Pakistan India Relations
India Pakistan relations began with a multitude of problems which included violence of 1947 claiming about a million lives on both sides of the border, controversial distribution of assets and high handed accession of three princely states.
After two months of independence both countries found themselves fighting in Kashmir. A ceasefire was arranged on January 1st, 2022. But this war defined relations of both countries forever. They fought more wars e.g. in 1965, 1984 and 1999 for controlling this territory. Another war was fought in 1971 which collapsed the eastern wing of the country.
Both countries blame each other of hosting and funding separatists and terrorists e.g. in Kashmir, East Punjab, Balochistan and elsewhere. Even Indira Gandhi’s assassination was also linked to Pakistan’s alleged support for the Khalistan Movement.
The issue of Kashmir has been so deep rooted that it has not let both nations have person to person contact like normal neighbours. They even arrest fishermen and trespassers across the border and treat them like spies. Being close and comparatively industrially developed countries they both benefitted from each other significantly; however due to volatile relations they sometimes imposed trade bans which affected their economies.
They got involved in an arms race which later developed into a nuclear arms race. Not just that but both countries spend millions of dollars on defense which denies basic needs of the common man and more than 20% of their populations live below the poverty line.
Despite these lowest points in relations, the countries have at times attempted to improve them. On January 1st, 1949 a ceasefire was arranged by the UNO and a referendum to decide the future of Kashmir was also proposed. In 1950, Liaquat Nehru Pact (Minorities Pact) was signed to regulate the migration of refugees. The Canal Water (river water) dispute was finally resolved in 1959 as Indus Water Treaty.
Simla Agreement of 1972 may be regarded as an achievement; however it was a solution imposed on Pakistan as a defeated party. Pakistan was stripped of its right to take the Kashmir issue to an international forum. In 1987 an imminent war was avoided due to Gen. Zia’s cricket diplomacy. In 1988 Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Pakistan and signed an agreement on not attacking each other’s nuclear installations. In February 1999, the Lahore Declaration was signed as peace initiative.
Over all relations between the two nations are not successful; as they are based on political and ideological differences.
Pakistan US Relations
Pakistan and United States’ relations have been based on many factors including Pakistan’s economic difficulties which forced the country to look for donor nations, technological and cultural advances and above all Pakistan’s military weapons requirements.
Since the beginning, US had been more interested in India than it was in Pakistan for establishing diplomatic relations and some strategic alliance against the communist USSR and China. Pakistan kind of forced the US to enter military alliances in 1954 and 1955 (Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement, SEATO and CENTO). Pakistan was hoping that by signing these agreements the country would get support from the allies, America in particular, in the event of a war with India. However, when Pakistan actually fought India in 1965 and 1971, it did not receive any support from the US despite being an important ally.
When Bhutto came to power, the relations were at low ebb as he was more inclined towards USSR and China than US. Relations reached rock bottom when Zia deposed Bhutto and imposed a military rule. An attack on the US Embassy in 1979 further deteriorated the relations.
In December 1979, Pakistan’s position changed overnight. It became a frontline state in the war against Communism in Afghanistan. America expected Pakistan to support the US in the Afghan War. A marriage of convenience took place in 1981 which lasted till 1988; during this period Pakistan became the most important US ally in the region. It received monetary, diplomatic and political support from the US and was not only able to improve its economy, modernize its army but was able to develop its nuclear weapons program also.
But when the (Afghan) War ended, Americans blocked aid to Pakistan. America also stopped the sale of 28 F-16 fighter jets which Pakistan had ordered and paid for. Relations reached the lowest points when in 1991, the USA came closer to declaring Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism and placed economic sanctions on the country.
Later when President Bill Clinton came to power, relations improved and some military assistance (worth $388 million) was approved. The thaw in the relations was further highlighted when First Lady Hillary Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, visited Pakistan in 1996. In 1998, when Pakistan conducted nuclear tests, US imposed trade sanctions on Pakistan for a brief period.
Collectively the relations between Pakistan and US have been satisfactory however they are totally based on strategic and military needs of both countries.
