A tale of engagement and estrangement
The United States established diplomatic relations with Pakistan on October 20, 1947. The relationship since then was based primarily on U.S. economic and military assistance to Pakistan. The history of US-Pakistan relations is more than 60 years now and mostly, US had relations with the military dictators who were Presidents at different periods. Ayub Khan in the 50's and 60's, Zia-ul-Haq in the 80's and Musharraf in the 2000's.
The political leaders failed to impress upon the people with their socio-economic manifesto. At no time in the last 60 years did the prospect of democracy look bright in the turbulent Pakistan. There has been a gross power imbalance between Pakistan's generals and politicians. Pakistan turned into a grazing land for the military rulers.
Ever since the division of the sub-continent in 1947, the region had been a key strategic point for greater powers, especially America. Those were days of bitter cold war with intense feeling of distrust between the two super powers. The political and administrative departure of the British in 1947 left the Indo-Pak politics susceptible. Leaders on both sides of the fence were busy fixing their newly built homes. India could afford to concentrate on the foreign affairs at the early stages, but that was not the case for Pakistan.
India warmed up with Soviet Union. Pakistan was left in the lurch. It was natural that Pakistan would become an easy destination for the US. Amid concerns about Soviet expansion the US and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement. US military aid to Pakistan between 1953 and 1961 was 508 million dollars.
The US-Pakistan relations have been extraordinarily volatile. It's been a topsy-turvy marriage and largely a function of twists and turns of the Cold War. An intimate partnership prevailed in the Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan years, and friction occured during the Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter presidencies. Since the Cold War ended, the partnership has shriveled. Interestingly the US has suspended aid to the country numerous times from 1965 through 1999 over issues of regional conflict with India over Kashmir, democracy concerns, nuclear weapons and security issues. In 1958, US and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement. Later in 1965, US cut off aids to both India and Pakistan for their conflict over Kashmir.
US never treated Pakistan as a trusted ally. It's been a rapport imposed by the US. Pakistan had always been a second fiddle, while India enjoyed the privilege of being a prospective economic and political power of the region. In 1975, during the time of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, US resumed its financial aid to Pakistan. Again in 1979, military aid to Pakistan was suspended after Pakistan constructed a uranium enrichment plant. Very next year, things turned sour for the US with the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Soon the US pledged military assistance to Pakistan. A lucrative five-year economic and military package of 3.2 billion dollar comes from the Washington in 1981.
The death of General Zia along with US ambassador in a mysterious plane crash, Benazirs election victory in 1988, her dismissal in 1990 on charges of corruption and incompetence made the political conditions restive. The same year US suspends military aid under the provision of the Pressler amendment. Two years on, US relaxes sanctions against Pakistan to allow food and economic assistance to non-government organizations.
In 1998, Pakistan conducts its nuke tests after India explodes several devices and earns US wrath. Clinton administration sets up five non-proliferation benchmarks for Pakistan and halted nuclear testing. The administration also imposes restrictions on use of its 140 million dollar economic and agricultural aid to Pakistan.
The 1999 take over by General Parvez Musharraf saw another sanction by the US. Pakistan, viewed as a crucial ally during the past fifty years, received nearly 12 billion dollars in aid between 1947 and 2000. However, aid started flowing into Pakistan after 2001 September attacks through 2005.
For instance, Islamabad received 1.5 billion dollars for 2002- 2003 financial year. President Bush in 2003 also announced a five-year 3 billion dollar package for Pakistan.
All these went on amidst tension and suspicion between the two. Numbers of issues that still trouble US relations with Pakistan are human rights, narcotics, missile and nuclear proliferation. Most troubling to some analysts are continuing questions about Pakistan's relationship with terror networks.
Tragedy for Pakistan is its gradual submission to US wills. On one hand, democracy took continuous beating and on the other Pakistan had to compromise a great deal of her freedom and sovereignty to the US. Fighting the Taliban for the US had been a grueling experience.
The tragedy has been compounded by frequent bombings by militants in different cities of Pakistan, civilian deaths by US drone attacks and serious economic hardship. All these make things look portentous for otherwise a prospective country.
The Osama issue is the latest snag. US mission to kill Osama inside Pakistan without informing the Pakistan authority is a huge embarrassment to Islamabad government and certainly a breach to its sovereignty. And discovering Osama's hideout on its territory is an added discomfiture, something Pakistan will have to work hard on to explain. It will also have to do away with the impression of being sponsors of terror on its land. Inter-Services Intelligent, (ISI) is looked upon as possible sponsors of terror groups.
With Osama's death a big US mission has been achieved. Now remains the Taliban in Afghanistan. US-Pak relations will be revised in a newer context. US-India relations will play a vital role in the matter.
Can Pakistan turn around to protect its sovereignty or continue playing the US poodle?
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