Relation Between Pakistan and USA during Cold War.

Pakistan is a Islamic country, whose ideology based on Islamic principle. So, the foreign policy of Pakistan is according to Islam. In the foreign policy of Pakistan, relation with the other countries got the first priority such as relations with Islamic, Super Powers, Neighboring Countries. The time when Pakistan got independence, Arab countries involved in war against Israel and also there were security threat for Pakistan from neighboring countries. So, Pakistan have to join one of the Super Power countries because Pakistan had to strengthen its position in South Asia.  So, afterwards Pakistan moved forward in relation with United States Of America by rejecting Soviet Union.

Relations During Cold War: 

Pakistan always interested in having good relation with the super power countries from the beginning because super power countries is the main source for providing the economic and military benefits such as by strengthen the industry. Pakistan got independence during the cold war between United States Of America and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (both are the Super Power) , it is the bipolar war which was between Capitalism and Communism (Capitalist recommended as blue color and Communist red color) So, it is very important for Pakistan to join one of the these super powers. In this race, Pakistan received invitation for both of the Powers to hold their control in Asia. USSR is the union of communist countries (known as Soviet union), in communist countries includes China and India so, if USSR holds Pakistan it would take control South Asia.

Initial Stage Of Relation:

Pakistan established as the Islamic State, the ideology and base of the country according to the teaching of Islam. So Pakistan couldn’t take any decision against Islam. So, it is very clear that Pakistan wouldn’t accept to join USSR and it is not only the perception but this was the step the Pakistan took as that time. Meanwhile USSR gives invitation to Pakistan before USA because USA didn’t recognize Pakistan as the important state for them.

When Pakistan rejected the offer of USSR, the United States Of America strategically send invitation to Pakistan and it was accepted by Pakistan. There was main reason in the acceptation of invitation , that was Pakistan was not secured in its region or area. Initially, Pakistan didn’t have good relations with neighboring countries specially with Afghanistan and India. So, there was security threat from these neighboring countries.

Pakistan have to join one of the Super Power countries to strengthen their position in South Asia. So, in October 20, 1947 Pakistan join with United States Of America and established diplomatic ties.

Pakistan joins the United Nation Organization  in 30 September 1947 to secured its position and to strengthened the relation with United States Of America.

While, Afghanistan was the first country who were against Pakistan for joining and signing United Nations Organization because of Durand Line.

Era Of  Neutrality ( 1950 – 1953)

For the first time, Pakistan`s Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan visited United States Of America to meet Harry S Truman.

In this meeting, many promises was made such as Pak-US agreement, in this agreement it was signed that USA would establish air bases in Pakistan to keep eye on the activist of Soviet Union and defend Pakistan if there would any security threats it was the request to USA by Liaquat Ali Khan.

So, After the visit of Liaquat Ali Khan , many officials such as Ayub khan (Commander In Chief) Ayub Khan  , foreign minister and foreign secretary visited United States Of America, to receive economic and military help from USA.

Relations In 1954

In Mutual Defense Assistant Agreement signed in May 1954 by Pakistan and United States Of America. In this agreement, it was written and promised that Pakistan have to establish US Air Bases in Peshawar and on the other United States would defend Pakistan in many issues.

In 1954, Pakistan was properly alignment ( become partner) with United  States Of America. So, In May Pakistan signed USA Alignment.

After the agreement was signed, United States invites Pakistan`s Soldiers for training of latest military weapons. At that time, United Stated Of America supports the religious soldiers of Pakistan namely as Mujahideen.

 It is the plural form of mujahid known as the worriers of jihad. They were supported by United States Of America for the soviet war in Afghanistan war know as Soviet-Afghan War.

At that time Pakistan importance in the eye of United State Of America was much bighted because Pakistan was the only way to enter and to supply military weapons in Afghanistan.

Relations In (1955 - 62)

In this period, Arab Countries detect the shine of United States and Pakistan relation because before that Arab countries was involved in Israel Issue.

In this Period, Pakistan Joins SEATO (The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) and CENTO  (The Central Treaty Organization) to maintain relation with United States Of America, and United State supporting Israel that’s why Arab Countries rises voice against Pakistan and United States Relation and forced Pakistan to withdraw from these agreements with United States Of America.

In this period, an U-2 incident was happened during the cold war on May 1960  when United States plane was shot down by Soviet Airspace and flown from Pakistan.

After the shot down, In 20 Oct 1962 Sino-Indo War broke out  between China and India for land of Aksai Chin, result was very clean Chinese won the war, but during the China want Pakistan to Attack Kashmir to capture but Pakistan rejected the this idea because Pakistan was tied with United States Of America , couldn’t tied with Communist Country.

After that, United Stated increased the financial aids of Pakistan to strengthened the country economy.

