Pakistan's Geopolitical Challenges and Opportunities in the Neighbourhood

Abstract

Three interrelated concepts of geography, geo-politics and geo-strategy exert direct influence on shaping a state's geopolitical environment, attendant challenges and opportunities. Pakistan has had to deal with two difficult neighbours and role of major powers while enhancing its geopolitical space in the region and beyond. It essentially requires deciphering influence of geography and geopolitics on Pakistan geo-strategy in a difficult neighbourhood. Meanwhile, new trends in regional and global geopolitics also impact the way Pakistan respond. This paper analyses contours of Pakistan's geopolitical environment, impact of geography, and course of its engagement with neighbours and the great-powers particularly the United States, during and after the Cold War. It also assesses opportunities available to Pakistan, as it seeks to pivot from geopolitics to geo-economics by linking up with new trade routes and deepening economic cooperation to meet growing needs of energy and markets for economic growth. Here too, geography and geo-politics will shape extent of Pakistan's geo-economic success.