Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in terms of population (after Indonesia), and its status as a declared nuclear power, being the only muslim nation to have that status, plays a part in its international role.
Pakistan has a fierce independent foreign policy, especially when it comes to issues such as development of both civilian and military nuclear reactors, foreign military purchases, trade, bilateral agreements and other issues that are vital to its national interests. Pakistan has a strategic geo-political location at the corridor of world major maritime oil supply lines, and has close proximity to the resource and oil rich central Asian countries. Pakistan is an important member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a major non-NATO ally of the war against terrorism, and has a highly disciplined world eighth-largest standing military force.
Historically, Pakistan foreign policy has encompassed difficult relations with the Republic of India; especially on the core-issue of Kashmir, over which it has fought two wars. However it has had long-standing close relations with its other neighbors Afghanistan, Iran and China, extensive security and economic interests in the Persian Gulf and wide-ranging bilateral relations with the United States and other Western countries.
Wary of Soviet expansion, Pakistan had strong relations with both the United States of America and the People's Republic of China during much of the Cold War. Today, the two countries remain Pakistan's closest allies.
Continue....