From ally to target

The descent of Pakistan from the status of Major non-NATO Ally (MNNA) of USA in 2004 to a target for crossborder raids and ground as well as air launched attacks is a major come down for it. Pakistan has had the dubious honour of having been associated with the USA in various defence treaties like the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) of 1955 and Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO), also known as the Baghdad Pact, adopted in 1955; yet they have been to Pakistan's detriment.

During the cold-war era, Pakistan had permitted USA the use of its bases to operate high altitude U-2 reconnaissance flights over the Soviet Union. On May 1, 1960 a U-2 flown by Gary Powers, while over-flying the highly sensitive Soviet Chelyabinsk-65 Plutonium production facility was shot down, causing an international scandal bringing the wrath of the Soviet Union on Pakistan for permitting the use of its soil for operating such clandestine missions.

Despite such close cooperation, when Pakistan solicited US support during its wars with India in 1965 and 1971, it was spurned and instead sanctions were imposed on both India and Pakistan by USA. India remained unaffected by the sanctions since its major arms supplier was the USSR. Pakistan also bent backwards to organise the secret visit of Henry Kissinger to Beijing, which led to the establishment of US-China relations.