Pakistan's foreign policy : security, state, and society / Wali Aslam.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Aslam, Wali, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civil-military relations--Pakistan.

Civil-military relations.

National security--Pakistan.

National security.

Pakistan--Politics and government.

Pakistan.

Pakistan--Foreign relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, [2026]

Summary:

Pakistan's foreign policy challenges over nearly eight decades stem directly from its persistent civil-military imbalance. The military employs a narrative of existential threats from all directions to strengthen its domestic control. Drawing on Ontological Security Theory, Post-structuralist Discourse Theory, and the concept of 'fantasy,' this study critically examines the narratives crafted by Pakistan's ruling elites, particularly the military, since the country's inception. The analysis reveals a pervasive 'siege mentality' narrative that fosters anxiety and insecurity among the populace.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Dedication page

Acknowledgements

Contents

1 Why and how to study Pakistan's foreign policy

1.1 Introduction

1.2 The context of civil-military imbalance in Pakistan

1.3 Minding the gap

1.4 Theoretical contribution

1.5 Theoretical Framework: Ontological Security, Post-Structuralist Discourse Analysis, and the Concept of 'Fantasy'

1.6 Book structure

2 Born insecure: Pakistan's quest for ontological security (1947-1971)

2.1 Introduction

2.2 The role of internal and external actors in forming Pakistan's insecure identity.

2.3 Security through alliances

2.4 Defence through non-state actors

2.5 Ignoring the Muslim world

2.6 Reliance on foreign assistance and non-state actors: Assessing the policy foundations

2.7 Conclusion

3 'New Pakistan' and resetting Pakistan's foreign policy (1971-1999)

3.1 Pakistan and the opening to the Muslim world

3.2 The warming of Pakistan's relations with China

3.3 Pakistan's support for non-state actors

3.4 Pakistan's foreign policy towards the United States

3.5 Policy assessment and conclusions

4 The 'double game' as a foreign policy tool (2001-2021).

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Why play a 'double game'?

4.3 How did Pakistan play the 'double game'?

4.4 The consequences of the `double game'

4.5 A critical assessment of the 'double game'

4.6 Conclusion

5 From the coup to a reset with the United States (1999-2010)

5.1 Introduction

5.2 From bonhomie to 'do more'

5.3 Pakistan's relations with India and the East-West Connection

5.4 The AfPak approach and its critics

5.5 The Kerry-Lugar Bill, and recalibrating the civil-military equation in Pakistan

5.6 US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and the reset in 2010.

7.4 Interpreting the Pakistani military's narrative of the 'fifth-generation war'

7.5 The future of Pakistan's foreign policy

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (Oxford Academic, viewed on July 29, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version : Aslam, Wali. Pakistan's foreign policy.

ISBN:

9780198909552

0198909551

OCLC:

1587598068

Publisher Number:

CIPO000385279

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license