The year 1991 marked two important events; The collapse of Soviet Union and emergence of five
sovereign countries including Kazakhstan from that rubble. Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia
and it’s capital is Astana known as Nursultan from 2019 to 2022. Previously, Almaty, the largest
city, remained as the capital of the country until 1997. Shortly after it’s emergence, Kazakhstan
was admitted to the United Nations on 2nd march, 1992. The country remains a dominant political
and economic power in the region, making up 60% of the region’s whole GDP. It is the largest
landlocked country in the world with one of the lowest population densities.
Soon after independence, Kazakhstan following it’s “Economy first, politics later”
strategy, choosing economy as a key pillar in policymaking. Kazakhstan is a home to enormous
reserves of oil and gas. After the collapse of Soviet Union, owing to political and economic
instability, the oil and gas industry faced a huge turnover. For resuming operations of new and
existing projects of oil and gas, the first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev began to attract Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI). In the early years that followed independence, the Kazakh economy
suffered huge losses due to falling oil prices and regional instability. The financial crisis of 2008
and fall in oil prices due to Ukrainian crisis in 2014 showed vulnerabilities of the Kazakh economy
relying mainly on fossil fuels. President Nazarbayev, keenly observing the economic situation of
the country, took serious steps to transform Kazakhstan’s material-based economy into a green
and knowledge-based economy. Consequently, “ Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy” was announced by
president Nazarbayev in 2012, aiming to promote economic diversification and land Kazakhstan
in 30 most developed economies by 2050. Marching towards a greener economy, oil and gas were
out, industrialization and technological development were in. Considerably, Astana International
Finance Center (AIFC) was established as a global financial hub to attract investors around the
world. Amazingly, Kazakhstan repaid all of it’s debt to IMF 7 years ahead of it’s schedule.
Undoubtedly, these were results of the outclassing economic reforms, making Kazakhstan an
economic might in the region.
After the stabilization of the economy, the
public demand for political reforms gained more momentum. Moreover, it was realized that further
economic development wasn’t possible without political reforms. Political reforms had been
proposed, but no implementation could be observed before 2019 . President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev believed in culture of opposition and free speech. Accordingly, National Council of
Public Trust was created, encouraging people to discuss and debate different government policies.
A recent constitutional referendum was held on 5th June, 2022 due to the public unrest and call for
reforms in January, 2022. According to the reforms in this referendum, president would be barred
from joining any political party while still in office. These constitutional reforms were approved
as 77.18% people were in favour of these reforms. It is no doubt that political and constitutional
reforms pave the path towards economic prosperity and Kazakhstan has now shifted her focus
from economic reforms to political reforms.
Peacekeeping has been the utmost priority of Kazakh foreign policy.
Being a recent part of Soviet Union, Kazakhstan had been a victim of nuclear testing especially
Semipalatinsk nuclear test site is worth-mentioning. After independence, Kazakhstan not only shut
down Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, but also gave up the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the
world at that time. In this regard, Central Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free-Zone (CANWFZ) and
Abolish Testing, Our Mission (ATOM) intiatives were launched by president Nazarbayev in 2006
and august 2012 respectively, stressing the need to no longer possess and test nuclear weapons.
Kazakhstan plays an important role in UN peacekeeping missions. Therefore, Kazakh
Peacekeeping Battalion (KazBat) was formed in 2000 which significantly contributed in operation
Iraqi freedom from 2003 to 2008. Kazakhstan is the only Central Asian country to become a nonpermanent member of UN Security Council.To promote religious and cultural pluralism,
Kazakhstan intiated the creation of Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in
2003.
Alongside the ambitions and strategies for a peaceful world, Kazakhstan being a part
of WTO, SCO and Eurasian Economic Union has played a substantial role in global economics,
creating new opportunities for EU and other neighbors. In 31 years, Kazakhstan has seen
impressive economic development, raising living standard of the people and reducing poverty.
These results were primarily due to extensive extraction of natural resources, economic reforms
and increase in FDI. More than US$380 billion have been invested in different sectors since
independence, clearly demonstrating the trust foreign investors put into government investment
policies. Kazakhstan has trade relations with Russia, China and Europe . In a nutshell, Kazakhstan,
rising from the Soviet wreakage, has thrived in three decades to become a global leader in
economic development.
Pakistan
briskly
recognized
Kazakhstan just four days after Kazakhstan’s independence as a gesture of solidarity and
brotherhood. The first official visit of president Nazarbayev began the journey of longlasting
diplomatic and cordial relations between the two brotherly countries. PM Benazir Bhutto first visit
Kazakhstan in 1995 followed by the second visit in 2011. Financially, Pakistan fulfills
Kazakhstan’s ambitions of global trade by providing a link to connect the Central Asian Republics
with Arabian sea and South Asia. In August 2015, PM Nawaz Sharif visited Kazakhstan with
prime purpose of increased cooperation in trade, economy and more significantly in areas of transit
routes and connectedness. Both countries also support each other in international forums. For
instance, Kazakhstan completely supported Pakistan’s successful bid to become a non-permanent
member of UN Security Council in October, 2011. Pakistan’s assistance regarding Kazakhstan’s
successful bid to international exhibition (EXPO-2017) and WTO are worth-noting. Moreover,
Kazakhstan supports the full membership of Pakistan in SCO. Briefly, both brotherly countries
have a common approach towards global issues, helping each other through thick and thin and
promoting understanding.
Conclusively, today’s Kazakhstan has
been shaped by a series of political and economic reforms which eventually make Kazakhstan a
significant geostrategic and geopolitical player, thriving for healthy relations with all countries.