Historical Perspective
Turan is referred to as a specific region in Central Asia and the term Turan is perceived as denoting lands inhabited by Turkic-speaking tribes. Turan appears next to Iran on numerous maps of the 19th century to designate a region encompassing modern Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and northern parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This area roughly corresponds to what is called Central Asia today. Historically, Turan was not really defined by fixed borders rather It embraces the unity of all Turks regardless where they live and to work for the common goal which is based on their culture, tradition etc.
In order to elaborate the historic Turkic empires with this map: the main Turkic empires in the history including, Hunnic empire, Turkic Qaghanate, Seljuk Empire, The Ottoman Empire, Timurid Empire, and the Mughal Empire.All these said empires were created by a Turkic dynasty throughout history. The Chingisid Empire (Cengiz Khan) is known as a Mongol empire. Many scholars have written that Cengiz was half Turkic, half Mongol. There are many more places where Turks have moved, settled and created their own countries throughout the history. The concept of TURAN as depicted by the German “Map of Iran and Turan”, dated 1843 (during the Qajar dynasty), Turan territory is indicated by an orange line (in the attached map below). According to the legend (bottom right of the map), Turan encompasses regions including modern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, northern parts of Afghanistan and northern Pakistan and Kazakhstan, which corresponds to what is called Central Asia today. List of the areas mentioned in the map as part of Turan:
1. Khwarazm
2. Bukhara with Balkh
3. Shehersebz (near Bukhara)
4. Hissar
5. Kokand
6. Durwaz
7. Karategin
8. Kunduz
9. Kafiristan
10. Chitral
11. Gilgit
12. Iskardu
13. The northern steppes (Kazakhstan)
Current Regional Geo Political Composition
The Turan concept in modern day, we can say that it currently composes of existing organization of Turkic states that is led by Türkiye. The organization of Turkic states (OTS) include Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. Other than OTS states, there is ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) that was started originally from the concept of the Regional Cooperation Development (Pakistan, Türkiye & Iran) but was later expanded in 1992 after the collapse of the USSR to include seven new members, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The main objective of ECO was to develop necessary infrastructure and institutions among member states to make full use of the available resources in the region and provide sustainable development. It should be kept in mind that Central Asia (formerly Turkestan) was the region of the ‘Great Game’ between the British and Imperial Russia. This British-Russian competition was significant not only because of the hydrocarbon resources but also for the struggle for influence. Elaborating another historical fact of World War II, one of Germany’s central goals was to expand southeast into the Caucasus and Central Asia (Turkestan) to gain control of the vast farmland and natural energy resources.
In this regard, quite a few ECO summit meetings had taken place in which the emphasis was on connectivity for regional prosperity through greater economic integration and close people to people contact. ECO is an important platform for constructive dialogue among member states and has set the direction of development of the member states. ECO has significant potential for expanding partnership particularly in vital issues including security and there is big need for cooperation among member states in energy.
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an intergovernmental organization comprising all but one of the internationally recognized Turkic sovereign states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan; while Hungary and Turkmenistan are observers. Its overarching aim is promoting comprehensive cooperation among the Turkic peoples.
Moreover, it aims further in (1) enhancing economic gains of the Turkic states (2) creating “Greater Turkic vision” by promoting the Turkish lifestyle (3) reasserting Turkic influence in the Caucasus and (4) expanding options in the face of international pressures.
First proposed by Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2006, it was founded on 3 October 2009 in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan. The General Secretariat is located in Turkey’s Istanbul. In addition to Turkmenistan, the organization has also admitted Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as observers, although the latter is only recognized by Turkey. During the 8th summit in Istanbul in 2021, the organization was restructured and adopted its current name.
Pakistan’s Challenges, OTS Opportunities and Short/Long term Remedies
Due to Pakistan’s strategic location, it provides the shortest outlet to landlocked Central Asian Republics to the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and further to rest of the world. Pakistan acts as bridge between South and West Asia for resources of the Middle East and South Asia. The Karakoram Highway is an ancient Silk Route between Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China and Pakistan and for having access to Gwadar port, this route provides the land link to Central Asian Republics through Tajikistan. Pakistani ports which are around 1700 km away from Central Asian Republics are the shortest route for economic link between Pakistan and Central Asian Republics.
It can give boost to bilateral trade in raw material and manufactured goods. It is to be said that Pakistan has to build cultural and economic ties with Central Asian Republics which will provide a natural strategic depth to Pakistan against the hegemony of India in South Asia.
