The Foreign Policy Vision of Jinnah: Leadership Through Strength |
“I do not believe in taking the right decision; I take a decision and make it right.” – Muhammad Ali Jinnah
“I do not believe in taking the right decision; I take a decision and make it right.”
Pakistan’s foundational foreign policy goals and state attributes were already decided before it appeared on the world map. The freedom movement that led to its creation set the very goal of what a future state for Muslims should look like. No doubt, the Muslim cause was supported and promoted by various leaders, but the entire Muslim movement became indebted to the efforts and far-sightedness of one man – Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The pioneer of the Pakistan movement and, later, the founder of the Pakistani nation, Jinnah, acted as a one-man army against a number of obstacles in his way. His major trait was leadership through strength, no matter whether the resources were scarce or the possibilities felt narrow. Jinnah knew the fact that the newly born state would require visionary and policy-oriented goals to withstand future storms. Therefore, he not only provided an impetus to the Pakistan movement but also prepared his people for the post-independence situation.
Guiding Principles of Jinnah’s Foreign Policy Approach
Through untiring tours and direct contacts with locals during the movement, Jinnah has already articulated his very principles of forming a new sovereign state for the Muslims of the subcontinent. Soon after the emergence of Pakistan, Jinnah became the Governor-General of the country. During his thirteen months of life after the creation of Pakistan, he delivered various speeches at national and international platforms that clearly identified the overarching principles of the foreign policy of Pakistan. On that note, Jinnah had a very clear vision, which could be measured by one of his broadcast talks to people of the United States in February 1948: “Our foreign policy is that of friendship and goodwill to all the nations of the world.”
Pakistan was created during the era of colonial emancipation. Empires were dismembering, and the world map was bestowed with a large number of sovereign entities. However, it was also the fact that the newly established states were becoming protectorates of the colonizers, whereby the empires retained control of foreign policy decisions of the newborn country. Jinnah was against this notion. He believed in the right of a state to formulate its foreign policy without any external intervention or dictation.
Addressing the first constituent assembly on 11 August 1947, Jinnah stated, “The most important point I want to make is this: keep in mind that you now possess all authority as an independent legislative body. As a result, the weight of your decision-making rests heavily upon you.” This statement clearly shows that, as per Quaid, serving the country’s national interest should be the foremost responsibility of its officials.
Peaceful Coexistence
Jinnah held the viewpoint that Pakistan should present itself to the world as a peaceful country, both in its internal and external affairs. No doubt, Pakistan was established based on Islamic ideology, but people belonging to any other religion will have the right to live and practice their........