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 non-permanent 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 makes Kazakhstan a significant geostrategic and geopolitical player, thriving for healthy relations with all countries.