Pakistan USSR Relations
Pak Russia relations are a saga of mistrust. There are three main periods in which a trust deficit was triggered between the two countries. The first period began in the 1960s when Pakistan decided to help the USA against the USSR by providing the former with intelligence and airbases for spying on the latter. The U2 incident marked this period when a Lockheed U-2 Spy-plane was shot down in the Soviet airspace in May 1960.
Secondly, Pakistan’s attempt to facilitate a rapprochement (reconciliation) between the USA and China in the 1970s can be identified as the second period. This highly offended the USSR which consequently signed a Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation with India, guaranteeing Soviet help if India went to war with Pakistan. This low point of relations with the Soviet Union coincided with the Civil war and the breakaway of East Pakistan in 1971.
Thirdly, the Pak US alliance to counter the USSR following its invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s further added to mistrust. Although Zia visited Moscow in 1984 for the funeral of Andropov he got a cold reception. Later that year the Soviet Union began bombing raids on Pakistan. Hostile relations continued until 1988, when the Soviets finally withdrew from Afghanistan.
History shows that when the USA left Pakistan, the latter resorted to Russia. It leaves a negative impression on Russia because it suggests Russia is less important to Pakistan than the USA. On the contrary, Russia always attempted to join Pakistan as a supportive ally. In 1963, it loaned Pakistan ₤11 million and in 1963 it shifted from its previous open support for India over Kashmir to a neutral stance. In April 1965, Ayub Khan paid an official visit to the Soviet Union and further agreements on trade and oil exploration were reached. In January 1966, the Soviet Union hosted a peace conference between India and Pakistan at Tashkent. In 1968, when the Americans decided to close their airbase at Peshawar, the Soviet Union began to supply arms to Pakistan. In 1972, Bhutto visited the Soviet Union and began to build friendly relations again. It was at this meeting that the Soviet Union agreed to build a steel mill in Pakistan. In April 1999, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid an important state visit to Kremlin. Though no breakthrough was made, it was probably the beginning of a new era of Pakistan Russia relations.
In a nut shell, Pakistan – Russia relations have been through difficult times with more failures than successes.
Pakistan China Relations
With the creation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Pakistan became the first Muslim country to recognize China and the Communist regime led by Mao Zedong. On 21 May 1951, formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established. With Chinese participation in the Korean War (1950), Pakistan’s response by not taking any position against China proved to be a rational decision.
The 1960s was arguably the milestone decade elevating Pakistan – China relationship to a new level. In north a 400 miles border of Pakistan’s side of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region connects with Xinjiang province of China. In December 1962 an agreement was signed between Pakistan and China for the settlement of location and alignment of Pakistan – China boundary.
In the same decade a series of trade agreements were announced; China granted Pakistan a $60 million interest free loan, air service began between the two countries, China supported Pakistan’s policy in Kashmir and Pakistan supported China’s entry into the UNO. During the 1965 war with India, China supplied military aid to Pakistan and applied diplomatic pressure on India to prevent it from attacking Pakistani positions.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Bhutto and Zia visited China; loans were converted to grants and a nuclear cooperation treaty was signed. When Pakistan was facing sanctions due to the Pressler Amendment in 1985, China was assisting in Pakistan’s nuclear program. Karakoram Highway was opened in 1978 to connect the two nations in a stronger bonding.
To modernize Pakistan’s military, China began a joint venture to develop Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, manufacturing of tanks and fighter jets (JF-17 Thunder aircraft in 1999).
I see only one low point in Pakistan China relations which occurred in 1971 when India and Pakistan fought a war; China was not able to support Pakistan as it did in 1965 due to its only security reasons. Otherwise Pakistan China relations are the best relations Pakistan has ever had with any country.
Pakistan Iran Relations
There are strong links between the peoples of Iran and Pakistan. Not only are they neighbours, but the Urdu language also shares much with Persian.
The border, stretching 590 miles between the two countries, was fixed by the British over 100 years ago. An early dispute between Iran and Pakistan, over ownership of Qila Sufaid, led to violence. Fortunately, this and other disputes were solved quite amicably.
