Diversification of Foreign Policy, From Peacekeeping to Strategic Presence: The Case of Pakistan in Africa

Abstract

Pakistan began its participation in UN peacekeeping in 1960 and became one of the top Troop Contributing Countries (TCC) during 1990s. Barely two decades following its creation, Pakistan demonstrated a unique sense of shared responsibility and humanity by contributing troops to bringing about peace and harmony in war ridden zones, this unique propensity has been on display amidst all odds and limited resources. However, it puzzles a rational mind, why Pakistan would choose to commit, deploy, and labor its troops to such perilous venture regardless of all odds and limited resources. Most of the peacekeeping missions are concentrated in Africa and Pakistan has significantly participated in these missions to bring peace and harmony to the continent. But the question is what strategic dividend and goodwill Pakistan gets from these missions, particularly the African peacekeeping missions. To articulate these issues more vividly, the paper is divided into two sections. The first section of the paper takes a theoretical lens to understand peacekeeping and is followed by an attempt to understand why Pakistan has been an adherent peacekeeping nation. In addition to peacekeeping as a tool of foreign policy, the second section of the paper argues that there are numerous strategic ‘untapped’ areas, wherein Pakistan can equally strengthen her foreign policy in Africa, if policymakers would consider diversifying into these areas. Therefore, this paper posits that an amalgam of peacekeeping and exploitation of these untapped areas can add to the meaningful presence of Pakistan in Africa and by extension the fulfillment of her foreign policy objectives.