Pakistan and Central Asian Republics have many things common in their societies like the religion of Islam, having a tribal system, architecture, art, design, and common TURANIC background. Turkestan was also named as TURAN and its worth mentioning that the mountainous northern Pakistan was the part of Greater TURAN as depicted in the historical maps. To overcome enormous challenges ahead, Pakistan has to be smarter in such challenging circumstances due to challenges from India, terrorism from TTP and BLA using Afghan soil and CPEC related security matters that need to be set in motion and accomplished as soon as possible. Pakistan needs to take some steps, short and long term, in order to be able to handle future challenges, some of which are mentioned below:
First and foremost, Pakistan must be self-sufficient and self-reliant on defence related matters and must build the military equipment industry as the backbone of the country’s economy. It can plan/reform in long terms for other commercial sectors but due to challenges and shortage of time, it is imperative to boost the military equipment related economic plan (SIFC) for bridging the vast foreign exchange gap. A strong and prosperous Pakistan will definitely be able to play a bigger role as the time arrives in the near or distant future.
The second milestone is to build a strong regional strategic alliance that could initially start from Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and the Organization of Turkic states OTS. Saudi Arabia and Qatar can be added in this bloc if the situation and tension escalate so high as a result of the Israel- Palestinian conflict. Keeping in mind the stretch of this alliance, as per my view, the area of influence or dominion of Pakistan’s interest must be from the Arabian Seas, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. A few additional details are being mentioned below:
The third milestone is leveraging SCO and BRICS Membership and CPEC – all powerful tools for foreign policy maneuvering. Pakistan must seek full membership of BRICS to respond further to regional and global paradigm shift.
I am emphasizing again and again here that the current challenging time demands all regional like-minded countries (Türkiye, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Organization of Turkic states OTS) to increase cooperation, not only economically but also strategically keeping in mind the regional rapidly changing geo politics.
Pakistan’s Inclusion in TURAN Renaissance and Potential Geo Political
Gains Pakistan’s northern part (Gilgit, Skardu, Chitral, Kafiristan, etc) were part of greater Turan historically as per its location in the vicinity of the ancient Silk Road. The map depicted by a European archive has shown the boundaries of the Turan in which the northern parts of Pakistan were its southern outskirts. For instance, other than the communities from the northern parts of Pakistan, a significant number of people from the Hazara community are living in Balochistan Province (in Great Spirit of Turan), and the Hazara people are a Turko-Mongol ethnic group living in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Having said this and set the background for the subject, Pakistani people predominantly have deep roots with Central Asian Turanic culture. Pakistan is located in the sub-continent map that was mostly ruled by Sultans of Turkic dynasty.
This background is enough for Pakistan to develop a thought process amongst scholastic circles and make sense to be closely associated with organization of Turkic states (OTS) in order to help the revival of TURAN vision. Pakistan has been facing challenges from eastern and western neighbors in many ways, including terrorism, sabotage, and sectarian politics, etc. The concepts of Lar aw bar Afghan which refers to lower and upper, referring to Pashtun regions divided by Afghanistan Pakistan border, has died down decades back but every Afghan regime has always kept this slogan alive. TURAN renaissance will help this Lar aw bar Afghan slogan to die down which is consistently used by all Afghan regimes against Pakistan.
Moreover, Pakistan has been a victim of religious sectarian politics that is supported by different countries from the region, especially our south western neighbor. TURAN revival will also help limit sectarian problem from our south western neighbour.
Conclusion
Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics have many things common in their societies like the religion of Islam, a tribal system, architecture, art, and design, and common TURANIC background. There are some key visionary benefits linking with Organization of Turkic states (Turan renaissance).
• Pakistan can get great benefit through Turan revival since it will help enhancing trade & commercial interests.
• TURAN renaissance will promote the idea of developing joint military industrial complex.
• Pakistan will get rid of Lar aw Bar Afghanistan slogan
• TURAN revival will help Pakistan limit and overcome the sectarian issues associated with our south western neighbor.
This, therefore is in the greater “National Interest” of Pakistan for our policy makers start thinking about linking our strategic and commercial interests with the renaissance of TURAN. As a first strategic move, Pakistan must seek for an Observer Status in the organization of Turkic states followed by getting a full membership in the near future.
If Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan along with OTS countries can join hands for the development of such a strong alliance, many other countries will follow and that will be the beginning of the demolition of existing fault lines in case any escalation takes place in the Middle East or in our dominion of influence.
