Pak-US alliance in cold war and its impact on region

Abstract

This study examines the security partnership between Pakistan and the United States during the Cold War, focusing on shifting alliances and strategic interests. The research uses a qualitative historical methodology, analyzing secondary sources including books, research articles, policy documents, and archival records to understand the evolution of bilateral relations. The findings reveal that Pakistan aligned with the US in the 1950s to fulfill its security and economic needs, becoming a frontline state in the containment of communism. However, US support for India in the 1962 Sino-Indian War and its limited assistance during the 1965 and 1971 wars created uncertainty in Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan strengthened its strategic partnership with China. The study further finds that US-Pakistan cooperation revived after the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, where Pakistan played a central role in supporting the Afghan resistance. This complex and uncertain relationship remained a serious concern for Pakistan’s policymakers, who believed that the United States primarily pursued its own regional objectives while neglecting the interests and security concerns of its allies.