Editing Politics of Pakistan (section)

==Foreign relations==
{{Main|Foreign relations of Pakistan}}
[[Image:Pk-map.png|thumb|250px|The Map of Pakistan]]

[[Pakistan]] is the second largest [[Muslim]] country in terms of population, and its status as a [[Declared nuclear states|declared nuclear power]], being the only Muslim nation to have that status, plays a part in its international role. It is also an active member of the [[United Nations]]. Historically, its foreign policy has encompassed difficult [[India–Pakistan relations|relations with India]], a desire for a stable [[Afghanistan]], long-standing close [[China–Pakistan relations|relations with the People's Republic of China]], extensive security and economic interests in the [[Persian Gulf]] and wide-ranging bilateral [[Pakistan–United States relations|relations with the United States]] and other Western countries. Pakistan is also an important member of the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] (OIC). Pakistan has used the OIC as a forum for [[Enlightened Moderation]],<ref>[http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/EnlightenedModeration.aspx President Musharraf on Enlightened Moderation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819184829/http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/EnlightenedModeration.aspx |date=19 August 2008 }}</ref> its plan to promote a [[renaissance]] and [[Age of Enlightenment|enlightenment]] in the Islamic world.

Wary of [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] expansion, Pakistan had strong relations with both the [[United States|United States of America]] and the [[People's Republic of China]] during much of the [[Cold War]].
It was a member of the [[CENTO]] and [[SEATO]] military alliances. Its alliance with the United States was especially close after the Soviets [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan|invaded]] the neighbouring country of [[Afghanistan]].

In 1964, Pakistan signed the [[Regional Cooperation for Development]] (RCD) Pact with Turkey and Iran, when all three countries were closely allied with the U.S., and as neighbours of the Soviet Union, wary of perceived Soviet expansionism. To this day, Pakistan has a close relationship with Turkey. RCD became defunct after the Iranian Revolution, and a Pakistani-Turkish initiative led to the founding of the [[Economic Cooperation Organization]] (ECO) in 1985. Pakistan's relations with India have improved recently and this has opened up Pakistan's foreign policy to issues beyond security. This development might completely change the complexion of Pakistan's foreign relations. Pakistan joined [[Non-Aligned Movement]] in 1979.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+pk0142) ''Pakistan: A Country Study''], "The United States and the West"</ref>
But Pakistan's non-alignment is highly contested as it shows significant inclination towards China in all spheres, including politics.

Pakistan's relations are further deteriorating with America and its allies due to closeness of Pakistan with China, as the United States and China are competing over several issues including trade, supply chains, geopolitics and military technology development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan faces more 'difficult choices' after pivot-to-China leak |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Pakistan-faces-more-difficult-choices-after-pivot-to-China-leak |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref> Pakistan's decades-long rivalry and conflict with [[U.S. India Cooperation|U.S. strategic partner India]] also poses difficulties for the country's efforts to improve relations with the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistan and U.S.-Pakistan Relations |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47565 |publisher=CRS Reports |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref>

=== Involvement of foreigners with Pakistani politics and politicians ===
At times there have been claims of foreigners getting very close to Pakistani political leaderships and deep state dispensations and have had possible indirect influential roles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Two American women who created a stir in Pak politics|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/670086-two-american-women-who-created-a-stir-in-pak-politics|access-date=2020-06-09|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}</ref> Nahid Iskander Mirza (1919-2019), also cousin to Nusarat Bhutto, who was allegedly the wife of a military attaché at the Iranian embassy in Pakistan, married [[Iskander Mirza]], erstwhile president of Pakistan and claimed to have been instrumental in meeting out boundary concessions to Iran.<ref name=":0" /> [[Joanne Herring]], an American socialite, is widely believed to have influenced General Zia Ul Haq's foreign policies.<ref name=":0" /> Since the 2010s another American socialite [[Cynthia D. Ritchie]] claims her close association with Pakistani establishment.<ref name=":0" />