GEOPOLITICS

Geopolitics is studying geopolitical systems. The geopolitical system is, in my

opinion, the ensemble of relations between the interests of international political
actors, interests focused to an area, space, geographical element or ways. - Vladimir
Toncea, Geopolitical evolution of borders in Danube Basin, PhD 2006.

It is the study that analyzes geography, history and social science with reference to spatial
politics and patterns at various scales (ranging from home, city, region, state to international
and cosmopolitics. It examines the political, economic and strategic significance of geography,
where geography is defined in terms of the location, size, function, and relationships of places
and resources.

The term was coined by Rudolf Kjellén, a Swedish political scientist, at the beginning of the 20th
century. The word geopolitics has been applied to other theories, most notably the notion of
the Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington. In a peaceable world, neither sea lanes nor
surface transport are threatened; hence all countries are effectively close enough to one
another physically. It is in the realm of the political ideas, workings, and cultures that there are
differences, and the term has shifted more towards this arena, especially in its popular usage.
Traditionally, it strictly applies to geography's effect on politics.

The word geopolitics has been applied to other theories, most notably the notion of the Clash
of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington. In a peaceable world, neither sea lanes nor surface
transport are threatened; hence all countries are effectively close enough to one another
physically. It is in the realm of the political ideas, workings, and cultures that there are
differences, and the term has shifted more towards this arena, especially in its popular usage.
Traditionally, it strictly applies to geography's effect.

GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF CENTRAL ASIA

The geopolitical importance of Central Asia needs no elaboration. The location of the region,
forming a bridge between Europe and Southern Asia, is well known, but in various periods its
importance has varied with the changing international security environments. Before oil
became an important ingredient of strategic confliction politics.
GEO POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF PAKISTAN
India’s effort to make a two-fold strategic partnership with the US and China has further
increased Pakistan’s “already remarkable” geopolitical importance, says a new study by a US
think-tank.

The wave of terrorist attacks which struck London on July-7 and 21 further increased Pakistan’s
position as a key Western ally in the war against terror, says Federico Bordonaro , a University
of Rome professor who authored the power and interest news report, titled “Pakistan: a
Geopolitical Crux.”
Prof Bordonaro, a security analyst with the Chicago-based PINR, said that Pakistan’s location at
the confluence of South and Central Asian regions contribute to its geopolitical importance.

ENERGY RESOURSES
“Several foreign powers are interested in Pakistan as an outlet for energy resources in Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan,” said Mr. Bordonaro, who is currently studying the security problems of South
Asia, particularly in reference to India’s effort to emerge as a major naval power in the Indian
Ocean “If China gets stronger than it already is, it will be a problem for the US,” said Prof.
Bordonaro, adding that the Chinese could use Gwadar to counter India’s efforts to dominate
the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.

RAILWAY LINE
The excitement over the opening of Central Asia ten years ago was great in South Asia, and
especially so in Pakistan. Islamabad’s attempts to help break the landlocked nature of Central
Asia have been hampered by Afghanistan’s civil war. Meanwhile, Indian desires to construct a
railway line connecting South and Central Asia in 1992 did not materialize, compelling both
governments to conclude that an effective South-Central Asia relationship requires the
normalization of India-Pakistan relations. This does not mean that other trade is not possible
without Pakistani routes, but can take place only at relatively higher costs, via Iran.

IMPORT EXPORT
Currently, in addition to cultural and diplomatic affairs, both Indian and Pakistani initiatives in
Central Asia are in similar fields, related to education, pharmaceuticals, banking and hotel
businesses, and limited commerce. The opening of the Almaty-Karachi road and roads
connecting Quetta, Bishkek, Mirpurkhas , Osh, Faisalabad and Shikarpur are likely to reduce
current cost of imports (via Iran) greatly – the difference laying in the thousands of dollars per
truck shipment – potentially increasing the trade volume between all Central and South Asian
states.

