Exploration of the Pros and Cons of Pakistan's Engagement in US-Sponsored Military Alliances

Abstract

The objectives of this paper is to analyze the determinants of Pakistan’s foreign policy strategy during the Cold War. The role of the U.S. in Pakistan’s foreign policy throughout the Cold War, the ‘war against the USSR’ in Afghanistan – regarded as the first test case for Pakistan during the Cold war as a frontline ally of the U.S - and, currently, the fight against terrorism should not be understated. From Pakistanis’ leader’s standpoint, what were the country’s geopolitical options and bargaining tools during that period? The study will follow the critical qualitative approach toward the SEATO & CENTO, its background, US approach toward Pakistan During cold war period. This article does not reject structural realists’ analyses of South Asian geopolitics; rather, we take it as a point of departure to explore the mechanisms and processes that have shaped Pakistan’s international behavior by following a historical approach based on both Western and Pakistani sources.