FOREIGN POLICIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO AND IMRAN KHAN

Abstract

The roles of key actors in shaping Pakistan’s foreign policy have been pivotal throughout history, with figures like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Imran Khan leaving lasting imprints. Bhutto as Foreign Minister, Presidential Administration, and Prime Minister, he steered the nation away from Western alliances, withdrawing from SEATO and CENTO. Bhutto prioritized closer ties with China and the Muslim World. Imran Khan's "Naya Pakistan" vision prioritized autonomous foreign policy, particularly about the West and the US, with strengthening ties with China as well with neighbors. This study seeks to bridge the literature gap by conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of the foreign policies of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Imran Khan, with a specific focus on their approaches to foreign policy towards Afghanistan, drawing neo-classical realism theory on the analysis of the foreign policies of the both leaders. In conclusion, the comparative analysis presented in this case study contributes to a better understanding of how the internal and external factors affect the foreign policies of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Imran Khan influenced Pakistan's foreign policy choices and the implications of these choices on the nation's strategic interests. To achieve the objectives, the study employs a qualitative research method.