Foreign relations of Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan maintains a large network of diplomatic relations across the world. Pakistan is the second largest Muslim-majority country in terms of population (after Indonesia) and is the only Muslim majority nation to have possession of nuclear weapons. Pakistan has trade relations with the EU It maintains trade relations with several countries in East and South Asia, as well as many European countries. Pakistan is being situated at the corridor of major maritime and land-based transit routes making its location strategic geopolitically.It bridges the energy-rich regions of Central Asia and the Middle East, with the population centers of South and East Asia. Pakistan also has geostrategic hotspots such as Afghanistan, China, India and Iran as immediate neighbors. Pakistan maintains a tense political relationship with India due to the Kashmir conflict, close ties with the People's Republic of China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab states, fluctuating relationship with the United States of America due to overlapping interests during the Cold War and War on Terror. Pakistan is a member of the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and more . Pakistan's foreign policy seeks to 'promote the internationally recognized norms of interstate relations, i.e. respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States, non-interference in the internal affairs of other State; non-aggression and peaceful settlement of disputes. Pakistan has therefore always sought to develop friendly and cordial relations with all countries of the world'. On 15 August 1947, outlining the foreign policy of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam observed: "Our objective should be peace within and peace without. We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial and friendly relations with our immediate neighbours and with (the) world at large. We have no aggressive designs against any one. We stand by the United Nations Charter and will gladly make our contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world.