Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan as Foreign Minister in the Foreign Policy Making of Pakistan 1947-1954

Abstract

During the crucial period that shaped the Foreign policy of Pakistan between 1947 and 1954, Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan served as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Saddled with the task of maneuvering in a turbulent geopolitical landscape, Zafarullah Khan had to grapple with a series of problems that ranged widely between the partition issue, economic instability, the issue of Kashmir, the forces of the Cold War politics, etc. This paper discusses his contribution to the making of the foreign policy of Pakistan by writing about his diplomacy, priorities, and successes. The approach of Zafarullah Khan was based on three intersecting aspects: the independence of Pakistan, the cause of the Muslim world, and playing a responsible role in the international community. His experience in the United Nations enhanced the image of Pakistan, since he promoted topics like Palestine, Kashmir, and decolonization. His diplomacy was also an expression of the realistic imperative of establishing relationships with the major powers, especially the United States and the Commonwealth, to meet the pressing security and economic demands of Pakistan. His reign was characterised by major tensions, though despite these, he achieved a lot. At the domestic front, Zafarullah Khan was criticised because of certain religious issues and political adversity, and internationally, his moral and legalistic approach often became a source of conflict with the realpolitik approach of governments formed after him. His ouster in 1954 marked a shift to a more alliance-based foreign policy, especially with the you-are-either-with-us-or-with-us formulation of foreign policy (that is, strategic alliances with the Western bloc). By critically analyzing the diplomacy of Zafarullah Khan, it can be argued that he was the one in whom the modern foreign policy of Pakistan can be traced and one who gave the country its initial identity as a state in the international community. Although his legacy is rather controversial, the principles of foreign policy upheld by him still have an impact on the nature of relations that Pakistan sustains.

Key Words: Foreign Policy, Zafar Ullah, Pakistan, Nascent Pakistan, diplomacy.