Pakistan’s Foreign Policy During diplomatic Isolation (2019-2022): An analytical study

Abstract

In the year 2019, Pakistan's foreign policy witnessed many significant changes due to increasing diplomatic threats, regional instability and growing international attention towards it. This paper analyzes the various reasons behind the isolation of Pakistan's foreign policy during 2019 and discusses the diplomatic measures taken by Pakistan to protect its national interest. This paper covers significant events including the Pulwama attack, the Balakot air strike, the unilateral abrogation of Articles 370 & 35A by India, continued placement of Pakistan on the FATF Grey List, and the ongoing narrative of linking Pakistan with terrorist organizations. Through a qualitative approach, the paper makes use of government documents, policy papers, literature review, reports of think tanks, and credible international media to analyze the diplomatic response of Pakistan. The results show that despite facing huge political and diplomatic pressure, Pakistan managed to prevent itself from being isolated internationally through strategic alliances with friendly countries, including China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and others, while using international forums such as the United Nations and OIC for internationalization of the Kashmir dispute. The study shows that isolation in 2019 was an inflection point that made Pakistan realizes its need to change its foreign policy priorities and engage itself diplomatically through practical and pragmatic foreign policy measures.

Keywords: Pakistan's Foreign Policy, Diplomatic Isolation, Pulwama-Balakot Crisis, FATF Grey List, Strategic Reorientation.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22011018