Pakistan–Zimbabwe relations
Encyclopedia
Pakistan–Zimbabwe relations relates to foreign relations
between Pakistan
and Zimbabwe
. Pakistan is represented in Zimbabwe by maintaining an embassy in the capital, Harare
.
The two countries have noteworthy cultural and political ties, such as initiating and participating in joint defence pacts before. The Pakistani government has pledged to always "stand by Zimbabwe in its challenging times and continue to render assistance in every way possible in an effort to cement the already cordial relations between the two countries."
The friendship between Pakistan and Zimbabwe dates back to the times of the war of liberation of the country, during which Pakistan was known to have provided an immense amount of extended moral and material support to many Zimbabwean freedom fighters, by providing armed machinery and helping rebuild the Gweru airbase which was destroyed during the liberation struggle. In the defence sector, the Pakistan Air Force
has played a role in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Air Force
Since 1983, both the countries have been involved in military and defence co-operation. This agreement was renewed once again in 2007 when Pakistan sent several senior military experts to help strengthen and train President Robert Mugabe
's army. The experts were to be stationed in the country for two years and paid by the Zimbabwean government in US dollars.
In 2008, speaking in a function marking the first anniversary of the Pakistan-Zimbabwe Friendship Association, the Pakistani Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Riffat Iqbal, had stated that the "two countries had enjoyed cordial relations marked by mutual respect and commonality of views on important issues."
There is a small Pakistani expatriate
community living in Zimbabwe, numbering over 400 as of 2005 that largely consists of professionals, businesspeople and traders. In addition, a sizeable number of Indo-Zimbabwean
migrants who came from the Indian subcontinent
and settled in Zimbabwe, originally hail from or have family connections in regions that now constitute present-day Pakistan.
General Zia-ul-Haq, once addressing a small gathering of Pakistanis in Zimbabwe, is famously known to have said while addressing African stereotypes that his countrymen should not go by the natives' black colour because "They [Zimbabweans] are good at heart!".
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
between Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. Pakistan is represented in Zimbabwe by maintaining an embassy in the capital, Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
.
The two countries have noteworthy cultural and political ties, such as initiating and participating in joint defence pacts before. The Pakistani government has pledged to always "stand by Zimbabwe in its challenging times and continue to render assistance in every way possible in an effort to cement the already cordial relations between the two countries."
The friendship between Pakistan and Zimbabwe dates back to the times of the war of liberation of the country, during which Pakistan was known to have provided an immense amount of extended moral and material support to many Zimbabwean freedom fighters, by providing armed machinery and helping rebuild the Gweru airbase which was destroyed during the liberation struggle. In the defence sector, the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
has played a role in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Air Force
Since 1983, both the countries have been involved in military and defence co-operation. This agreement was renewed once again in 2007 when Pakistan sent several senior military experts to help strengthen and train President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
's army. The experts were to be stationed in the country for two years and paid by the Zimbabwean government in US dollars.
In 2008, speaking in a function marking the first anniversary of the Pakistan-Zimbabwe Friendship Association, the Pakistani Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Riffat Iqbal, had stated that the "two countries had enjoyed cordial relations marked by mutual respect and commonality of views on important issues."
There is a small Pakistani expatriate
Pakistani diaspora
The Pakistani diaspora, or an overseas Pakistani is a Pakistani citizen who has migrated to another country or a person of Pakistani origin who is born outside Pakistan. There are approximately 7 million Pakistanis living abroad...
community living in Zimbabwe, numbering over 400 as of 2005 that largely consists of professionals, businesspeople and traders. In addition, a sizeable number of Indo-Zimbabwean
Indians in Zimbabwe
There are currently over 10,000 Indians in Zimbabwe, mostly as businessmen. Indians started arriving at the end of the 19th century when the territory was still known as Southern Rhodesia. Their further immigration were restricted after 1923 when the colony became a self-administered territory of...
migrants who came from the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
and settled in Zimbabwe, originally hail from or have family connections in regions that now constitute present-day Pakistan.
General Zia-ul-Haq, once addressing a small gathering of Pakistanis in Zimbabwe, is famously known to have said while addressing African stereotypes that his countrymen should not go by the natives' black colour because "They [Zimbabweans] are good at heart!".
Investment and strategical interests
Despite specific economic hardships in Zimbabwe, Pakistani investors have since the past, continued to show interest in exploring investment opportunities in the country. There have recently been joint ventures in the fields of trade development, which have also been identified by Pakistan as an impetus to its aim in "fighting poverty in Zimbabwe."External links
- Embassy of Pakistan in Zimbabwe official homepage at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan website.