The foreign relations of Pakistan have expanded considerably since its independence in 1947, when the new country joined the Commonwealth of Nations and established relations with the Soviet Union, the United States, China, Afghanistan, Nepal, Iran and India. As of December 2017, Pakistan maintains diplomatic relations with 191 countries; it has not yet established diplomatic relations with North Korea but intends to do so soon, as announced by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in October 2017.. Pakistan does not have any territory disputes with any of its neighbours and China.
The history
Pakistan and Iran have had a tumultuous relationship since Pakistan's inception in 1947. The two countries have fought multiple wars, most notably the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. In recent years, relations have improved somewhat, but there are still many areas of disagreement between the two countries. Turkmenistan is a relatively new country, having become independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. It shares a border with both Iran and Pakistan, making it an important player in regional politics. While relations between Pakistan and Turkmenistan have generally been good, there has been some tension in recent years due to Pakistan's close relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Benefits of the FTA
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan would have many benefits. For starters, it would increase trade and investment between the three countries. This could lead to more jobs and economic growth. Additionally, it would make it easier for people to travel between the countries. And finally, it would help improve relations between the three countries.
Challenges Facing an FTA
1.The first challenge is geography. The three countries are not physically close to one another, which makes transportation of goods difficult and expensive.
2. There are also political tensions between the countries. For example, Pakistan and Iran have different views on the war in Afghanistan.
3. The economies of the three countries are also quite different. Pakistan has a largely agriculture-based economy, while Iran is more industrialized. This can make it difficult to find common ground when negotiating trade agreements.
Now what...
It's no secret that Pakistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan have had a rocky relationship in the past. But could they put their differences aside to form a free trade agreement? It's possible, but it would take a lot of work from all parties involved. All three countries are landlocked, so opening up borders for travel and trade may be difficult. For example, what will happen if an Iranian wants to visit Pakistan? There is not enough space on the border between Iran and Pakistan for them to cross over legally. So one of them would need to open up its border with Afghanistan for Afghanis wanting to enter their country.
What could go wrong?
There are many potential problems that could arise if Pakistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan formed a free trade agreement. For one, there could be a negative impact on the economies of all three countries. Additionally, there could be security concerns as well as increased competition for jobs. Finally, the relationship could sour if one or more of the countries decided to back out of the agreement. However, these fears may not come true and it is possible that this type of arrangement would work very well.