Era Of Bilateralism (1963-1978)

In this Period, Pakistan and India war broke out in 23 September 1965 for the Indian control in Jammu and Kashmir. As Pakistan was tied with United States Of America So, United States helps Pakistan by providing Military weapons during the war. Many casualties and loses of life happens but ceasefire (Diplomatic tool to stop war) was declared by Soviet Union and United States Of America after seventeen days.

There were no conclusive result of this war, because both the countries declared victory. So, this war characterized as neutral war mean no winner and no loser.

After the war resolved the both super power countries United States Of America and Soviet Union, In 1966 pushed Pakistan and India to sign an agreement , held in Tashkent known as Tashkent Agreement.

In this Agreement, United States Of America forced India to give away the conquered region in Pakistan . Many Authors wrote in their articles that in the war India captured more region of Pakistan and it was not neutral results. In this way, United States of  America played a big role to save  region of Pakistan which were captured by India. The Agreement clearly defined that these two nation would never interfere in each other affairs and economy. A kind of peace was establish through this agreement.

After sometimes, 1971`s War broke out which was to separate East and West Pakistan, in this war India played a big role to separate Pakistan. United states Of America have to provide Pakistan Military Aids because If Pakistan weaken in South Asia, United State`s Power against Soviet Union would became weaker in South Asian region.

After the war, In November 1972 a year before the war between India and Pakistan, Pakistan decided to withdraw from the SEATO because this organization failed in many objectives.

After the separation, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto got the majority in Elections and hold the government in 1974 after completing Constitution Of Pakistan 1973. Now, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto takes Pakistan towards socialism and He was well-favored by Richard Nixon.

Pakistan was the important ally of  United Stated Of America in the race against Soviet Union in Cold War. During this time, Pakistan reduce the misunderstandings between United States Of America and China , when Richard Nixon first visit to China known as Sino-US relation.

Relation In The Period Of 1976 to 1979:

When election was held on United States Of America, President Jimmy Carter won the Presidential election in 1977,  he was Anti-socialist. So, Disturbance was established from this period the relation of Pakistan and United Stated Of America when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto lost the favor and United States Of America banned the Nuclear Weapons.

In the Carter`s Government Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto get threaten by United States Of America to stop the process of making Atomic Bomb and tried to put sanctions against Pakistan, but Pakistan didn’t agreed upon and relation further disturbed.

Relation In The Period Of 1980 to 1988:

While, In the Control Of Zia ul Haq , Pakistan and United States Of America relations again built up. The Trust between them was satisfied by both of them. The Intelligence agencies of these countries Pakistan and United States Of America namely Central Intelligence Agency and ISI together works to stop the advancement of Soviet Union in South Asia and other regions.

During this period, the relation between United States Of America and Pakistan based on military and support help. So, Billions of dollars were spend in military operations and advance the military weapons to create resistance in the Soviet Union advancement.

At that time, Pakistan was the second largest recipient of military and financial aids after Israel. Hence, when Pressler Amendment was adopted because of this amendment, United States Of America take back off step in the relation with Pakistan.  When Zia ul haq regime ends, United States Of America banned the military and financial aids of Pakistan because America had the doubt that Pakistan was processing nuclear weapons through their funds.

After that United States Of America  arrested the Pakistani national, Arshed Pervez on behave of processing the nuclear weapons and equipments.

Therefore, That was the time when Pakistan and United States Of America relations was on fire, after sometimes it was proved that Pakistan was enriching uranium and nuclear weapons during the period of 1984 to 1987.

Relation In The Period Of 1988 – 1991(End Of Soviet Union):

In this period, United States Of America takes a big turn when it imposed sanctions on Pakistan. So, the relation between Pakistan and United States Of America was ruined because during that time , United States totally ruined Soviet union, and soviet union involved in crises, results in the end of Soviet Union.

However, Pakistan lost its importance in the war against Soviet Union , In the Soviet War, Soviet Union were in crises So, indirectly United States Of America got the victory in the war.

Victory Of  USA In Soviet War (1991):

In December, 1991 Soviet Union dissolve and divided into fifteen separate state due to crises and internal affairs of Soviet Union, In Soviet Union the conflict between capitalist and Communist was generated.

However, it was the great victory of United States Of America in the soviet war. In this way, United States Of America brought its enemy on their knees. Therefore, on the next day, the biggest part of Soviet Union was transformed into Russia and other part was transformed into small countries due to political crises.

Now, the significance of Pakistan in front of United States of America was reduced because there would no advancement of communist region in South Asia and all over the world due to the destruction of Soviet Union.

As Pakistan considered as non-significant or un-important , United States Of America provided military aid to India in order to race with China.

At that time, there would be security threats but Pakistan had signed United Nations Organization. So, the security of Pakistan was protected universally through United Nations Organization. Anyhow, Pakistan played a huge role to conquered Soviet Union with United States Of America because Pakistan was the most important country If Pakistan join Soviet Union during Cold War the result would be reversed but it was not possible due to the Islamic ideological reasons.

It is the turning point of the relation between United States Of America and Pakistan.