If you have been looking for information about neighbouring countries of Pakistan, you are in the right place. This article will give you a briefing about borders, history, current relations, policies, and much more about these neighbouring countries. Pakistan has cordial foreign relationships with some countries but faces strain with others.
Information About Neighbouring Countries of Pakistan
Here is a list of the nearest and farther neighbouring countries of Pakistan:
- Afghanistan
- India
- China
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Sri Lanka
The first four of them are the immediate neighbouring countries of Pakistan that share a borderline. Pakistan covers an area of 796,096 square kilometres. All of its borders are shared with different countries except in the South because the Arabian Sea lies in the south of Pakistan.
Below are the details about each of the country’s borders, history and current relationship with Pakistan.
Afghanistan
Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,430 km border called Durand Line which is named after British diplomat, Sir Mortimer Durand. Moreover, there is also a narrow boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan that stretches to Tajikistan. That narrow boundary is called the Wakhan border which is 100 kilometres long.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced strained relationships from the beginning for several reasons. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent state on 14th August 1947. Then, Afghanistan was the first country to vote against Pakistan’s existence as a separate nation.
The reason for non-acceptance was Afghanistan’s claims on Noth West Frontier Punjab (NWFP) and Balochistan. It claimed these areas to be part of Afghanistan because they belonged to the Pashtun group. Moreover, the two countries have also been accusing each other of supporting terrorism. Other issues that have caused strain are Afghan refugee problems, water-sharing issues, and Afghanistan’s warming relationships with India.
However, there is a peace agreement in Afghanistan which has made the situation better. Additionally, the two countries are also involved in a trade pact with each other. So, if the situations remain diplomatic, peace is likely to maintain and the relationship will further strengthen.
India
Pakistan and India were one single entity before 14th August 1947. As soon as the subcontinent gained independence from British colonialism, these two countries gained independence from each other. Being one nation in the past, the two countries share the longest border. Pakistan shares 3,323 kilometres from the Karakoram Range in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south. Both of these countries share the same mountain range in the north and the coastline in the south.
Pakistan and India have had hostile relationships with each other due to a number of issues. The main reason for the dispute between the two is the issue of Kashmir over which they also got into the war in 1971. A border called Line of Control (LoC) has been established to separate Azad Kashmir in Pakistan from Indian-Occupied Kashmir. However, the border is not a permanent one as acknowledged by international organisations. Therefore, the territory accusation is not permanent too.
Both countries have got into several wars with each other: the 1947-48 wars, the 1965 war, and the 1971 war. Other than Kashmir, Pakistan and India has disputes due to religious differences, political differences, and water disputes. The two have had hostile relationships with each other in the past. But, they have adopted comparatively, more diplomatic relations with each other.
So, they tend to get along with each other with peace not present in earlier decades of independence.
China
China is the only neighbouring country that has offered support and friendly terms with Pakistan. Pakistan shares a border with China towards the north starting from where the Pak-Afghna border ends to where the Pak-India border starts. Pakistan and China border extends to 523 kilometres in the north among the Karakoram mountains. Hunza and Shigar districts and part of the Gilgit Baltistan Administrative Authority of Pakistan lie along the border.
The two countries have a long-established Karakoram highway which provides a trade route between the two. Recently, they have been involved in CPEC (Chine-Pakistan Economic Corridor) which has broadened the trade perspective for Pakistan and China. After its establishment, the region will be able to connect with regions like Europe and the Middle East through sea routes. This is the strategic importance of Pakistan and China’s relationships for the welfare of the region. It is more likely to grow in the coming years.
Along with trade, China has supported Pakistan with financial aid, trading, and security on its borders. Chinese security has promised to help Pakistan against any threat to international boundaries.
From the beginning till now, these two countries are at friendly terms with each other. Hopefully, they will continue to be.
Iran
The Pak-Iran relationship has also been bilateral since the independence of Pakistan on 14th August 1947. Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan as an independent country in United Nation. The Pak-Iran border lies on the southwestern side of Pakistan, extending to 959 kilometres.
There is also a 700-kilometre-long Quetta-Taftan highway which connects the two countries. The government of both countries have named the border the Border of Peace, Friendship, and Love. Iran continued to support Pakistan with military and diplomatic support in the 1965 and 1971 wars with India.
The two countries are also involved in trade and cultural exchange with each other. They have faced a few tensions due to Sectarian disputes (Pakistan being a Sunni-majority state and Iran being a Shia-majority state). However, the political leaders have continued to support each other as part of the Muslim world. Moreover, a lot of Muslims travel to Iran in order to visit holy places.
Conclusion
This is brief information about the Neighbouring countries of Pakistan and their relationships. India and Pakistan have unsettled disputes which keep each other on the verge of a cold war. Afghanistan is following a peace treaty. While Iran and China have always been friendly with Pakistan.
