Open AccessUnited States–Pakistan Relations in Post-Cold War Era: A Political–Security Perspective
Author(s) -
Khac Kiem Nguyen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of indian and asian studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2717-5766
pISSN - 2717-5413
DOI - 10.1142/s2717541320500011
Subject(s) - superpower , terrorism , political science , politics , cold war , alliance , international relations , political economy , special relationship , sanctions , government (linguistics) , international security , great power , security studies , nuclear warfare , development economics , law , nuclear weapon , sociology , economics , linguistics , philosophy
In this article, the political–security relations between the United States and Pakistan in the Post-Cold War era are analyzed. The allied relationship between the two countries during the Cold War was abruptly disrupted following the conclusion of the Cold War in 1991 and the United States imposed a series of sanctions against Pakistan following the nuclear issue in 1990. However, the September 11 attacks of 2001 and the global anti-terrorism war launched by the G. W. Bush government resumed the relationship. Again, Pakistan became one of the principal allies of the United States and bilateral political–security relations were promoted unprecedentedly thanks to their collaboration against terrorism. The war against terrorism, however, has also produced many contradictions, which brought the relationship between the two countries into disputes and crises. This article discusses the U.S.–Pakistan relations in the Post-Cold War Era with special attention to the political–security aspects. Attempts will be made to clarify the nature, impacts and tendencies of the relationship. The U.S.–Pakistan relationship is a typical example of the international relationship between a superpower and a middle power, and it is also typical of the U.S.’s changing alliance relations.