The Evolution of Pakistan-U.S. Relations in the Cold War Era
Pakistan's denial of North Koreans as aggressors and its receptiveness to American policies convinced Americans to consider forming an agreement in Pakistan. As a result, both countries signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement on the 19th of May, 1954.
World War II led to major global shifts. One key result was the rise of a bipolar world dominated by the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. Each side followed its own ideology and soon found itself locked in a cold conflict. The US aimed to protect and expand capitalism, while the USSR sought global revolution. Both sides sought allies, offering military and economic aid whenever needed. The initial battleground for this Cold War was Western Europe, but soon, newfound interest arose in Asia as major powers watched its changing landscape.
Following World War II, Britain, weakened by the conflict, could not maintain control over its colonies, leading to the independence and partition of the Indian subcontinent. This resulted in the creation of India and Pakistan, with Pakistan emerging as fragile and unstable. Hostility from India, which rejected partition, deepened this vulnerability. Pakistan was denied a fair share of military assets and resources, intensifying its insecurity. India’s actions in Kashmir further heightened tensions and led to conflict, leaving Pakistan facing a direct threat to its existence. Driven by fear of Indian aggression, Pakistan urgently needed strong allies for military and economic support. Unable to match India’s capabilities alone and suffering from financial and food crises, Pakistan recognized that alignment with a powerful partner was essential to its survival and to counterbalance India.
Under the Truman policy, US strategy focused on containing Soviet expansion. The US shifted its attention to Asia after China joined the communist bloc, seeking regional partners to oppose communism. While the US initially favored India, India’s commitment to non-alignment and refusal to oppose Chinese aggression led the US to view Pakistan as a valuable ally. Pakistan’s willingness to align with US policies and robustly deny North Korean aggression signaled its suitability as a strategic partner. This convergence of interests led to the signing of the bilateral defence cooperation agreement on 19 May 1954, bringing Pakistan closer to the US as a bulwark against communism.
By signing these defence pacts, Pakistan received both military and economic aid. In return, Pakistan allowed its territory to be used for reconnaissance missions against the Soviet Union. Pakistan gained much from these agreements, with the US providing funds and equipment to help Pakistan defend against Sino-Soviet ambitions in South Asia and the Middle East. The US provided over $900 million in military equipment as part of this mutual defence agreement. The Pakistani army received jet fighters, tanks, and new communication and radar systems. The military also gained extra armored and infantry divisions. The air force got modern jets like the F-104, B-57, F-86, and C-130. The navy received 12 ships. Ports in Karachi and Chittagong were upgraded. The army became a well-equipped force, similar to US standards, after thousands of Pakistani officers trained under US officers. With these agreements, Pakistan made up for losses from partition and became confident enough to resist Indian aggression, despite the balance of power still favoring India.
Tensions between Pakistan and the United States were inevitable given their differing priorities. The US focused on containing communism, directing aid to support this objective. For Pakistan, the primary aim was to strengthen defense against India, which was seen as a more immediate and existential threat. Pakistani leadership hoped US support would also pressure India on the Kashmir issue. Ultimately, Pakistan viewed Indian aggression as the driving factor for alignment with the US, while the US was reluctant to jeopardize its relationship with India. This divergence limited the effectiveness of the alliance and affected US willingness to support Pakistan fully, especially against India.
A shift in US-Pakistan relations became evident during the China-Indian border disputes. While hoping to entice India into containing Sino-Soviet communist influence, the US offered a hefty amount of economic aid to India. This decision frustrated Pakistan, which feared that India might utilize this weaponry against her and argued India had a higher tendency toward communists. Pakistan questioned the rationale for such aid. As a result of this discontent and the perception that the US had a greater inclination towards non-aligned India than its ally, Pakistan began exploring other options, building friendly relations with China as well as the Soviet Union. The United States greatly resented this change but could not determine the real motive behind it. Discontent grew as US support for Pakistan declined and eventually halted during the 1965 war. In that conflict, the United States placed an embargo on aid supplies to both Pakistan and India and adopted a neutral stance. This decision severely affected Pakistan, as India received military assistance from the Soviet Union as usual, while Pakistan saw its ally, the United States, end its aid.
In relations between unequal partners, the weaker side often bears greater costs. Despite substantial US aid, Pakistan suffered due to the alliance’s instability and lack of US commitment to Pakistan’s security. When the US favored India or withdrew support, Pakistan felt betrayed, especially during the 1965 war when US aid was withdrawn at a critical moment. This sense of abandonment highlighted the main argument: Pakistan’s dependence on outside alliances for security came at the cost of being left vulnerable when support was most needed.