Security-centric policies and trade |
Pakistan appears to be trapped in a paradox. While its private sector leaders advocate for dialogue and inclusion, its public policy, both in words and actions, suggests otherwise. Pakistan has refrained from engaging with other countries and has excluded dissenting voices.
The state has ardently advocated for connectivity for cross-border trade. It is involved in multiple transit and preferential trade agreements with Central Asian states, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, to promote regional trade. Pakistan also aspires to become a pivotal Eurasian trade hub for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), an alternative to traditional routes that connect India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Central Asia via ship, rail and road. However, geopolitical complications and current strains emanating from the war with Iran have reduced the INSTC to a mere concept as of now.
State functionaries often emphasise Pakistan's geostrategic location as a unique selling point, a leverage that leaders repeatedly highlight as a potential game-changer. However, this leverage loses its significance when political considerations hinder critical movement through the strategic location. This is precisely what transpired after Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan on October 11, 2021. Consequently, the leverage has lost its value, as evidenced by some concerning basic data.
For instance, Pakistan's cumulative trade with Afghanistan and the five Central Asian republics during 2025........