C O N T E N T S

• Introduction

• Pak-US Defense Alliances

• PAK-US RELATIONS DURING 1970-2000

• PAK-US RELATIONS DURING 2000-2008

• Conclusion
Introduction:

Since 1947 Pakistan had been facing very difficult problems related to his sovereignty

and survival. The threats like India’s aggression and china’s communism threat proved a severe

threat to the survival of the newly independent state with really short of resources and defensive

capabilities against these threats. As it is formulated that a country goes for alliances if it is

sought itself vulnerable in the conflict which it cannot handle by its own. The same was the

response of Pakistan, they were also looking for alliances to strengthen its position in the

international society and defer threat regarding its security and survival. In 1950’s Pakistan

succeeded in concluding alliance with the US and affiliated high hopes to the alliance. But in the

initial stages, these hops dashed down as US have not fulfilled Pakistan’s requirements, which

they hoped from US. One of the basic reasons for that was the presence of hostile India to

Pakistan and US large interests in India’s friendship which didn’t allow Pakistan to enjoy

alliance benefits at a large scale.

In late 1950’s and early 1960’s Pakistan relied that her all hopes and requirements cannot

be fulfilled by US which led them to think about the other power’s assistance for this regard and

was also a bone of connection between the US and Pakistan initially. But later with the

Kissinger’s secret visit to China and Nixon official visit to China in 1972 assisted in refreshing

good relations between US and Pakistan as well as newly formed relations with US and China.

In the end of 1970’s with the new conflict of Russia-Afgan war the relations between US and

Pakistan reconcilated because of US’s large assistance to the Afghan through Pakistan which

were deteriorated in 1970’s with the Pakistan’s nuclear programme. In 1980’s Pakistan and

United States enjoyed good relations with each other. Pak got played a huge role in eradicating

USA’s biggest even the threat which posed danger to the image security and survival to the
USA, the threat of USSR which is eradicated with the disintegration of USSR. But again very

soon, the relations between US and Pakistan fluctuated as Pakistan was inspected of having

prepared nuclear bomb which was confirmed in 1998, when Pakistan tested its nuclear

technology. Sanctions imposed and some of them were lifted by when 9/11 incident happened

and US war on Terror started. Pakistan again becomes the United States first ally and helped a

lot in eradicating terrorism. The war is still on and Pakistan is playing the same role.

One of the historians has described the whole history of Pak-US relation in a single

sentence.

In the whole Pak-US relation’s history, Pak derived from the most alled ally of US, to the

most sanctioned ally of US, to the most suspected ally of US.

Pak-US Defense Alliances:

Pakistan has been working as a first ally of US since independence and always try to cash

its strategic importance in South Asia. To protect its position Pakistan made alliances with

United States and secure himself from external threat. The major alliance made between United

States and Pakistan are as under.

1) Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement:

First defense agreement between Pakistan and United States signed on 19 th May 1954. The

United States undertook to provide defense equipment to Pakistan exclusively to maintain

its internal security.

2) Badabar Base:
 After visit of Prime Minister Soharwardi to United States in 1957, a secret intelligence base

at Badaber near Peshawar was established and Pakistani government also grant permission

for US aircraft to use Peshawar Base. Government of United Stated doesn’t gave any

information about the base to Pakistani government, they only describe it as a

communication center.

3) Pak-US Agreement on Cooperation,1959:

The 1959 agreement was negotiated to assure Pakistan of US support in the event of

aggression. Pakistan invoked this agreement in 1971 but the US did not honour its

obligation to come to Pakistan assistance which resulted in dismemberment of East

Pakistan in December 1971.

4) Pak-US Agreement For Advance Military Equipment, 2006:

A major contract was signed in 2006 for the purchase of 36 new F-16 C/D aircraft and

associated equipment

PAK-US RELATIONS DURING 1970-2000:

Beginning in the mid-1970s, Pakistan responded to India’s 1974 underground nuclear

tests and then concentrates on their own nuclear capabilities. These efforts subsequently led the

United States to suspend military aid in the beginning of 1979. But after the invasion of

Afghanistan by Soviet Union the United States lifted its sanctions from Pakistan to gain

maximum support from Pakistan, which were very helpful for the withdrawal of Soviet forces.

