Tabmachine
Registered Member
Pakistan is tied to the Gulf because the people who run Pakistan have driven the country into the ground economically. If the country was run by people who aren't economically retarded it could have diversified exports.Almost all of Pakistan’s interests are actually tied to the US and the GCC, so for Pakistan to even remain neutral is a big thing.
Most of Pakistan’s elites already live in the West (US, UK, Canada etc.) or aspire to move there. The middle classes live or aspire to move to the GCC. Pakistan’s exports are linked to these countries and so are its energy imports. About 5 million Pakistanis live in the GCC and their remittances are critical to avoid default since imports are far more than exports. Plus, there is the religious connection with Saudi Islam.
In contrast, Pakistan’s contact with Iran is mainly Shias going there for pilgrimage. Pakistan’s official relations with Iran were much better during the days of the Shah. Since the Islamic revolution the two countries turned away from each other.
Still, Pakistan’s cultural heritage is Persianate. Historically, Persian was the official language of the Muslim rule over Hindustan. The bulk of vocabulary of Urdu consists of Persian. Also, people in Pakistan absolutely hate Israel and love it that Iran is bashing the hell out of them.
Pakistan is torn between its self interests, which are with the Arabs and historic connection with Persia.
We are tied to being a vassal/mercenary state because of stupidity, not because of some kind of inevitable geopolitical forces.













