Pakistani-American Relations: In Which Direction Are They Heading?

It is not always true that history repeats itself. However, sometimes it is. Pakistan-U.S. relations have weakened considerably recently. This steep decline between the countries is shocking. In this particular case, it is worth looking at history to understand why the United States became Pakistan’s ally in the first place.

In 1947, the British divided Hindustan into Pakistan and India. They helped create a great deal of animosity and distrust between the citizens of these countries. This animosity has led Pakistan to suspect India as a contributor to many of its problems, leading it to seek other allies — allies that can help Pakistan protect itself.

Pakistan had four neighbors on its independence: India, China, Afghanistan and Iran. However, the People’s Republic of China was not there in 1947; Chairman Mao Zedong founded it in 1949. The mission of the new Chinese government, unlike Pakistan’s, was not to get busy establishing good relations with other countries. Their first and foremost goal was to work at making the People’s Republic of China a strong state.

A large part of Afghanistan’s population was composed of the Pashtun people. Their tribal areas were cut through by the British-made Durand line. At the time, the Pashtuns wanted to change this border line, and so Afghanistan could not seek Pakistan as its ally. Iran was the only Shiite majority country in the world and it, too, did not extend a hand of support to Pakistan. Thus, Pakistan found itself alone at the time.

From the beginning, Pakistan looked at India with a great deal of suspicion; it did not know India’s true intentions. Additionally, Pakistan’s very existence was founded on the notion that Hindustani Muslims (especially the poor ones) would find more stability and security in a new state. Pakistan was a poor country at the time and found it difficult to raise its GDP. At the time, there were no international organizations that could help and guide a poor country such as Pakistan, with very limited financial resources (the International Development Association was founded later). Pakistan’s only option was to turn to other rich countries for help. And so it turned to America.

America was dealing with many of its own problems at the time. After World War II, it became engaged in the Cold War with the Soviet Union. After Germany’s defeat in the war, the influence and power of the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin increased. America and Great Britain were sitting in frustration while the Soviet Union was expanding its influence in Europe. Britain had lost a great deal of its power by 1947.

At the same time, in Asia, China was becoming a powerful Communist country. Their army had become very strong and was posing a grave threat to France’s occupation of Indochina. America could think of only one solution at the time: cleverly plan to eradicate communism. U.S. President Eisenhower’s Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, fought hard against communism. Pakistan got trapped in this U.S. plan. As a result of the U.S., it became one the key players in the fight against communism.

Pakistan’s first leaders were not particularly concerned with communism. They had to deal with governing and strengthening a new state, a state which had a high rate of poverty. Pakistan needed America’s help, and after World War II, America needed Pakistan’s help. Hence, both countries turned to each other for help.

After all these years (and a great deal of change in the world), Pakistan finds itself with the same problems and dilemmas. It looks at many of its neighbors with suspicion and seeks countries which can help it become a prosperous state. At first, America was an ally, an ally which had potential to do a great deal of good for Pakistan. Unfortunately, this is no longer true. The question we must ask is, what options do we have left? In which direction should Pakistan-U.S. relations be heading?