India but also with all other South Asian neighbours.When Pakistan was created, it had nothing except the land and its people. Pakistan began its journey of nation-building from the scratch. There had been an agreement during the partition that both the newly creates states would have their share in the assets and liability of the British raj on proportionate basis. However, India betrayed and denied the legitimate share of Pakistan in the assets of British raj. There are a number of instances that testify India’s non-compliance with agreements and promises. India has violated time and again the agreements made between the two countries including the Liaqat-Nehru Pact of 1949, Tashkent Pact of 1966 and also the UN resolution on Kashmir issue. Nehru had agreed to hold plebiscite to decide the fate of Kashmir. Under the accord, it had been agreed that Kashmiri people would decide whether they wanted to remain as a part of India or the part of Pakistan through plebiscite. However, India later backed out and has not allowed plebiscite in Kashmir. As a result, Kashmir has continued to remain as a disputed territory even today and three wars between India and Pakistan have been fought over the status of Kahsmir.Pakistan began its journey as a nation-state with empty hands. But there was a strong determination in Pakistani people to have their own country with distinct identity and self-dignity that built Pakistan as a strong country. India inherited colonial legacy whereas newly created Pakistan represented spirit of liberation and independence and self-dignity, of which people of Pakistan are always proud.Right after its creation, Pakistan has been faced with threat to its survival and existence. As a result, it has not been allowed to fully concentrate on social and economic development to the desired extent. From the very beginning, more focus had to be laid on its defence. As a result, Pakistan was forced to go militarization because of continued external threat and arm build-up strategy of its bigger neighbour India. This can be well substantiated by Indira Gandhi’s announcement after the creation of Bangladesh in 1972 that India would dump the Two Nation Theory into the Indian Ocean. This is a testimony that India did not recognize the existence of Pakistan.Compared to India, Pakistan is small in size, population and economy, but it has built military capability to maintain military deterrent—both conventional and nuclear. Now Pakistan is fully capable for military and nuclear deterrent. The militarization and nuclear programmes are not its choice but had to do so for its self-defence because of the hostile attitude of its neighbour.India is a regional bully in South Asia that has bled every country of this region—be it Nepal, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s rise is necessary also to counter New Delhi’s ill-design vis-à-vis its small neighbours including Nepal. Against this background, South Asian countries need to develop special relationship with Pakistan and also learn lesson from it for their national survival and existence. This is more so in the wake of annexation of Sikkim to India. After Sikkim, India is eying on Bhutan and Nepal. Had Pakistan not been there as a countervailing force, South Asian security would have been further vulnerable.So far as the bilateral relations between Nepal and Pakistan are concerned, they are excellent both at the official as well as people’s levels. Both of them respect each other’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan is eager to see political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal. Similarly, Nepali people believe that a politically stable and economically vibrant Pakistan is in the best interest of Nepal.Given the strategic location of Pakistan, it can play the role of bridge between South Asia and Central Asia; Central Asia and East Asia; and East Asia and South Asia through the Karakoram Highway. As it is well positioned geographically, it can be a commercial hub for land-locked Central Asian countries. The Karakoram Highway links Pakistan with China and beyond in the east. Based on this geographical location, Pakistan has the potentials of rising as a center of Asian gas grid that can link Central Asia, Europe and Russia, South Asia and East Asia by a common gas pipeline. Pakistan is always willing to cooperate with and help its friendly neighbours to take benefit from its well-positioned geo-strategic and geo-economic significance. Nepal can enter central Asian countries and diversify its trade through Karakoram Highway for which Islamabad seems to be positive.Pakistan’s assistance to Nepal is selfless, which is guided by the intention of contributing to Nepal’s development and modernization. If we look back in retrospect, Pakistan has been a true friend of Nepal throughout its history. When Nepal was effortful to get UN membership, Pakistan wholeheartedly supported Nepal’s bid for UN membership. So there is enormous level of goodwill and friendship between the people and the governments of these countries which need to be taken to a newer height in future for peace and prosperity in South Asia.Pakistan is willing to cooperate with Nepal despite its limited resources. There are already several projects in which Pakistan has been assisting Nepal. Pakistan has been assisting in the field of culture, agriculture, communication and science and technology. Pakistan and Nepal are cooperating in the field of tourism. Pakistan provides scholarship to Nepali students and professionals to study various streams of science and technology from which Nepal has benefited a lot.As far as bilateral trade is concerned, the volume, so far, is very small. The bilateral trade between Nepal and Pakistan is slightly over $4.7 million. Nepal exports mostly tea and spices to Pakistan whereas it is importing textile and food items from Pakistan. But there is great scope for expanding and diversifying the volume of trade between Pakistan and Nepal. Trade exhibition and exchanges of visits by business delegations from both the countries are other measures being taken by Nepal and Pakistan to promote bilateral trade.
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