Chapter 2: South Asia
Pakistan: Overview
Facts
/ Geography, Climate / Cities
/ Posture Statement Excerpt
Leadership
/ System Essentials / Infrastructure
/ Population / Fielded Forces
/ Table of Contents
Pakistan shares land borders with Afghanistan (2430 km), China (523 km), India (2912 km), and Iran (909 km); it has a southern coast (1046 km) along the Arabian sea. The three main topological features of Pakistan are the flat Indus Plain in the east, several mountain ranges in the north and west, and the Balochistan plateau in the west. Pakistan's longest river is the Indus River which runs from the northeast to the southern coast.
Pakistan's climate varies widely. Hot, dry desert conditions exist in the Thar Desert along the border with India to the southwest while the northwest is largely temperate with arctic temperatures in the northern mountains.
Pakistan's strategic location, with India to the east, Central Asia to the north and Iran and Afghanistan to the west, makes it a key regional power. A responsible international actor, Pakistan remains actively involved in the UN, through membership on the Security Council and major commitments to peacekeeping operations such as UNOSOM. Moreover, the Pakistani armed forces were a model of military restraint, demonstrating unwavering support for democracy during the last national elections.
Pakistan exerts considerable influence upon Afghanistan as a result of geographic, religious, and ethnic linkages. It supports over 1.3 million Afghan refugees of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Clearly, Pakistan will play a major role in international efforts to assist in stabilizing and rebuilding war-torn Afghanistan.
The issue of Kashmir is the focal point of Pakistan's foreign policy. This issue has led to two major Indo-Pak conflicts and continues to be the major source of confrontation between the two nations. Deep-rooted hostility, along with fear of India's nuclear weapons capability and overwhelming conventional forces, has propelled Pakistan toward construction of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery means. We support a regional agreement to cap WMD efforts with an objective of eventual program roll-back and elimination. Similar regional arms control with regard to the development and deployment of ballistic missiles would further reduce tensions.
Pakistan's desire to maintain close ties to the U.S. has resulted in continued cooperative bilateral relations. Though limited by Pressler Amendment constraints, our military-to-military relationship consists of limited exercises, senior officer visits, and combined peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts under the auspices of the UN. A balanced approach toward India and Pakistan is essential to promoting regional stability, economic growth, and the furtherance of democracy.