Doctrine of Periphery and Pakistan

Since the 1950s, the Doctrine of the Periphery has been a core component of Israel's foreign policy strategy. David Ben-Gurion conceived this doctrine because Israel was surrounded by hostile Arab states and diplomatically isolated in the Middle East. By building alliances with non-Arab states and ethnic minorities along the region's geographic periphery, Israel aimed to exploit divisions among Arab nations.

The periphery included, Iran under the Shah, Turkey under the Republican Party, Ethiopia under Haile Selassie, the Maronites of Lebanon, and the Kurds in Iraq. Iran and Israel built the Eilat-Ashkelon Oil Pipeline in 1968 for Iranian oil to bypass the Suez Canal; strategic ties were established with Turkey and Ethiopia; and Kurdish autonomy was backed by the West to keep Iraq destabilised. At the same time, Israel established contacts with Sudan's anti-Egypt Umma Party. Israel did not want Sudan to be integrated in Egypt under Nasser's pan-Arab project. Later, Israel developed links with the Anya-Nya insurgency in southern Sudan, providing them small arms so that Sudan would eventually break down into two. Supporting non-Arab peripheral minorities in their conflicts with Arab states would tie down the Arab governments in their own security, and the Israel-Palestine issue would be left on the backburner.

The balkanisation of Somalia has been another project of foreign entities for decades. Different clan-heads were provided weapons and funds so that civil war would never end, and the provinces started declaring independence. Israel just took the next step by recognising the sovereignty of Somaliland last year, also asking for a military base there, in return.

This tide was somewhat turned in the 70s with the Iranian Revolution and the overthrow of Haile Selassie. And at the same time Israel's peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan turned Israel towards the 'Peace for Peace' (Abraham Accords) approach. It has always been clear that Israel does not want peace, with its neighbours, or within its neighbourhood.

Fast forward to 2023's China-brokered Iran-Saudi Reproachment; the start of the Gaza War; and the suspension of the Abraham Accords. Add to that the economic and strategic setbacks faced by the US and the West. And to that, the Pakistan-China duo replacing US-NATO as the net security provider in the Middle East, and the US intimations that all their bases in the region will be dismantled. All this has rattled Israel to the spine, forcing it into a hysteria of assaults, encroachments and wars in the neighborhood.

Though conditions in the region are still quite volatile, further reversal of the Doctrine of the Periphery and isolation of Israel in the region is underway, and Pakistan has a lot to do with this.

Somalia has just received a senior delegation from the PAF for purchase of 24 JF7 aircraft worth $990 million. Pakistan Air Force, Navy and Army will train their Somalian counterparts. Once Mogadishu is enabled, the balkanisation of Somalia could potentially reverse.

Pakistan and Ethiopia have discussed strengthening defence and aviation cooperation, and expanded air connectivity. Pakistan has offered to bridge Ethiopia's longtime issue of being landlocked by developing a Pakistan-Djibouti-Ethiopia maritime framework. This way the CPEC/Gwadar track would become more viable, as Chinese goods meant for Africa would have a next stop at Djibouti. Already Gwadar has been included in the International North-South Transport Corridor at Russia's behest, expanding the network. Pakistan will invest in Djibouti's free zones; construct a rice-distribution hub there; expand air connectivity; and use Djibouti as a distribution platform into East Africa and COMESA markets. China has its only foreign military base in Djibouti, meaning that China would be providing cover for all these projects.

Sudan is purchasing air defence systems from the PAF; 10 Karakorum-8 trainers; over 200 drones; Super Mushshak aircrafts; and potentially JF-17 fighters – all this reportedly worth 1.5 billion.

In late 2025, Pakistan finalised a weapons package worth more than $4 billion with the Libyan National Army associated with Khalifa Haftar. This includes 16 JF-17 combat aircraft; 12 Super Mushshak trainers; land, air and naval equipment; military training; defense-manufacturing cooperation. All this while maintaining diplomatic relations with the Tripoli government too.

Then there is the PEACE cable aka Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe. Landing stations at Karachi and Gwadar will connect with those in Djibouti, Kenya, Egypt and France via undersea cables. Pakistan's Karachi-to-Marseille section of this cable was completed and made ready for service in 2022. This means that Pakistan will be entering the MENA region as a net-security provider, as more states after Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt want to enter this umbrella, while also creating economic and telecommunication frameworks with them that go deeper into Africa and even Europe. Last month, EU's Ursula von der Leyen met PM Sharif and reviewed the broader Pak-EU relationship, including trade, GSP+, regional security and diplomatic cooperation. Kaja Kallas, European Commission VP, described Pakistan as a major regional power and important EU partner. Statements thanking Pakistan for facilitating the ceasefire have been issued by several European leaders.

If together Pakistan, Iran and China are able to circumspect the possibility to secure both the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al Mandab and bring them into an inclusive, collective regional security architecture, that would prove to be the key to ushering a coming Asian Century. As for the Doctrine of the Periphery, that will be reversed for good, and Israel will be forced to live an isolated, confined life, detached from its ex-allies.

Pakistan can rightly pride itself on being pivotal to the grand strategies being played out regionally and globally. Pakistan's geopolitical stature does not seem to be limited to its traditional allies any more, it has extended throughout the Islamic world, Africa and Europe. If there is anything that will deter Pakistan's progress in near-future and its preferred entry into the Asian Century, it will be its internal political instability and widespread corruption in its political and economic aristocracy. All the external accolades and credits will prove to be a façade, if set on top of crumbling, shifting foundations. It is time for those in the corridors of power to wake up to a greater, progressive future of the people instead of conniving for vested interests.