Abstract
The study is aimed to view the priorities and preferences of Pak-US relations during
the post-cold war period through their policy choices towards each other. From the
initial alliances of the fifties to the strain relations of the nineties, Pak-US relations
involved many dilemmas and differences. Pakistan was the second choice of the US
when the later designed its containment policy against Soviet communism in South
Asia. Indian refusal turned the US towards Pakistan, having already inclination
towards the US and its evidence was the visit of the first prime minister, who
preferred American visit over Soviet invitation. The Soviet intervention in
Afghanistan led Pakistan to become frontline state and the latter received huge
American military and economic assistance. The withdrawal of the troops and fall
of the Soviet Union ended the cold war, changing the US priorities. It also ended
wishful thinking about Pakistan’s geo-strategic location that was no more an asset,
but put reverse influence and the crisis episodes became dusky. Deeply seated
mistrust regarding the nuclear programme dropped Pakistan from partnership to
punishment. The study has adopted the qualitative method to elucidate patterns of
behavior of both states and the way they defined the foreign policy to deal with the
situation, choosing a specific role and making decisions accordingly. It is assumed
that Pak-US relations remained victim to the situation in the post-cold war era as
Pakistan’s hopes were dashed for disputes with India and the US was resentful on
proliferation and later terrorism. The findings proved that interests remained
dominant and the betrayal was felt by the two sides, moving to those options and
decisions, which generated bitterness and mistrust, creating tension in post-cold
war period.
Mussarat Jabeen. (2022) Changing Priorities and Perceptions: Pakistan-US Relations in Post-Cold War Period, Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society, volume 35, issue 1.
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