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Summary:
Key U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan
include regional terrorism; weapons proliferation;
the ongoing Kashmir problem and
Pakistan-India tensions; human rights protection;
and economic development. A U.S.-
Pakistan relationship marked by periods of
both cooperation and discord was transformed
by the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the
United States and the ensuing enlistment of
Pakistan as a pivotal ally in U.S.-led
counterterrorism efforts. Top U.S. officials
regularly praise Islamabad for its ongoing
cooperation, although doubts exist about
Islamabad's commitment to some core U.S.
interests in the region. Pakistan is identified
as a base for terrorist groups and their supporters
operating in Kashmir, India, and
Afghanistan. Pakistan continues to face
serious problems, including domestic terrorism
and human rights violations.
A potential Pakistan-India nuclear arms
race has been the focus of U.S. nonproliferation
efforts in South Asia. Attention to this
issue intensified following nuclear tests by
both countries in May 1998; the tests triggered
restrictions on U.S. aid to both countries
(remaining nuclear-related sanctions on Pakistan
were waived in October 2001). Pakistan
and India have fought three wars since 1947.
Recently, the United States has been troubled
by evidence of "onward" proliferation of
Pakistani nuclear technology to third parties,
including North Korea, Iran, and Libya. Such
evidence became stark in February 2004.
Separatist violence in Kashmir has continued
unabated since 1989. India blames
Pakistan for the infiltration of Islamic militants
into Indian Kashmir, a charge Islamabad
denies. The United States reportedly has
received pledges from Islamabad that all
"cross-border terrorism" would cease and that
any terrorist facilities in Pakistani-controlled
areas would be closed. Similar pledges have
been made to India. The United States strongly
encourages maintenance of a cease-fire
along the Kashmiri Line of Control and continued
substantive dialogue between
Islamabad and New Delhi.
A stable, democratic, economically
thriving Pakistan is vital to U.S. interests in
Asia. The country's macroeconomic indicators
have turned positive since 2001, but
widespread poverty persists. Democracy has
fared poorly in Pakistan; the country has
endured military rule for half of its existence.
In 1999, the elected government was ousted in
an extra-constitutional coup led by Army
Chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who later assumed
the title of President. National elections
in 2002 resulted in no majority party
emerging, though significant gains for Islamist
parties were notable. A new National Assembly
and Prime Minister are seated (Musharraf
ally and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz took
office in August 2004), but the civilian government
remains weak and was stalled on
issues related to the legality of constitutional
changes made by Musharraf (and ratified in
December 2003) and to his continued status as
Army Chief. The United States strongly urges
the Musharraf government to restore civilian
democratic rule in Islamabad. Congress has
granted the President authority to waive couprelated
sanctions through FY2005.
Pakistan received nearly $2 billion in
U.S. assistance for FY2002-FY2004. President
Bush has pledged to work with Congress
on establishing a five-year, $3 billion aid
package for Pakistan to begin in FY2005. See
also CRS Report RL32259, Terrorism in
South Asia and CRS Report RL32615, Pakistan's
Domestic Political Developments.
