The United States–Pakistan
relations refers to the international, historical, and cultural bilateral
relationship between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the United States of
America. Roughly two months of its establishment after the departure of the
subcontinent by Great Britain, the United States established relations with
Pakistan on 20 October 1947.
The United States was amongst the first nations[who?] to have established
relations with Pakistan in late 1940s, but since then, relations have been
centred around the United States' extensive economic, scientific, and military
assistance to Pakistan.Allying with the U.S. during the Cold war against the
USSR, Pakistan was an integral in CENTO and SEATO— both alliances opposed the
Soviet Union and Communism. Relations were soured in 1970s with the
left-oriented PPP led government which came in power in 1971. However, the
closely coordinated military cooperation deepened in 1980s against Soviet
expansion in Central Asia. After the disintegration of USSR, and Pakistan's
subsequent return to democracy, the relations once again became cold with the
U.S. imposing an economic embargo against Pakistan during the most of 1990s.
Currently, Pakistan is designated as a Major non-NATO ally of the United States,
which is the second-largest supplier of military equipment to Pakistan after
China, and largest economic aid contributor.
Since 2011, the intensive criticisms and allegations of each other based on
their strategies in the War on Terror have hindered relations. Furthermore, as a
result of the Lahore incident and the black operation in the country which
killed the al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, followed by the Salala incident,
relations between two countries were severely damaged, and was also a crucial
point in the history of bilateral relations of both countries.After Pakistan's
independence by the partitioning of the British Indian Empire, Pakistan was
founded while struggling with problems involving the national economy, national
security, and Soviet influence on Afghanistan and Iran, forced Pakistan's first
prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan to cement a pro-Western and pro-American
policy.In 1949, the Soviet Union directed a farewell message to Prime minister
Ali Khan, followed by the U.S. invitation in 1950. The proposal was under
consideration when Pakistan's geostrategists, military policy makers,
logisiticians and foreign service officers raised great questions whether or not
the Soviet Union could provide the military, technical, and economic aid that
the country needed so urgently.One key common denominator was at the home front,
when the Communist party had gained the considerable support in East Pakistan
and the Socialist party in West Pakistan, in which the Muslim League had failed
to take active measures against socialists in the West and communists in the
East. Prime Minister Ali Khan made a tireless effort to establish relations with
the Soviet Union, repeatedly asking Joseph Stalin for military aid, but all
attempts were rebuffed by the Soviets. According to the PIIA, the religious
background of Pakistan and the atheist background of the Soviet Union had
created a major divergence after Pakistan noted subservience which was forced
upon the allies of the Soviet Union.
After a long debate, Prime Minister Ali Khan decided to pay his first visit to
the United States, while holding the Soviet invitation which was met with great
hostility from the Soviet Union, and the harsh criticism by Pakistani socialists
and communists of Ali Khan and his government. The President of the United
States Harry Truman and the U.S. itself were well aware of strategic importance
of Pakistan, but did not have any concrete plans[dubious – discuss].[8] The U.S.
continued its civilian aid to the country through the United States Ambassador
to Pakistan, Paul Allin. It was not until 1950 when the military aid was begun
with new ambassador Avra M. Warren taking office.
In 1950-53, a flurry of Pakistan's state delegation paid visit to the U.S.
initially seeking military aid rather than civilian. Prime Minister Liaqat Ali
Khan, Huseyn Suhravardie, Army commander Ayub Khan, Foreign Minister Sir
Zafrullah Khan, Foreign Secretary Ikram-ullah Khan, Finance Minister Ghulam
Muhammad, Defense Secretary Sikander Mirza, and special envoy Mir Laiq Ali made
U.S visits with the main intention of getting military aid. Controversially,
there was neither an organized, coordinated, nor institutional effort nor any
attempt made to study the U.S. decision-making process to achieve the goal.
The U.S. government officials were smart enough to understand and to very
quickly grasp the mediocre leadership of Pakistan. The U.S. government would use
the country to achieve regional and strategic goals and interests. When the true
nature of U.S. ambition exposed to Prime minister Ali Khan, the prime minister
deliberately attempted to warm relations with the Soviet Union and the Soviet
bloc, while warning the U.S. that "[Pakistan] has annexed half of Kashmir
without [A]merican support.... And would be able to take the other half too".
Ali Khan's sudden shift and aggressive mood was a "bombshell" for President
Truman's presidency and for U.S. foreign policy. In 1950, President Truman
requested Prime minister Ali Khan to provide a military base to the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) to keep an eye on Soviet Union, which Ali Khan
hesitated and later refused, prompting the U.S. to began planning the
assassination of Ali Khan to remove him from the country's politics once and for
all.[9] However, there are no official evidence[citation needed] to support,
marking the big question on Ali Khan's assassination.[9] The Indian government
followed a different, non-aligned policy stance, which leaned closer towards the
Soviet Union than towards the United States of America. Pakistan was seeking
strong alliances to counter its neighbor, India. At this time, India was neutral
and went on to be a part of Non Aligned Movement.