PAKISTAN AS A GATE WAY

The geopolitical importance of Pakistan as a South Asian gateway to Central Asia with cost-
effective communication routes, among other factors, seems to be gradually changing
perceptions. Other factors include such as changing regional alignments in South and Central
Asia, increasing trade volumes of Central Asian countries via Iran and Pakistan.

GWADAR
The opening up of Almaty-Karachi/Gwadar routes is set to have a major socio-economic impact
across both regions. The geopolitical reality that Pakistan has inherited the role that British
India played in the 19th-century Great Game, and that the Indus Basin has historically served as
a commercial corridor for Central Asia along with Iran cannot be easily ignored. Effective South-
Central Asian relationships clearly necessitate the normalization of India-Pakistan relations.
Other factors put aside, the Central Asia factor alone seems to be shaping new perceptions in
South Asia. As such, the theory that renewed opportunities in Central Asia would compel India
and Pakistan themselves to ‘think of ten reasons to normalize bilateral relations’ holds true in
the contem.

OIL AND GAS PIPELINES

Similarly, plans to import Turkmenistani gas to Pakistan (via Qandahar to Quetta) and further
down to India remains on hold for political reasons. During the late 1990s, the Taliban
government assured the security of a gas pipeline through Qandahar, and in early 2000 Chief
Executive Musharraf ordered the construction of gas transit pipelines for India. However,
pipeline politics and the enduring conflict in Afghanistan have blocked the Qandahar route.
Similarly, Indian concerns over the security of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and the
politicization of the $550 million annual transit fees scheduled for Pakistan have delayed that
deal. The India-Iran dialogue has showed that the most convenient land routes cannot be
replaced with long distance underwater pipelines, nor can India’s need for gas supplies.
DECISION OF UZBEKISTAN
Prof Bordonaro says Uzbekistan’s decision to ask the US to remove its military base has only
added to Pakistan’s geopolitical position.

Commenting on Uzbekistan’s move, he said both Russia and China were trying to counter US
influence in Central Asia.

“In Kyrgyzstan, which has allowed US military presence, we see an increase in US influence
while in Uzbekistan we see its influence waning.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES:
The new opportunities include overland and land-to-sea trade, import and export of hard-core
machinery and other commodities, oil and gas transportation, construction of hydroelectric
stations, cross-regional electricity supplies, cooperative banking, commerce, education and
training, to mention a few areas.

The Tajik civil war prevented the implementation of a Pakistan-Tajikistan agreement of 1993 on
the construction of hydroelectric dams and export of electricity from Tajikistan to Pakistan and
India. This has been further delayed by the Afghanistan situation.

CURRENT SITUATION

The current situation in Central Asia can only be stabilized by joint endeavor of America, Russia,
and China, of which there is little possibility. The United States is unlikely to forgo its strategic
advantages, Russia wants to continue its political and economic domination of the area, and
China is making a bid to spread its influence by making a vigorous commercial thrust in this
area. Pakistan and India, though rivals, have a common interest in unlocking the gas and
petroleum resources for their benefit. The role of Iran has to be watched carefully, as Iran
wields considerable influence on several areas of Central Asia because of linguistic and ethnic
affinities.
CONCLUSION

Geography and ecology combine to make this region an immensely rich and attractive area to
outsiders. Being hopelessly land-locked, Central Asia needs safe outlets of its gas, petroleum,
and other mineral resources, and this makes it prone to coercion, not only by its two giant
Asian neighbors, but also by the sole superpower, which has tremendous stakes in this oil-rich
region, besides the requirement of containing Russian and Chinese influence and combating
Islamic fundamentalism. Americans would do almost everything possible to dominate this
strategic region, as it is the only possible alternative to Middle East oil. Uzbekistan serves as one
of the important bases for the U.S.-led coalition forces operating in Afghanistan. The United
States has a large-size supply base and an important air base in Tashkent. A U.S. official in
Washington is reported to have said that unrest in Uzbekistan could seriously undermine
Operation Enduring Freedom, because "Tashkent is its lifeline."