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Pakistan-United States Relations

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The United States has played an important role in the young history of Pakistan, being one of the first countries to recognize their independence on 20 October, 1947.[1] The relationship between the two countries went through varying levels of friendliness, but Pakistan consistently found themselves on the United States side of issues faced during the Cold War.[2] These positive relations would fall apart following successful cooperation in fighting the Soviet Union's influence in Central Asia and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union. ln reaction to Pakistan's new nuclear capacity, the United States would pass the Pressler Amendment approving sanctions against Pakistan,[3] but relations would restrengthen following 9/11 with Pakistan's warm response following the tragedy. Aid would be given to Pakistan for the first time again in 2002, and the 2000s saw an extension of this friendly relationship.


As the War on Terror continued to linger, the United States and Pakistan would disagree on strategies while also accusing each other of various things. This dynamic would reach a head following a few incidents highlighted by the operation to kill Osama bin Ladin in Abbottabad.[4] While these incidents wore down the trust between the two nations, the two would continue to share a healthy relationship. Although the two countries do not view each other favorably in polls, the two governments share an important relationship featuring multiple types of aid to Pakistan, important military cooperation and collaboration, and a strategic ally in Central Asia for the United States[4]

  1. ^ "Pakistan". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  2. ^ Sunawar, Lubwa; Cuotto, Tatiana (2015). "U.S. Pakistan Relations During the Cold War". The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development. 1 – via arcadia.
  3. ^ Perkovich, George (1993). "A Nuclear Third Way in South Asia". Foreign Policy. 91: 92 – via JSTOR.
  4. ^ a b "An unhappy alliance". Los Angeles Times. 2011-05-07. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-03-01.