PAK & US Relations

The US-Pakistan relationship has gone through many changes. The relationship had a high point when
President Dwight Eisenhower described Pakistan as the ‘‘most allied ally of the United States.” The
relationship has also had low points, such as when in January 2018 President Donald Trump said, “The
United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years, and they
have given us nothing but lies and deceit.

Three Phases:

1. Cold war period

 Largely Pak sided with USA like CEATO, SENTO
 US remain silent on pak nuclear program and provision of military equipment
during afghan wars
 However few lows like US neutrality in 1965, 1971 wars
2. Post cold war – 90s era
 Pak recognizing afghan govt antagonizes US
 Pressler amendment --authorised banning of most of US military and
economic assistance to Pakistan
3. Relationship after 9/11
 Pak and US come closer
 Pak become frontline state
 Major non NATO ally
 However, in second phase of war on terror when US felt to loosing war the
blame game started and US-PAK relations again deteriorate

So looking upon their mercurial relations we can say that the relations between Pak-US aren’t natural
rather strategic in nature. When strategic interests changes it effect relations consequesntly.

4. Post war on terror and current relationships

 Convergence/ Areas of shared interests
 Economic partnership
 While the United States remains the largest importer of Pakistan’s
products (US$4.14 billion in 2020)9 and the second largest source of
foreign direct investment (FDI) (US$249.6 million in 2021–22).. Acc to
data released by Invest Pakistan
 Multilateral donors like IMF, WB, FATF interaction dependent on USA
 Pak has 202million people and huge economy so USA has a huge market
 IT :
 Pakistan’s IT sector exports approximately $1.1 billion annually to the
United States data released by state bank of Pakistan jkor
 The United States can fund programs that build capacity for freelancing
and creating a favorable start-up ecosystem
  Counter-terrorism
 Bannu CTD operation USA offers its collaboration
 USA approved $450 aid for F-16 upgradation
 TTP is a threat to USA as well
 Pak can help USA in launching operations against ISIK and Al Qaeda so
that they can’t carry out activities against USA interests
 Climate change is another point of convergence
 Biden administration is keen in helping countries hit by global warming and
climate change
 l. Recent floods alone are estimated to have caused losses worth more than
an estimated US$30 billion, with more than 1,400 dead and 33 million
people affected. Acc to USIP (United States institute of peace)
 Human centered approach --- A politically stable, democratic Pakistan that
upholds the rights of all its citizens has long been an American goal, one that
most Pakistanis share. The US should continue its support for Pakistan’s civil
society, media, press, academia, and policy world.
 Divergence/ challenges
 Indian factors – Pak comsiders US-Indo partnership is biggest point of
concern i.e BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation agreement), LEMOA,
COMSASA, Quad
 Pak & China relations antagonizes USA as US considers china as its main
competitor
 Situation in Afghanistan and blame that Pak is supporting terrorists in
Aghanistan .. US policy isto isolate Taliban, But pak beliece that Taliban are
the best available entity to move forward
 Pak nuclear safety is also remain an area of concern in USA
 US President Joe Biden has called Pakistan "one of the most
dangerous nations in the world" because of its nuclear weapons.
 The issue mistrust between both government importantly their people as
well (Acc to Pew research only 10% of Americans felt that Pakistan could b
trusted. Similarly only 11% Pakistani’s have favorable opinion about US.)
 Democracy & Human rights -- The US Commission of International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) has for years sought to place Pakistan on the list of
countries of particular concern.
5. Is it is in national interests of US to completely isolate Pakistan?
 With the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, the value of intelligence sharing to
combat terrorism has grown, so the two sides need to find a way to overcome
suspicions and other obstacles that have impeded cooperation. T
 Previous abandoning of Pak proved disastrous for US as 9/11 attacks
 It is in US and allied interests to help Pakistan reduce its economic dependence on
China.
 Gender equality , religious tolerance and climate sustainaibility is core concerns for US
foreign policy . US can help Pak in this regard
World Times Lecture:

Pak US Relations

Question can be asked on the following factors affecting the Pak-US Relation

1. India Factor
2. Afghanistan Factor
3. China Factor

India Factor: How India US collaboration effects the Pak US relations?

Hyphenation - Coupling of Policy

 Cold war - states have interests no friendships Maozetung

Dehyphenation - Decoupling

 90’s - Post cold war era

 Post 9/11 era