International Journal of Political Science (IJPS)

Volume 5, Issue 1, 2019, PP 1-3

ISSN 2454-9452
http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-9452.0501001
www.arcjournals.org

A Critical Analysis of Pak-US Relations

Zainul Abiden Malik1*, Hu Bo2
1
Ph.D. Scholar, School of History and Civilization, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
2
Professor, School of History and Civilization, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

*Corresponding Author: Zainul Abiden Malik, Ph.D. Scholar, School of History and Civilization,
Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

Abstract: Pakistan is an important regional player for the United States (USA), as it has helped the US in the
war against the Soviet and in the fight against terrorism. No one can disagree the fact that Pakistan depends
heavily on US aid. Relations between the two countries are important for a long time.
Keywords: Region, War, Interest

1. INTRODUCTION
The historical event of September 11, 2001 transformed the future of the world. Shortly, after the
shocking incident the Bush administration reveals its war plans for Afghanistan and presented
Pakistan with a clear demand to take the side of America or go against it. 1The military operation
named Operation Enduring Freedom commenced on October 7, 2001. Pakistan reluctantly supported
America in the Global War on Terror on three conditions. Firstly, the Northern Alliance, the only
militia that had successfully countered the Taliban would not take control of Kabul. Secondly, the
United States will help Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue. Thirdly, the nuclear assets of Pakistan
will remain intact. The US officials at that time assured Pakistan that it will fulfill these demands. But
within a few years of Pakistan’s decision, the US failed to honor all the three promises. In return of
the support Islamabad was rewarded handsomely in the form of aid, diplomatic isolation of the
country was ended and debts were reduced, but Pakistan’s strategic interests were greatly degraded by
the global war on terror. On one side Pakistan received handsome amount of Aid from United States
and on the other the large number of influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan destabilized the
economy of Pakistan.
The incidents of 2011 also proved fatal for the countries. The news of controversial killing of Osama
Bin Laden by US Naval forces inside the territory of Pakistan came as a shock for whole of the world.
Pakistan’s credibility suffered a serious blow for not knowing that the most sought after terrorist was
present inside its territory and its military and intelligence services come under severe criticism for
unable to detect and intercept a foreign military operation inside its territory. The relations further got
deteriorated when NATO forces air assault 24 Pakistani soldiers in November 2011. 2 Resultantly,
Pakistan closed its border crossings for the NATO supplies in Afghanistan. These developments lead
to fuel bilateral distrust and acrimony on major policies concern are very difficult to resolve because
they are related to Pakistan’s security issues.
2. US INTERESTS IN THE REGION
After the Twin Tower incident, the key objective of US was to root out the militant network in
Afghanistan. In the US eyes militant and political Islam was a danger to the western system.2The main
importance of US at that time was to defeat terrorism and violent form of political Islam. But the US
is now suffering from exhaustion after fighting the longest war in its history. The US is now uncertain
in organizing ground troops in Syria. Furthermore, it has also obvious to withdraw its troops from Iraq
and Afghanistan due to worsening situation in these states.3Without attaining anything existing it has
obvious to end the war in Iraq. One cannot disagree the geographical and geo-strategic construct of
Asia Pacific Region. It consists of 20 economies of the world with a total GDP of $67 trillion. Six of
world’s top economies are contemporary in this region. China the world’s second largest economy is
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A Critical Analysis of Pak-US Relations

