Reflection of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's foreign policy

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Revival of Pakistan’s foreign policy after debacle of East-Pakistan

This paper aims to reflect upon the Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s foreign policy. To gauge the foreign policy analysis, after the Debacle of East-Pakistan, the rational model and leadership and Personality model is applied. The application of the former model is on the some major events like; revival of diplomatic relations with USSR, China and Muslim countries, rebuilding of infrastructure and industrial sectors. Moreover, at the latter stage, the model observes psychoanalytical characteristics, aggressive and gregarious personality, majorly neutral and aggressive foreign policy approach and at times even the exploitation of some parts of conciliatory approach for the national interests. To observe his psychoanalytical traits and neutral aggressive foreign policy under the Leadership and Personality model the case of returning of Prisoners of War (Simla agreement) and working on nuclear program for scientific purposes to rebuild the devastated economy after the debacle.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the torch barrier of Pakistan’s Foreign policy when the country was in its weakest situation .The debacle of East Pakistan, with some other major ongoing conflicts and the mistrusts building from American double standards on one side and the horrific waves chanting from the Indian neighborhood, backed by the gregarious Soviet Union. All were becoming a great challenge for the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Mr. Z.A. Bhutto at that time turned the faith of the country with his astute leadership and pragmatic rational approach. His Foreign policy analysis has given the successive outcomes on the basis of two theories; a. rationality theory and b. leadership and personality theory.

Case Study

When Pakistan lost its East wing in 1971 the country was demoralized and was highly instable on socio-economic fronts. With the civil war in East Pakistan and the most exceedingly bad administration of that separation issue, most of our counterparts started to show lack of interest in their attitudes (La Porte, 1973, p. 45). At that time when Mr. Bhutto joined his office as an elected President has to encounter numerous tedious ongoing challenges. The pragmatic, intellectual and gregarious leader gradually paved the way for the country’s prosperity. His calculated and some outstanding steps which were not witnessed in the past political history of the country, since the country’s inception, brought socio-economic development and security. Moreover, Pakistan was facing numerous challenges by West but it didn’t lose the sight of its state building. However, Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto knew that for prosperity of his country he has to take the Pakistan’s Foreign policy with iron hand. Or else the fate of the country is to be doomed. The derailing economy, which has lost a war, with weak security measures, building social conflicts, dictatorial foreign policy and demoralized public it was daunting task to uplift the country. Further, the hue and cry for prisoners of wars, the lacking foreign relations with USSR, China  and Muslim countries, the barriers for nuclear enrichment , the historical vulnerable relations with India and the mistrust, anti-American sentiments  all of these issues were standing tall, in front of the country. However, Mr. Bhutto with his charismatic leadership brought a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy and with his unique capabilities brought the country to be a sovereign and an independent player on global chess board.

Rationality Model

According to rational model, states act rationally they look out and opt for a strategy in the world for their own security and survival. The states work in prospect to gain maximum benefits for their own national interests that would be helpful in current as well as in the long run.  (Toft, 2003)

In the vulnerable situation, where from domestic to international structure was not in the favor of the Pakistan. Mr. Z.A. Bhutto used rational approach in formulating the self-reliant foreign policy: that was aloofness from the defense alliance to a certain extent. To overcome the dictatorial mindset and to remove the idea that progression of the country’s national interests lies with collaboration of United States dependency. However, to formulate the self-reliant and autonomous, national socio-economic and sovereign society, the country needs to adopt a strong self-interest neutral position. Thus, keeping this progressive approach in mind Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto turned the tables and shifted the Pakistani Foreign Policy into complete new directions. Where, the prudent man improved the country’s strategic lines with the communist bloc and effectively built foreign relations with Soviet Union and China. This move changed the future of the country. The cost of building these ties was very low with the comparative high benefits that country from that time is still reaping today. From Pakistan Steel Mill in Karachi to Heavy Mechanical Complex and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra are some of the few major examples that the country has attained from the cohesive bilateral ties with former Soviet Union. Moreover not on this, the USSR on the other hand helped in expansion and rebuilding the defense industry of Pakistan. However, the improving foreign relation of country under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was another wise calculated move. The Chinese waved off around hundred and ten million dollars loan in Mr. Z.A.Bhutto’s 1972 visit. Further due to his extraordinary negotiation skills and progressive approach Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto managed to gain a package of around three hundred million dollar economic and military recovery. In which Pakistan got T-54, T-59 hundred tanks plus MIG-19 sixty fighter Jets. Further china supplied around twenty-five percent of tanks, thirty three percent of planes and ninety percent of bombers planes and sixty five percent of interceptor bombers (Pande, 2011, p. 124).

Another, pivotal direction with other significant changes which  Z.A.Bhutto’s foreign policy initiated after the lost of East Pakistan was  to balance its status quo in the international politics, to play a neutral role and  to work with unity with Muslim countries and gain their trust. This was the rational choice which he made by simply visiting countries like; Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Malaysia, Jordan and U.A.E in search for socio-political and economic support. The alliances which he was building were a mutual security framework which could become not only the country’s backbone against the western supremacy but, even breaks the western dependency, which was bullying the integrity and sovereignty of the Pakistan every now and then.