So in these circumstances United States sold 40 F-16 A/B combat aircrafts to Pakistan.
 But a change was occurred during 1985, Congress added section 620E(e) to the Foreign

assistance Act. This provision, known as the Pressler amendment, required the President to

certify to Congress that Pakistan did not possess a nuclear explosive device during each fiscal

year in which the administration proposed to provide assistance to Pakistan. This place an

important brake on expansion of a defense supply relationship between the United States and

Pakistan. With the withdrawal of Soviet military forces from Afghanistan the nuclear weapons

development programme of Pakistan came under intensive U.S examination again. Finally, in

October 1990, President George H.W.Bush suspended U.S military assistance to Pakistan. S a

result of this action, the United States stopped the delivery of 28 F-16 fighter aircraft that

Pakistan had purchased 1989.

Thus during Russia-Afghan war U.S provide Pakistan very good and modern equipment

to improve its defense capabilities but after this there was a radical change in the behavior of

United States. The equipment provided by U.S included improved warning and communication

systems, anti-tank missiles, ground attack aircraft, tanks and armoured personal carriers. In 1981

Regan administration provided $3.2 billion in military and economic aid and within this package

$343 million were allocated to buy 40 general dynamics F-16 Hornet fighter/interceptors,

sparrow and sidewinder missiles. The F-16 fighter planes are modern advanced aircraft and it

was widely believed that the F-16s would provide a credible deterrent and strategic edge to

Pakistan in the region.

Additionally, Pakistan obtained the AIM 9L version of the sidewinder missile. It also

received Harpoon anti-ship missiles, upgraded M-48 tanks, tanks recovery vehicles, towed and

self-propelled field artillery, armed helicopters and second-hand destroyers. Radar equipment

purchased from US companies was used to provide aircraft warning systems on the western
border. The US provided necessary equipment for infantry divisions, armored divisions,

armoured divisions, air force squadrons and assistance to build new air force basis in NWFP and

Baluchistan. They also provide special assistance to build sea ports in Gawadar and Karachi

harbors and to supply ancillary equipment.

Throughout 1990’s the United States essentially suspended military cooperation and arms

sales to Pakistan, because President Bush did not certify to congress that President Bush did not

certify to Congress that Pakistan did not possess nuclear weapons, due to this Pressler sanctions

went into effect. One of most serious result of the aid cut-off for Pakistan was the non delivery

of 28 F-16 aircrafts ordered in 1989, for which Pakistan had already paid $658 million, lost

$564 million.

PAK-US RELATIONS DURING 2000-2008:

Again with the drastic event of September 11, 2001 when the attack on World Trade

Centre and the Pentagon change the whole picture and Pakistan becomes an ally of United

States. Like past again Pakistan is considered as key partner of U.S in War on Terror launched

on massive scale against Afghanistan. The US administration provided million of dollars to

Pakistan to maintain and increase their military capability and to secure the western borders of

the country.

An agreement was signed between Pakistan and United States to the purchase of 36 new

F-16 C/D aircraft and associated equipment. The express rationale of the Bush administration for

this specific sale was:

Given its geo-strategic location and partnership in the Global War on Terrorism

(GWOT), Pakistan is a vital ally of the United States…This proposed sale will contribute to the
foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping an ally meet its legitimate

defense requirements. The aircraft also will be used for close air support in ongoing operations

contributing to the GWOT.

However US remain reluctant to sell state-of-the-art aircraft F-16 fighter Jets which

Pakistan badly needs for its air force.

Conclusion:

The History of Pak-US Relations are full of complicated events, almost in all needs US

did not come to help us. As her previous experience with Pakistan during Russia-Afghan war in

which US found us very good and due to this again invites us to help them for the invasion of

Afghanistan. Due to participation in the Global War on Terror, there is complete instability

inside the country. We are passing through the worst time of our history which is a reward from

our good friend for alliance. Now our own army is fighting in Tribal areas situated along Pak-

Afghan border and now there is no hope for the improvement of situation in these areas. Now we

have to pay back in the form of complete destruction of infrastructure and economic instability.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hilali, A.Z, US-PAKISTAN RELATIONS soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Ash gate Publishing
Company: USA
Sattar, Abdul. Foreign Policy of Pakistan. Oxford University Press

Cheema, P.I, Defense Policy of Pakistan

CRS Report for Congress, US Arms Sales to Pakistan. November 8,2007

Aninamous, The US And Pakistan at the Cross Roads, December 7,1982