participating heavily in the region through its CPEC and OBOR projects. The US wants to control the
Asia Pacific Region mostly because of two reasons. Firstly it requirements to control the region
through its power in order to counter the rising trend of China in the region. 4Secondly, Asia Pacific is
rich in natural resources plus US manufacturing industry can decoration significantly in the
region.5Because of this reason the US is fraught to make new associations and want to dominate the
sea lanes and trade corridors of the region. In US eyes Asia is of high economic and geo-strategic
value, but it sees China as a country which poses risk to its interests. So the top most priority of US
policy makers is the suppression of China.6As India is seen as rival of China, so the US wants to
improve the military, diplomatic and economic stature of India. Moreover, US is instable its focus
from Middle East to Asia Pacific through its Pivot to Asia policy in which it is assigning its
diplomatic and military resources in Asia Pacific.7 Great powers always see new rising powers as a
danger to their influence. So for US, rising China and a resurgent Russia pose biggest danger.
For US Pakistan’s nuclear program is also a reason of great concern. By placing sanctions on
Pakistan, the US tried to prevent Pakistan from obtaining nuclear weapon capability, but failed. 17
According to some think tanks in order to uphold its effect and presence in the region US wants a
divided and unstable South Asia because the US defense and military hardware industry will
decoration. While some think tanks are of the opinion that US wants steadiness and peace in the
region as it will provide economic chances for US businesses and industry for investment.
The US also wants to uphold its domination in the world by supervisory the natural resources in
Middle East and Central Asia. The invasion of Iraq and military placements and bases in the Middle
East were a clear proof of this thing. After dreadful defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military bases
still exist in the region.8
3. STRATEGIC INTERESTS OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan is continually fronting a Geo-strategic dilemma because of its important location.9Its
contribution in the Afghan War and the war on terror has caused in numerous predicaments. Pakistan
formed an association with US to attain convinced objectives. Firstly, it wanted to avoid a two front
war senior. In its size and economy Pakistan is a small country when associated with India. Because
of its aggressive neighborhood, Pakistan needed to sustain friendly relations with the best so that it
could help it in times of war.10 Pakistan want to have peaceable relations with India, but
inappropriately without the resolution of Kashmir dispute this is not possible. Pakistan should also try
to pursue and preserve friendly relations with Afghanistan and Iran governments. Pakistan enjoys
strong strategic ties with China. China is an all-weather friend of Pakistan both countries have mutual
interest in the region. Pakistan depends heavily on Chinese military and economic assistance. China
and Pakistan became earlier and supported their defense and economic relations after the end of cold
war.11China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is an example of the close relation between
the two countries. The aggressive attitude of India, forced Pakistan to pursue nuclear weapons.
Kashmir clash between the two countries let to three main wars. Especially, relations between the two
countries worsened radically after the division of East Pakistan in 1971.12The nuclear tests of India in
1974 forced Pakistan to seek nuclear weapons. India is continuously modernizing its armed forces
which are a big risk to Pakistan’s existence .The aggressive attitude of India is the key reason which
forced Pakistan to develop close relations with the US and get advantage from the US military
technology from time to time. The relationship between US and Pakistan is of transactional nature
which retains on varying according to the requirements of US. The 1971 war forced Pakistan to think
that nuclear weapons could only assurance its territorial honor in contradiction of a powerful
neighbor. Pakistan attained self-sufficiency in the defense industry when US placed sanctions on it.
This also occurred that the Pakistani leaders by overlooking the national interest wanted to secure
personal relationships with the leaders of US. This resulted in propagating the seeds of anti-
Americanism in the masses. All this have caused in miss interest between the Governments of both
the countries.13Pakistan with the help of CIA trained and armed some people during the Soviet-
Afghan war but when Pakistan was forced to join the War on Terror after the 9/11 incident, the
internal security situation of the country came under serious risk. Terrorism in the country enlarged
extremely and defeating the militants and non-state actors become the primary priority of Pakistani
Government. Pakistan Foreign policy always remains India centric.14For Pakistan Indian military is an
existential danger. Pakistan always required resisting Indian supremacy and Global supremacy. The
key impartial of a state is to attain highest level of economic prosperity and development. The
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A Critical Analysis of Pak-US Relations

economic goal of the Government is to project Pakistan’s economy as basis of enterprise and
innovation .The condition of Pakistan’s economy is progressively refining but due to poor governess
the External debt is rising.
4. CONCLUSION
This important location of Pakistan will help it in prompting the security, trade and commerce,
ideology and social state of its neighboring regions in the coming years. The US-Pakistan relations
need a dialogue. Both the countries should redefine their relations and should work together to
achieve a larger goal i.e. to root out the threat of terrorism from the region. No one can disagree the
fact that Pakistan has always desired peace, stability and prosperity in the region. This was the aim
that it always remained practical about peace talks with its neighboring states. Pakistan always wants
peace and stability in Afghanistan because stability in Afghanistan is extremely connected to the
peace and stability in Pakistan.
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Citation: Zainul Abiden Malik, Hu Bo. “A Critical Analysis of Pak-US Relations". International Journal of
Political Science (IJPS), vol5, no.1, 2019, pp.1-3. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-9452.0501001.
Copyright: © 2019 Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.

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