Leadership and Personality

Psychoanalytic studies that suggested deviation among people, nonetheless, proceeded to have some impact. This at times took the type of psychobiography or psychohistory, which endeavored to clarify political conduct as far as early youth encounters or the effect of difficult times in the adult hood.  Mr. Z.A.Bhutto was born in a political and a well reputed family. From the time of his birth, he had an innate political instinct. He was well educated and was well versed regarding Islam and Muslim history. He was found of revolutionaries like Mao Tse- Tung and Chaou-En-Lai  (Bhurgi, 2002, p. 153). The unique trait of Mr. Z.A.Bhutto’s political career was that he had crossed adequately all the decision making levels. He worked diligently as Foreign Minister under a dictator, then later in his political career acquired the position as a President and finally served as the Prime –Minister of the country.

However when elected after the debacle of East Pakistan, Mr. Z.A Bhutto was looking forward to build weak economy. His immediate focus was on scientific developments and modern approach. Moreover, his domestic approach was focused for economic developments and to fulfill the needs of the poor masses. However, in regards to his foreign policy, he had opted for a neutral aggressive approach majorly. Moreover, an aggressive leadership can be reflected by specific characteristics, including a Machiavellian inclination to control others, combined with a high requirement for force, a propensity towards suspicion, large amounts of patriotism, and a remarkable ability to start an action solely for the benefit of their state (Hermann, 1980). His pragmatic and courageous approach was majorly seen while working on the nuclear program. The initial aim of the nuclear program was for scientific purposes especially for fields of health, energy and to promote the country’s backbone -agro-based economy. But, the fate of the country changed due to security dilemma and U.S.A hegemonic interference to stop Pakistan from achieving nuclear technology. The biased attitude of U.S for Pakistan in regards to India. Whereas, the country was blamed for causing contamination cum proliferation and on the other hand accepting India’s test explosion and supporting its claim for peaceful purpose was sheer double standards of USA. Mr. Bhutto stated on that circumstance by saying that "It is essential for Pakistan to give the best conceivable consideration to atomic innovation, as opposed to permit itself to be bamboozled and mislead, by an international agreement which limits the deterrence power to the present atomic powers" (Oriana, 1976). However, Mr. Bhutto had sensed the threat of India’s initiative in regards to nuclear technology, way back and it was his foresighted view that he rightly implemented when he rose to power.   But United States, at every point tried to hold back the country’s initiatives practicing every possible mean from bribing by selling around 120 aircrafts to Pakistan or even by pressurizing France and others to contain the country from nuclear enrichment for peaceful purposes. Further, ongoing successes which Pakistan was achieving after all the restrictions and containment techniques became a point of concern for the American policymakers. Mr. Z. A. Bhutto’s neutral but aggressive foreign policy  was becoming unbeatable, the country was managing to gain further enrichment .Moreover,  the situation got so much worse that U.S.A and its allies didn’t even gave Pakistan non-nuclear components.  At such point the U.S. approach for Pakistan was unveiling. The vibe of anti-American rose within the country. Mr. Z .A. Bhutto had strategically calculated and formulated his aggressive foreign policy where he didn’t subject Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignty to anyone. Even though, Pakistan was going through its recovery process. The gregarious man turned the Foreign policy to a total new paradigm. However, the policy was not working on the past principles on any mutual defense pacts or mutually dependent economic agreements which had been usually seen under the previous regimes. It was mainly focusing on independence and self-reliance systematic approach. Furthermore, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in his era at that time had understood the strategic importance of the country and he knew how to exploit U.S administration and unleash the country from the dependency position. Thus, Mr. Z.A. Bhutto directed and formulated an aggressive foreign policy in a manner which was not subjective to the greater powers. 

Moreover, when Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came to power he faced tedious task from national socio-economic to international arena issues. His priority was his people. Hence, for his countrymen he took a gregarious step   through Simla Agreement with India after the debacle of East Pakistan to save the prisoners of wars without any horrific trial and to get back the country’s occupied territories of Sindh and the Punjab he opted for a mixture of aggressive and conciliatory foreign policy on the face at that moment and recognized the former East -Pakistan as Bangladesh and handled the vulnerable situation  (Bhutto, 1994, p. 41). Though opting for certain traits conciliatory foreign policy was not surrender. It was Z.A Bhutto’s vigilant sight to turn the table and play his cards; the way he wanted to play. The language which was used in the agreement was quite neutral with the consent of both the leaders and tactfully framed, which on face showed the commitment of normalization of the country’s relation with its neighbor, on the other his approach was brilliant towards the agreement without any other compromise. In such devastating socio-economic conditions of the country he got India on to the peaceful page to resolve all the conflicts through bilateral negotiations. But after returning back home his foreign policy changed to 360 degrees towards aggressive foreign policy and he started to rigorously work for  economic recovery which further paved way for scientific advancement and nuclear enrichment.

Conclusion

Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s unique approach and ideology brought the country’s sovereignty and dignity back. Due to his policies the country witnessed the speedily economic recovery. His foreign policy analysis reflects his personal gregarious attitude, rational approach and foresightedness. He was a man of substance who used his well versed legal and political knowledge and brought reforms which gave Pakistan an identity, respect and pivotal position in the international political arena.

Bibliography

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Hermann, M. G. (1980). Explaining foreign policy behavior using the personal characteristics of political leaders. International Studies Quarterly.

La Porte, R. (1973). Pakistan in 1972: Picking up the Pieces. . Asian Survey.

Oriana, S. B. (1976). Primary retroperitoneal tumors. . Tumori.

Pande, A. (2011). Explaining Pakistan’s foreign policy: escaping India. Taylor & Francis.

Toft, P. (2003). John J. Mearsheimer: An Offensive Realist Between Geopolitics & Power. Institut for Statskundskab, Københavns Universitet.