In May 1960 agreement on the border was finally reached. Iran gave up 95 miles of territory to Pakistan in return the town of Zahidan was given to Iran.
Since independence in 1947 Pakistan and Iran have had good relations and Iran has always promoted Pakistan’s interests to the world community. Defense and trade are important reason for the two countries working together.
Iran and Pakistan had been staunch allies of the US through the Baghdad Pact (CENTO) against communism. The organization was disbanded in 1979 with the overthrow of Pro-American Shah of Iran’s government.
In 1964 both countries became members of the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) along with Turkey. The organization was not much successful in other prospective areas except in education and culture. By 1979 the RCD had really come to an end, but in 1985 General Zia revived it. In 1990 this organization was renamed the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO).
In the 1965 war Iran was quick to defend Pakistan and even offered some military assistance. Again in 1973 Iran helped Pakistan tackle the Baloch insurgency. But the Shah of Iran depended very much on the support and goodwill of the USA. When the USA applied pressure, Iran dropped its offer of practical help.
In January 1979 the Shah of Iran was overthrown and replaced by a strongly anti-American government led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Pakistan was one of the first countries to officially recognize the new government, but Khomeini was suspicious of Pakistan because of its previous close relationship with the Shah. Iran was also critical of Pakistan for accepting large amounts of aid from the USA.
During Iran-Iraq war, 1980 – 88, it was difficult to achieve any close relationship. During 1980s and further in 1990s there was an export of Iranian revolutionary ideas throughout the Gulf region and Pakistan. The country saw extreme sectarianism which claimed thousands of lives in Pakistan. Relations between the clerical regime of Iran and Pakistan generally remained stern until 1999 while both nations clashed with each other over their Afghan policy too.
How successful were the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh from 1971 to 1999? Explain your answer. [10]
It was inevitable that the sad events of 1971, with the loss of East Pakistan, caused a great deal of bitterness between the two nations. It would take Pakistan time to reconcile to the loss of its eastern half before it could have formal dealings with the new government.
The three issues that Dhaka has raised with Pakistan are the question of apology of what Bangladesh calls ‘genocide’ of the Bengali population during the military operation in March – December 1971. This is followed by a demand for division of assets and repatriation (return) of stranded Pakistanis or ‘Biharis’. These issues did not settle until 1999.
In February 1974, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto seized the opportunity of Sheikh Mujib’s presence at the Islamic Summit in Lahore and agreed that Pakistan would officially recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation. In return, the few last remaining prisoners held in Bangladesh were returned to Pakistan.
In 1976 ambassadors were exchanged and an agreement reached to cooperate on trade, tourism and the media. By 1986 trade goods moving between the two countries had reached a value of $40 million. In 1985 and 1988 Bangladesh was hit by such severe weather that foreign aid was urgently needed. On both occasions Pakistan was the first country to contribute.
After Sheikh Mujib’s visit to Pakistan in 1974, Bhutto made a visit to Bangladesh in the same year which was followed by General Zia’s visit in 1985 and Bangladeshi President Ershad visit to Islamabad in 1986. In 1998, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Pakistan. All these meetings helped thawing of relations.
Generally the relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh are not quite friendly; they still need to cooperate in various fields for normalization of relations like good neighbours.
How successful were the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan from 1947 to 1999? Explain your answer. [14]
Unfortunately a border dispute right from the start caused great difficulties for Pakistan. When Pakistan was admitted to the United Nations in September 1947, Afghanistan cast the only vote against it.
In the 1947 referendum the people of the NWFP voted to join Pakistan. However, some people had wanted to vote for a third option, an independent country to be known as Pakhtunistan. The British would not allow this option to be voted on. Afghanistan, however, had sided with those Pathans who wanted either an independent nation or to join with Afghanistan.
During talks in late 1947 Pakistan offered the Afghans a route through Pakistan. In return, it expected Afghanistan to drop its support for Pakhtunistan. The Afghan government refused and, instead, signed an agreement with the USSR for a transit route through Russia.