In 1972, Zulfi Bhutto gifted the thoughtful and unique carved ivory set of chess
to the United States, handed over to President Gerald Ford.
In 1953, the United States assessed Pakistan as "a volunteer army of
3,000,000... It is not neutral but an anti-communist... As a possible ally for
US, Pakistan displays a tempting picture of power — potential and actual. The
Pakistan Armed Forces were extremely well-disciplined, professional, well
trained armed forces whose morale and bravery are unquestionable.[8] According
to Hamid Hussain, Pakistan has became comical in 1955-56, and the Secretary of
State John Foster Dulles while arguing for wheat aid to Pakistan in 1953, told
the sub-committee on Agriculture and Forestry during hearings that, "the [p]eople
of Pakistan had a splendid military tradition and that in Karachi he had been
met by a guard of honour which was the "finest" he had ever seen".[8]Pakistan
joined the US-led military alliances SEATO and CENTO. In 1954 the United States
signed a Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with Pakistan. Under Ayub Khan,
Pakistan enjoyed a strong and close relationship with the United States.
Pakistan had aligned itself with the United States during the Cold War, as
opposed to the Soviet Union. Khan's government also provided a secret military
base to United States. The 1960s era was perhaps most enjoyable and fond
relationships enjoyed both by the United States and Pakistan. This 1960s era,
Pakistan and her people were the most pro-American nation where the U.S. image
was more positive than any other nation at that time. In 1961, Khan paid a state
visit to the United States, accompanied by his daughter Begum Nasir Akhtar
Aurangzeb. Highlights of the trip included a state dinner at Mount Vernon, a
visit to the Islamic Center of Washington, and a ticker tape parade in New York
In 1992 US Ambassador Nicholas Platt advised Pakistan's leaders that if Pakistan
continued to support terrorists in India or Indian-administered territory, "the
Secretary of State may find himself required by law to place Pakistan on the
state sponsors of terrorism list." When the US decided to respond to the 1998
United States embassy bombings in Africa by firing missiles at an al-Qaeda camp
in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, five Pakistani ISI agents present at the camp
were killed.
Present US-Pakistan relations are a case study on the difficulties of diplomacy
and policy making in a multipolar world. Pakistan has important geopolitical
significance for both India and China, making unilateral action almost
impossible for the US. At the same time, Pakistan remains a key player in
American efforts in Afghanistan. The two countries are trying to build a
strategic partnership, but there remains a significant trust deficit, which
continues to hinder successful cooperation in combating common threats.
Despite recent setbacks, both Pakistan and the United States continue to seek a
productive relationship to defeat terrorist organizations. It has been alleged
that the ISI pays journalists to write articles hostile to the United
States.Present US-Pakistan relations are a case study on the difficulties of
diplomacy and policy making in a multipolar world. Pakistan has important
geopolitical significance for both India and China, making unilateral action
almost impossible for the US. At the same time, Pakistan remains a key player in
American efforts in Afghanistan. The two countries are trying to build a
strategic partnership, but there remains a significant trust deficit, which
continues to hinder successful cooperation in combating common threats.
Despite recent setbacks, both Pakistan and the United States continue to seek a
productive relationship to defeat terrorist organizations.It has been alleged
that the ISI pays journalists to write articles hostile to the United
States.Numerous allegations were made that the government of Pakistan had
shielded bin Laden.Critics cited the very close proximity of bin Laden's heavily
fortified compound to the Pakistan Military Academy, that the US chose not to
notify Pakistani authorities before the operation and the double standards of
Pakistan regarding the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. US government
files, leaked by Wikileaks, disclosed that American diplomats had been told that
Pakistani security services were tipping off bin Laden every time US forces
approached. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), also helped smuggle
al-Qaeda militants into Afghanistan to fight NATO troops.
According to the leaked files, in December 2009, the government of Tajikistan
had also told US officials that many in Pakistan were aware of bin Laden's
whereabouts.
CIA chief Leon Panetta said the CIA had ruled out involving Pakistan in the
operation, because it feared that "any effort to work with the Pakistanis could
jeopardize the mission. They might alert the targets."However, Secretary of
State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated that "cooperation with Pakistan helped lead
us to bin Laden and the compound in which he was hiding."Obama echoed her
sentiments.John O. Brennan, Obama's chief counterterrorism advisor, said that it
was inconceivable that bin Laden did not have support from within Pakistan. He
further stated, "People have been referring to this as hiding in plain sight. We
are looking at how he was able to hide out there for so long."
In 2012, Shakil Afridi, a doctor who had been cooperating with the United States
in searching for Al Qaeda and bin Laden was convicted of treason by Pakistan,
and sentenced to 33 years in prison.The United States Congress voted to cut 33
million dollars in aid to Pakistan; 1 million dollars for every year that Shakil
Afridi was sentenced to prison.