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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Pakistan
Index
Pakistan also maintains close relations with the
Islamic
countries of the Middle East. These ties are important for
religious, strategic, political, and economic reasons. In
1955
Pakistan, together with Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, joined the
Baghdad Pact, a security arrangement later called the
Central
Treaty Organization (CENTO) after Iraq's withdrawal. CENTO
was
buttressed in 1964 by a regional arrangement among
Pakistan,
Iran, and Turkey called the Regional Cooperation for
Development
(RCD), and economic cooperation activities overshadowed
the
security aspects of the countries' relations. CENTO was
disbanded
in 1979 with the overthrow of Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi's
government in Iran, and the RCD dissolved. The RCD was
effectively revived in 1984 as the ECO.
Pakistan's foreign policy fostered stronger ties with
the
Middle East through expanded trade. In addition, Pakistani
workers employed in the Persian Gulf states, Libya, and
Iran
provided remittances to Pakistan that were a major source
of
foreign-exchange earnings. The loss of remittances caused
by the
1991 Persian Gulf War was a serious concern to Pakistan.
During
the war, Pakistani units were sent to Saudi Arabia as
components
of the multinational forces. Pakistan has also contributed
to the
defense systems of several Arab states, supplying both
officers
and men. Pakistan has strengthened its Islamic ties by
playing a
leading role in the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC)
and has also supported the Palestinian cause, withholding
recognition of Israel.
Pakistan's ties with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf
states
were strained during the 1990-91 crisis in the gulf.
Although a
member of the United States-led international coalition,
Pakistan
played only a limited role, sending a force of 11,000
troops
tasked with "protecting" religious sites in Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, during the war a vocal segment of public
opinion in
Pakistan supported ousting the Kuwaiti monarch and
approved of
Saddam Husayn's defiance of the United States-led
coalition. The
then chief of the army staff, General Mirza Aslam Beg,
also
expressed support for Iraq, resulting in further
embarrassment
for Pakistan's government. Following the Persian Gulf War,
Pakistan undertook diplomatic efforts to recover its
position in
the region. In addition, many Pakistani expatriate workers
returned to their jobs, and cooperative defense training
activities continued. As a result, Pakistan largely
restored its
position as an influential player in the region.
Data as of April 1994
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