During the 1950s the situation worsened as Afghanistan continued to encourage the anti-Pakistan campaign in the NWFP. In March 1955 a mob of Afghans, encouraged by the government, attacked and ransacked Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul. Pakistan immediately broke off diplomatic relations and for five months the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan was closed.
In 1956 Iskander Mirza visited Afghanistan but no thawing of relations took place. Afghanistan even refused to join the RCD because Pakistan was a member. However, in the 1965 war, the Afghan government chose to stay neutral.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, President and then Prime Minister visited Kabul only three weeks after taking office. His efforts paid off and by 1976 relations between the two countries had improved considerably. Pakistan permitted Afghan aircraft to fly over Pakistan and Afghan trucks to pass through the country on their way to India.
Before the USSR invasion of Afghanistan, the country faced a so called communist revolution and later rebellions. The Soviet-Afghan war divided the Afghan people; Pakistan supported the mujahideen backed by the US throughout 1980s and 1990s. The pro-Soviet Afghan government in 1980s and later the mujahideen’s unstable government remained hostile or unfriendly until the Pakistan backed Taliban Movement came to power in the latter half of 1990s. However, even the Taliban did not recognise the Durand Line.
The above facts imply that the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained problematic throughout the period from 1947 to 1999, mostly due to the Durand Line dispute.
How successful was Pakistan’s relationship with the UK and the Commonwealth in the years 1947 to 1999? Explain your answer. [14]
On achieving independence, Pakistanis were bitter over the way that the British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, had handled the hasty transition to independence. They were unhappy over the way the British had set the boundaries and divided up the resources for the two new nations. Pakistan believed the British were really critical of Pakistan and actually favoured India. On the other hand, the new Government of Pakistan had to rely on senior British officials working for them. For many years they could not afford to lose British military officers. Britain was to remain a major buyer of goods from Pakistan.
During the 1950s and 1960s large numbers of Pakistanis moved to live and work in Britain, cementing even further the link between the two nations. Much of the earnings of these overseas Pakistanis were sent back to their families in Pakistan and this greatly helped the economy.
As a member of the Commonwealth, although Pakistan has a great many differences with other members, they have been able to cooperate on many issues including trade, finance, cultural, and sporting matters. The commonwealth games, held every four years, are second only to the Olympic Games as a major international sporting event.
However, on a number of occasions Pakistan has been disappointed by the Commonwealth. During 1949 – 50, it hoped that Britain would use its position in the Commonwealth to insist on a plebiscite to settle the Kashmir issue. In January 1951, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, even threatened not to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in London unless the Kashmir issue was discussed. But Pakistani efforts failed as the UK government and the Commonwealth failed to put pressure on India.
In 1956 Britain invaded the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt. Neither membership of the Commonwealth nor the Baghdad Pact (signed in 1955) stopped Pakistan from supporting Egypt. In 1971, after Britain recognised the state of Bangladesh, Pakistan under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did quit the Commonwealth in protest. Britain had failed to support Pakistan’s position over East Pakistan. It said it was up to West Pakistan and East Pakistan to sort the matter out. Once again British neutrality seemed to favour India.
During the Afghan crisis, Britain supported Pakistan and Margaret Thatcher, the British Prime Minister, was the first western leader to visit Pakistan after the occupation of Afghanistan. Britain gave not only political support, but also £30 million aid and a further £16 million to Pakistan for the welfare of the Afghan refugees. During the 1980s Britain remained a highly important trading partner with Pakistan.
Pakistan returned to the Commonwealth in 1989. But when General Parvez Musharraf overthrew the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif in October 1999, the Commonwealth suspended Pakistan’s membership about a week later as member countries have to have democracy as per the 1991 declaration.
Over all relations between Pakistan and the UK and Commonwealth are quite friendly and successful.
How effective / successful has Pakistan’s membership been with the United Nations Organisation from 1947 to 1999? Explain your answer. [14]
Pakistan has benefitted greatly from its membership of the UN. It has become acknowledged as an important member of the world community and has received a number of loans from the World Bank to assist in economic development. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also played a significant role in helping provide for Afghan refugees after the outbreak of war against the Soviet Union. The WFP has also provided food and healthcare for women and girls to promote primary education in Pakistan’s rural areas.
