Beyond Aid and Alliances: The Evolution of US-Pakistan Relations
- Strategic Necessity Over Trust: The US-Pakistan relationship has been largely transactional, driven by mutual strategic interests during the Cold War, Afghan jihad, and War on Terror, rather than ideological alignment.
- Persistent Mistrust: Mistrust defines the alliance, with accusations of Pakistan's "double game" and US actions, such as the Bin Laden raid, fueling skepticism on both sides.
- Shifting Alliances: Pakistan's growing partnership with China, symbolized by CPEC, adds complexity to its relationship with the US, requiring careful balance between competing global powers.
Former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan talked about US-Pakistan relations in an interview on June 21. “It was a lopsided relationship because [the] U.S. felt that they were giving aid to Pakistan; they felt that Pakistan then had to do the U.S.’s bidding… So there was this mistrust between the two countries. And people in Pakistan felt they paid a heavy, heavy price for this relationship. And the U.S. thought Pakistan had not done enough. So in that sense, it was a lopsided relationship.”.
The term “lopsided” is the conclusion of PAK-US relations. The intricate tapestry of their relationship has been commemorated with corporation, conflict, and strategic interest over the past several decades, by periods of intense partnership and deep-rooted mistrust resulting in a complex relationship between the two nations. This relationship is a classic instance of an alliance shaped more by necessity than mutual affinity. As per the initial phase of the relationship, the United States recognized Pakistan’s strategic location in light of its benefit in providing aid to the country.
For Pakistan, the support was instrumental, helping to modernize the military and economy. However, the relationship analyzed in the light of the nation’s perspective, presented by the Gallup poll, showed that the United States is viewed as an enemy rather than a friend by more than 72% of Pakistanis. The favorability of the US majority has ranged from 10% to 23% from 1993 to 2013 for Pakistan. The relationship between the two countries is perplexing, with ups and downs throughout different times.
In the early years, the main motive of the US-Pakistan relations was necessity. At the time of the Cold War, the United States saw Pakistan as a bulwark against the spread of Soviet influence in South Asia. Playing a transactional move influenced by their geopolitical priorities, they joined Pakistan. Pakistan, reviewing India’s close relationship with the Soviet Union, used the Western block led by the United States, considering the nation a powerful ally against India. Pakistan’s alignment with the United States was a strategic move driven by national interest rather than ideological affinity. As a result, in 1958, President Muhammad Ayub Khan established strong military connections with the United States. The United States aided the Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and Pakistan participated with the United States in the War in Somalia in Bosnia; the relationship improved. Emphasizing the same point, Adil Najam quoted in a National Journal article discussing the complex and often tumultuous relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
“It’s a very transactional relationship depending on who needs what from whom. I’ve argued for a very long time that it isn’t even a relationship… The U.S. doesn’t trust Pakistan, and no one in Pakistan trusts the U.S. But there is a sense that they need each other.”
The next major phase in Pakistan-US relations came with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The United States viewed the actions as aggressive of the Soviet Union in that they were making Afghanistan communist against their wishes. For personal interest, the US joined hands with Pakistan against the Soviet Union, using it as an opportunity to weaken its Cold War adversary. On the other side, Pakistan looked at the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan as a direct threat to its sovereignty.
Pakistan, being a front-line state, fights against Soviet expansion with US aid. The US’s role in funding and arming Afghan mujahidin fighters led to the rise of the Taliban and other extremist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989 marked a turning point with the United States backing off, leaving Pakistan in an unresolved conflict and extending the basis of the Taliban and Hakani network in Pakistan’s territory.
Furthermore, at the time of 9/11, the war on terror catapulted Pakistan back into the United States sphere of interest. Pakistan was left with no choice but to join the US-led War on Terror because President George W. Bush stated “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorist”. Pakistan, giving access to its airspace and logistical support for operations in Afghanistan, got billions of dollars in military and economic aid.
However, this alliance was fraught with tension as the US grew frustrated with Pakistan’s “double game” as it was accused of providing safe places for Taliban fighters and other militant groups—a charge Pakistan consistently denied. Mirrored by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks about the matter, “This is one of the things we’re going to be looking at in the days and weeks ahead—the role that Pakistan has played over the last 20 years but also the role we would want to see it play in the coming years and what it will take for it to do that.” This instance is the epitome of rising clashes and tension between the nations.
Additionally, President Donald J. Trump remarks, “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting.” In reaction to this, the foreign minister of Pakistan said, “No billions of dollars were dished out to us.” He emphasized that money given by the United States to Pakistan was rather a payment for the services provided by Pakistan. The duality in the approach of both nations resulted in the outlook of one another as an alley and a potential adversary, adding to the mistrust that has plagued the relationship.
The US-Pakistan relations reached rock bottom when Osama bin Laden was found in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during an American raid. The presence of al-Qaeda leader, the world’s most wanted man, within Pakistan’s border raised serious skepticism about Pakistan’s commitment to the War on Terror. The people of the US particularly believed the notion that ISI might have known about Bin Laden’s location. As Piers Morgan stated in a conversation with General Pervez Musharraf, “Somebody, somewhere knew he was there,” depicting the sense of betrayal felt by the people of America. These perceptions marked a reduction in US aid to Pakistan. Pakistan, on the other hand, was embittered by allegations of deception by the United States. This particular event sparked the American sentiment in the people of Pakistan, with the nation questioning the costs of their country’s alignment with the United States.
Moreover, the rising global power of China has driven the Pakistan-U.S. relationship into a new dimension. The strategic partnership of Pakistan with China, encapsulated by the (CPEC) China-Pakistan economic corridor, symbolizes the shift in Pakistan’s prioritized alliances. As the United States held a disputatious stance towards the state of China, Pakistan finds itself caught between the two powerful nations, having a longstanding relationship with the US and growing economic and military ties with China. As the United States views Pakistan-China relations with apprehension, adding another layer of complexity to the US-PAK already multifaceted relationship.
The U.S.-Pakistan ties have always been one of relationships based on strategic benefits rather than focusing on trust or ideological alignment with each other. It would be right to describe the relationship between the two nations as a “roller coaster.” From the Cold War to Afghan jihad, from 9/11 and the War on Terror, the Osama Bin Laden raid, and the Pak-China factor, the relationship indeed went through a series of ups and downs.
The future lies in balancing the relationship between both states, as Pakistan should impose equal balance in the relationship with the United States and China. For Pakistan, both nations are the way to safeguard its national interests in a volatile region, and for the United States, Pakistan remains a critical yet complicated partner, which is both a friend and, at times, an unpredictable opponent.
It is often said, “There are no eternal allies, only eternal interests.” This quotation aptly depicts the essence of US-Pakistan relations, a relationship that has endured and evolved based on interests. As both nations navigate the complex landscape of international relations, they must carefully balance cooperation and competition. It is essential to remember that alliances are not static; they evolve in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The author is a passionate writer who shapes global narratives. As an enthusiast of English linguistics and literature, she uses her writing to explore diverse perspectives and create compelling stories.
