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After Shultz, reflecting the spin that dom-

its position as a member of the U.S.-led anti-

inated Washington at that time, expressed

communist bloc in the strategic region of

his hope that Washington and Islamabad

South Asia and also as part of a "northern

would build a bilateral relationship that

tier" of states helping to secure Western inter-

"grows over time and is strong enough to

ests in the oil-rich Persian Gulf region.

survive disagreements and problems which

With India taking the road toward social-

inevitably occur," Zia replied that the two

ism in domestic policy and neutralism in for-

countries were a "union of unequals" and

eign policy during the Cold War, Pakistan

"incompatible" in terms of culture, geogra-

could play for the United States a role similar

phy, and national power, even though they

to the one that India once played in defend-

had strong common interests.24

ing imperial Britain's interests against czarist

The cautionary remarks Zia made proba-

Russia. The fact that the members of

bly still apply to the current Islamabad-

Pakistan's political and military elite were

Washington relationship. On one level Zia

Westernized and British educated helped to

was raising the first dilemma in the relation-

strengthen its ties with American political

ship, the fact that the United States is a glob-

leaders and military officials as well as opin-

al superpower and Pakistan is what political

ion makers. But the continuing political

scientists refer to as a "client state." The

instability and economic problems that led

inequality of the relationship is highlighted

to the weakening of its fragile democratic sys-

by the disparities in economic power, mili-

tem, which was accelerated by (American-

tary capabilities, and diplomatic influence.

induced) military spending, tarnished

That reality is often glossed over when

Pakistan's image in Washington and the

Washington and such client states as Israel,

American media as a member of the

Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan celebrate their

Westernized pro-American club and con-

"alliances" or "partnerships." Such talk cre-

tributed to the volatility of the relationship

between the two countries.25

ates the misperception that those relation-

ships are products of "interdependence"

Conflicting U.S. and Pakistani Interests

(meaning that each side is dependent on the

other for its survival). In reality, while

On another level, Zia's comments also

American interests might be adversely affect-

highlight the fact that, when it came to their

ed by the destruction of one or all of those

respective core national interests, the United

three states (and other client states), the

States and Pakistan were to discover that,

United States would nevertheless continue to

Cold War rhetoric aside, they not only lacked

The United

survive as a leading world power. On the

common historical and cultural ties, they

other hand, a decision by Washington to

were not operating on the same strategic

States and

withdraw support from such client states

wavelength. For Pakistan, containing com-

Pakistan were to

would devastate their core national interests

munism was a secondary national interest.

and might threaten their long-term survival.

Its core national security interest centered

discover that they

A client state such as Pakistan, dependent

on containing the perceived threat of India

not only lacked

as it is for diplomatic, economic, and military

and India's predominance of military

common histori-

support on a global superpower, can help

strength and political influence, especially as

secure the support of its benefactor and

it affected their dispute over the control of

cal and cultural

increase its leverage over that benefactor by

divided Kashmir.

ties, they were

accentuating common strategic interests. The

Washington never regarded India as a

client state also tries to secure the backing of

strategic threat to its interests and, if anything,

not operating on

American interest groups and friends in the

was interested in getting India, the world's

the same strate-

bureaucracy and Congress. Pakistan, which

largest democracy, into the anti-communist

gic wavelength.

gained independence in the same year, 1947,

camp. The United States has also always

that the Cold War started, was able to advance

backed a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir

7