However, the Pakistani government has not always been satisfied with the intervention of the United Nations in its own affairs:
Despite constant demands by Pakistan in the UN for this plebiscite to take place, the UN has been unable to enforce it. In much the same way, Hyderabad’s complaint about being dismembered by India in 1948, is still before the Security Council.
When civil war broke out in East Pakistan in 1971, leading to war with India, Bhutto was sent to the United Nations to plead Pakistan’s case. Bhutto was most unhappy that the UN considered its role was to bring about an end to fighting rather than accept the justice of Pakistan’s case. He was particularly concerned at the speed with which UN members recognised Bangladesh as an independent country; it has also not condemned India’s invasion of East Pakistan.
In the case of the Canal Water Dispute, the UN played a significant role when the President of the World Bank made a recommendation that it should provide financial and technical support to resolve the disagreement. This proposal formed the basis of the Indus Water Treaty signed in September 1959. The World Bank also provided finance to help establish hydro-electricity and soil reclamation programmes.
Therefore I see that Pakistan’s membership with the UNO has been mostly successful with some failures especially in resolving the Kashmir Issue.
How effective/successful has Pakistan been as a member of world organisations between 1947 and 1999? Explain your answer. [14]
As a member of the UN Pakistan has raised the issue of Kashmir on several occasions and also became the spokesperson for many Asian states who had not gained independence during the 1950s. Pakistan has supported the Palestinian cause and has also contributed to a number of UN peacekeeping forces throughout the world. The downside of Pakistan’s membership of the UN is its failure to gain a solution the Kashmir problem.
Membership of SEATO failed to secure any protection for its problems with India or during the Bangladesh crisis and was mainly designed to prevent communist aggression in South East Asia. Pakistan also failed to secure aid through the organisation as well as a permanent military force to protect its members. As a result, Pakistan left SEATO in 1972.
Its membership of CENTO was treated enthusiastically because many of its fellow members were Muslim countries. However it lapsed in 1979 mainly as a result of the failure of the USA to join the organisation.
Membership of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) has reinforced the image of Pakistan as one of the world’s leading Muslim nations and has provided it with much needed interest free loans and grants. This has also been the case through its membership of RCD.
The country has received financial and technical support from the World Bank through the Indus Water Treaty in 1959 as well as finance to help establish hydroelectric and soil reclamation programmes which has been vital for the stimulation of Pakistan’s economy and industries.
Generally, Pakistan has been a successful (effective) member of world organisations since its inception in 1947.
- How did Pakistan help the ‘Mujahideen’ to defeat the USSR invasion? [7]
General Zia seized power in 1977 he continued to work with sardar Daud of Afghanistan and an alliance between the two countries was talked of. However, Daud, together with thirty members of his family, was killed in a violent coup, and replaced by a communist administration. This so-called ‘April Revolution’ in 1978, headed by Nur Mohammad Tarkai, was supported by the USSR. The new government introduced a sweeping programme of reform. There was a clash of ideas: Muslims rebelled against the introduction of communist policies. In December 1979, after Taraki was killed by rebels, the USSR intervened with 80,000 Soviet soldiers. Muslims soon organized armed resistance, known as the mujahideen, suing Pakistan as their main base.
President Zia was very willing to assist the USA in channeling assistance to the mujahideen. The Pakistan Army organized the supply of weapons among the various groups. Pakistan’s military intelligence service supplied information and practical advice. As a result of their help, Pakistan became a target for Soviet attacks. Border villages were bombed and a number of explosions carried out by USSR-backed Afghans took place across Pakistan. In the end the USSR, one of the world’s two super-powers, was simply unable to crush Afghan resistance. Humiliated, the USSR finally admitted defeat in 1988 and withdrew their troops. For the USSR it was their ‘Vietnam’, further evidence that even a poor nation, without outside support, could defeat a powerful invader.
- What was the SEATO? [4]
In September of 1954, the United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or SEATO. The purpose of the organization was to prevent communism from gaining ground in the region. By the early 1970s, members began to withdraw from the organization as the organization was not serving their purposes. In 1977 it was formally disbanded.
