Indian Foreign Policy Toward Pakistan

Source: The post “Indian Foreign policy toward Pakistan” has been created, based on “The Pakistan Problem” published in “Indian Express” on 23 October 2025. Indian Foreign Policy Toward Pakistan.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper -2- India and its Neighbourhood- Relations

Introduction: Pakistan remains one of India’s most persistent strategic challenges. Despite internal instability and economic fragility, Islamabad continues to command significant geopolitical influence. Its strategic location, military power, and network of alliances have allowed it to remain relevant to major powers and sustain its disruptive capacity in regional politics. Understanding these structural sources of Pakistan’s leverage is crucial for shaping India’s long-term foreign policy.

Pakistan’s Strategic Location and Leverage:

• Geopolitical positioning: Pakistan borders Afghanistan, Iran, China, and India, placing it at the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Its proximity to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea enhances its geostrategic importance.
• Regional connectivity: Through Afghanistan, Pakistan connects to Central Asia, allowing external powers to project influence deep into the region.
• Strategic value to major powers: Its location gives it enduring relevance to powers such as the U.S., China, Russia, and Gulf countries, all of whom have security or economic interests in the region.

Sources of Pakistan’s Power and Influence:

1, Military Power:

• Pakistan’s armed forces, with around half a million personnel, are among the most formidable in the region.
• It possesses around 200 nuclear warheads, possibly exceeding India’s stockpile, which provides a deterrent as well as coercive leverage.
• Backed by Chinese weapons systems and military intelligence, Pakistan’s military continues to project influence beyond its borders.

2. Alliances and External Support:

• Islamabad enjoys support from China, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia, which see it as strategically indispensable.
• China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) further strengthens this bond, making Pakistan a key node in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• Pakistan’s links with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) amplify its diplomatic voice in the Muslim world.

3. Diaspora and Religious Identity:

• Between 1995 and 2020, about 14 million Pakistanis emigrated, creating a diaspora of 11–14 million globally, concentrated in the Gulf, UK, and U.S.A.
• The diaspora contributes remittances, lobbying influence, and soft power, particularly within the Islamic world.

Challenges for India:

1. Enduring Strategic Relevance of Pakistan: Despite internal crises, Pakistan remains engaged with major powers, limiting India’s ability to isolate it diplomatically.
2. China–Pakistan Nexus: China’s deepening ties, military cooperation, and CPEC investments give Islamabad significant backing, constraining India’s regional strategic space.
3. Use of Proxy and Asymmetric Warfare: Pakistan’s military-intelligence establishment continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism and proxy conflicts, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir.
4. Geopolitical Leverage through Location: Pakistan’s geography allows it to serve as a logistical hub for major powers, particularly for operations in Afghanistan and the Gulf. This ensures continued international engagement with Islamabad.
5. Ideological and Diplomatic Leverage: Pakistan leverages its Islamic identity to influence global narratives through the OIC and other forums, occasionally mobilising support against India on issues like Kashmir.
6. Diaspora Influence: A large and politically active diaspora enhances Pakistan’s visibility abroad, giving it a voice in Western capitals and international institutions.
7. India’s Policy Dilemma: For India, Pakistan is not merely a troublesome neighbour but a strategic actor backed by major powers, making complete disengagement impractical.

Way Forward

1. Strategic Patience and Realism: India must recognise that Pakistan cannot be dismissed; it will remain a strategic irritant that must be managed, not eliminated. India should engage with Pakistan with clarity, composure, and consistency.
2. Cool-headed Diplomacy: India’s approach should combine firmness on terrorism with measured diplomatic engagement, avoiding overreaction or escalation that serves Pakistan’s narrative.
3. Strengthening Regional Alternatives: Enhance connectivity with Iran, Afghanistan (if politically feasible), and Central Asia to reduce Pakistan’s transit and geographic leverage.
4. Countering the China–Pakistan Axis: Strengthen partnerships with the U.S., Japan, and Europe while pursuing issue-based engagement with China to limit Islamabad’s strategic utility to Beijing.
5. Expanding Soft Power and Economic Leverage: Promote India’s image as a stable, responsible power and invest in regional development and trade frameworks that isolate Pakistan’s confrontational approach.
6. Intelligence and Security Preparedness: Continue counterterrorism coordination, modernise border security, and maintain deterrence credibility to counter Pakistan’s asymmetric tactics.
7. Narrative Management: Proactively engage global opinion through diplomacy and media to counter Pakistan’s use of international platforms on issues like Kashmir and minority rights.

Conclusion: Pakistan’s leverage is rooted in enduring structural factors — its geography, military power, and alliances. These make it both indispensable and disruptive in South Asian geopolitics. As Bajpai notes, India must engage with Pakistan with a “cool-headed, clear-eyed realism,” balancing deterrence with diplomacy. For India, the goal should not be to isolate Pakistan entirely, but to neutralise its disruptive potential while continuing to strengthen its own regional and global standing.

Question: Discuss Pakistan’s enduring geopolitical leverage and its implications for India’s foreign policy, with reference to its location, power capabilities, and alliances. Highlight the major challenges and the way forward.