1.17. The Pakistan Factor

♤ Traditionally, any strategic interest that the U.S. perceived in South Asia lay primarily with India’s arch-rival, Pakistan. Pakistan, at least notionally, supported American grand strategic goals, including participating in anti-communist military alliances such as the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

♤ Pakistan has allowed Washington to use its territory as a base for overflights to eavesdrop on the Soviet Union, in addition to serving as a vital conduit for American arms shipments to anti- Soviet forces in Afghanistan during the 1980s.

♤ In return, the Pakistan received substantial American economic and military assistance. U.S. ties with Pakistan exacerbated Indo-U.S. estrangement.

♤ America’s support for Pakistan was apparent during the 1971 Bangladesh war, when President Nixon “tilted” toward the Pakistan and dispatched the aircraft carrier USS- Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal.

♤ India viewed this move as an attempt to deter it from taking further action against Pakistan. The close relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan thus had an exceedingly negative impact on Indo-U.S. relations.

♤ US provided multi-billion dollar military aid to Pakistan and Islamabad is a Major Non-NATO Ally.