- What was the Baghdad Pact (or CENTO)? [4]
In 1955 Pakistan signed the Baghdad Pact, a joint defense agreement with Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. It was intended to deter any Soviet expansion in the Middle East. In 1959, after Iraq quit, the Baghdad Pact became the Central Asia Treaty Organisation (CENTO) and was promoted by the USA although they did not join in. Britain was a member. Pakistan was disappointed that CENTO did not have its own military command capable of mobilizing troops to protect a member against attack. CENTRO gave Pakistan no protection against India. CENTO was disbanded in 1979 with the overthrow of the Shah of Iran’s government.
- What is Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD)? [4]
In 1964 at Islamabad, on President Ayub Khan’s suggestion, Pakistan joined with Iran and Turkey to set up the Regional Cooperation for Development. Ayub Khan saw it as a supplement to CENTRO. Its purpose was to strengthen economic, technical, educational and cultural links between the three Muslim countries. It was hoped that trade would improve. However, it was in education and cultural areas the RCD was most successful.
By 1979 the RCD had really come to an end, but in 1985 General Zia revived it. In 1990 this organization was renamed the Economic Cooperation Organisatioan (ECO) and, apart from the founder countries the newly independent Central Asian States were also inducted as member countries.
- How was Pakistan involved in the U2 Crisis? [7]
On 1 May 1960, a Russian surface-to-air missile (SAM) shot down a U-2 plane flying on a spy mission over the Soviet Union. The USA first said that it was a weather plane that had strayed and there had been no deliberate attempt to fly over the USSR. However, the Soviets had also captured the pilot, Gary Powers, who admitted to the Soviets that he had flown from a US based in Pakistan (at Peshawar) over the Soviet Union en route to Norway.
The USSR was furious with Pakistan for permitting the flights, and threatened retaliatory action. In its defense, Pakistan claimed that it knew nothing about spy missions. It told the Americans that they could no longer use the airfield unless the destination of all aircraft was notified in advance. The whole incident showed how close the USA and Pakistan had become.
- What is the Commonwealth? [4]
The Commonwealth is an association of free nations that were once part of the British Empire. About thirty percent of the world’s people live in countries belonging to the Commonwealth. It is a way of marinating friendly and helpful relations between large numbers of countries.
- Why did many Pakistanis migrate to the Britain? [7]
During the 1950s and 1960s large numbers of Pakistanis moved to live and work in Britain. Britain encouraged this emigration from Pakistan after World War II because of a shortage of workers. There were plenty of jobs in reconstruction and expansion of the economy after the end of the war. There was a need for workers in the textile industry.
The early migrants usually planned to return to Pakistan once they had made enough money. Much of their earnings were sent back to their families in Pakistan and this greatly helped the economy. During the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s such money from abroad was the second largest source of overseas revenue for Pakistan.
Important reasons for this migration were that Britain offered well-paid jobs. Many people displaced by partition in 1947 moved to Britain, so becoming migrants twice. 100,000 people were displaced from the Mangla Dam area in the 1960s. Some used compensation money to travel to Britain and join relatives. Britain’s 1962 Commonwealth Immigration Act introduced a voucher system which gave Pakistanis in Britain the opportunity to arrange jobs and vouchers for friends and family.
- What is the OIC? [4]
The OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference) is the world’s second largest intergovernmental organization after the UN. It is made up of 57 Muslim member states together with three observer states. It was founded at the first Islamic Summit held in Morocco in September 1969. The aim is to promote solidarity and cooperation among all its member states. It also shares the aims of the UN in promoting peace and racial tolerance.
- What is the United Nations? [4]
The United Nations (UN) was set up in 1945 and at the end of World War II, with the main aim to bring nations together and prevent further wars. Thus the world has been spared at Third World War, though there have been a number of skirmishes and localised wars. The UN tries to sort out such conflicts among nations with varying levels of success. As well as conflict resolution, it also tries to get nations to cooperate together in tackling poverty, economic problems, and human rights issues.
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