Pakistan's relations with the USA, the UK, the USSR, Afghanistan and China

Last time

Before we start: last time, in Bangladesh, nuclear power, the Muslim world and the United Nations, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.

Friends and neighbours

From its first days, Pakistan needed friends: for security against India, for money, and for weapons. Its relations with the great powers and its neighbours rose and fell. This lesson covers the USA, the UK and the Commonwealth, the USSR, Afghanistan and China.

The USA: alliances

In the 1950s Pakistan joined two American-backed alliances against communism: SEATO in 1954 and the Baghdad Pact, later CENTO, in 1955. In return it received large amounts of US economic and military aid. In 1960 an American U-2 spy plane that had flown from a base near Peshawar was shot down over the USSR, embarrassing Pakistan.

The USA: ups and downs

In the 1965 war, the USA stopped arms supplies to both sides, which hurt Pakistan more, as it relied on American weapons. In the 1980s, the Afghan war made Pakistan vital to the USA again, bringing large aid. After the Soviet withdrawal, the Pressler Amendment of 1990 cut aid because of Pakistan's nuclear programme.

The UK and the Commonwealth

Pakistan kept close ties with Britain after 1947, and many Pakistanis settled in the UK. In 1972 Pakistan left the Commonwealth when Britain and others recognised Bangladesh. It rejoined in 1989. Relations have generally been good, though Britain has criticised military rule.

The USSR

Pakistan's alliances with the USA angered the USSR, especially after the U-2 incident. The USSR helped end the 1965 war by hosting talks at Tashkent in 1966. Relations were worst after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, when Pakistan supported the Afghan resistance.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan was the only country to vote against Pakistan joining the United Nations in 1947. It disputed the Durand Line border, and supported the idea of Pashtunistan. After 1979, Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees. Relations have been mixed ever since.

China

Pakistan recognised Communist China early, in 1950. A border agreement was signed in 1963. China supported Pakistan in the 1965 war, and Pakistan helped arrange the first secret contacts between China and the USA in 1971. The Karakoram Highway links the two countries, and China has given aid, weapons and investment.

Why relations with China succeeded

Both shared a rival in India, after the China–India war of 1962. China gave aid without the conditions the USA sometimes set. Pakistan offered China a friend at a time when it had few, and a link to the Muslim world and the USA.

Foreign policy 1977 to 1988

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan made Pakistan a frontline state, and relations with the USA became very close again. Pakistan received large US aid and weapons, and strengthened ties with Muslim countries. But it bore the cost of millions of refugees, and weapons and drugs spread. The Geneva Accords of 1988 began the Soviet withdrawal.

Mistakes that lose marks

Mistake one: saying relations with the USA were always good. Mistake two: forgetting Afghanistan's vote against Pakistan at the UN in 1947. Mistake three: for how-far questions, giving only one period. The fix: good and bad periods, each with an example and a date.

The full-marks tip

The full-marks tip: for each country, give at least one good period and one bad period, with dates. Explain why relations changed: the Cold War, India, Afghanistan, and the nuclear programme.

On one card

So, on one card: foreign policy with the powers. Keep it for revision.