Pakistan’s affairs with

Iran and Other Muslim

Countries

By: Maryam Ali, Kashaf Ul Huda, Sufia Imran

Pakistan and Iran
Since independence Pakistan has been on good terms with Iran.
And Iran and Turkey have helped to put forth Pakistan's views and interests in
the international market.
Baghdad pact was set up by Turkey and Iraq to stop Soviet Unions
1955
expansion in Middle East.
• Through the year, U.K. , Pakistan and Iran joined it and the pact was renamed to "Central Asia Treaty
Organisation" or (CENTO).
• However this group never developed a proper system for troops and mutual defence.
Iraq left the pact and by 1979 the pact had slowly dissolved.
1959-1979 Because of Ayub Khan's work, on
21st July 1964 Turkey, Iran and Pakistan set up
RCD – “Regional Co-Operation for Development.” To bring the relations of the three country
closerby trade, and industrial projects. He also wanted Afghanistan to join,
but was unable to persuade them.
• In 1979 this agreement relapsed but in 1985 Zia Ul Haq re-established it.
• During the war against India in 1965 , Iran and Turkey aided Pakistan and
tried to convince other countries to help but they were not
successful. Pakistan appreciated their help.
At the time of uprising in Balochistan in Iran helped Pakistan
1973
government to put it down.
In 1979 there was a Islamic revolution and change of powers in Iran (Shah was
overthrown). Pakistan was one of the first countries to support the new powers. But
because of a few reasons the relations of the Pakistan and Iran declined.
• The new Irani government was suspicious of Pakistan as Pakistan had been as
constant supported of Shah.
• This Iranian government was anti-American and at that time Pakistan got huge
funds from the USA.
• Iran and Pakistan relations have been a little tense since 1980 , when Iran went at
war with Iraq.

Pakistan and the Muslim Countries

• Pakistan shares religious background with many Muslim countries and states.
(Including Turkey, Middle East Saudi Arabia and gulf states).
• It has never had any major disputes with any of them and has always tried to
create unity.
• However although all Muslim countries have same Islamic ideology they do
not agree on political matters. For e.g. When Pakistan signed the Baghdad pact,
Egypt and Saudi Arabia didn't like it.
• Some of these Muslim countries also objected Pakistan’s close relations with US
as it was American support which enabled Israel to survive against Arab opposition.
• Pakistan has been a supporter of Palestine cause and stand with them
as a community fighting against oppression .
• In 1969 Pakistan joined OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) with 24 other countries and the first
meeting was held in Morocco.
• OIC set up its first permanent headquarters in Jeddah (until Jerusalem is liberated).
• A meeting was also held in Karachi ( 1971 ) and a summit in Lahore ( 1974 ).
• Pakistan supports the cause that Palestine problem is the matter of every Islamic country.
• Israel's occupation of Palestine has been condemned a lot of times by OIC.
• Even though Pakistan was defeated in the 1971 war, Bhutto travelled across many Islamic countries to
show that Pakistan was still a major Power and to make sure that relations are still intact.
• The 1973’s Arab-Israeli war led to the Islamic summit conference held in
Lahore in September 1973 . 35 Islamic countries attended including the leader
of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
• This showed that Pakistan had friendly relations across the globe with all the
Muslim population and received aid from Islamic countries within 2 years.
(Iran-$730 million, UAE-£100 million and Libya-$80 million) .
The Gulf States
• Because of the large revenues from oil, Gulf state Muslims financed in industrial
development in Pakistan.
• Libya, Qatar, and UAE invested in Pakistan and boosted its economy(oil,shipping,banks).
• Saudi Arabia was one of the few countries to recognize Pakistan and invested in Pakistan
• Saudi Arabia sent Pakistan funds after the Soviet invasion and was Pakistan's second
largest foreign exchange source in 1980 .
• Pakistan’s relations with Islamic nations provided an opportunity for it to export its
military expertise and 50,000 military personnel are working in other countries.
• Military agreements signed in 1970’s .
• Pakistan entered the international coalition to end Iraqi invasion of Kuwait but some political parties like
Jamaat-e-Islami opposed. They feared defeat of Iraq would increase Shi'ite government in Pakistan.
Turkey
• Turkey was an ally of Iran, so had a friendly nature to Pakistan.
• Pakistan and Turkey shared religious and cultural heritage and
remembered the support of Muslims of subcontinent for the Khalifa.
• It signed the Baghdad pact in February 1955 along with Iraq.
• It was a part of RCD and had close ties with Pakistan because of it,
it supported Pakistan in wars against India and tried to gain support
of other Muslim countries for aid of Pakistan, however was unsuccessful.
• Malaysia was the only Muslim country supporting India in these wars.