The U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Relationship

Pakistan has been an important U.S. partner since the events of September 11, assisting in the hunt for al Qaeda and Taliban leaders its western frontier regions. Despite its contributions, some within the U.S. assert that Pakistan needs to do more, especially in light of continuing American military aid. Given these factors and the upcoming elections in Pakistan, U.S.-Pakistan relations have been the focus of intense scrutiny by the two governments, their peoples, and the media. Further, Pakistan’s nuclear program and its ongoing tensions with its neighbor Afghanistan also pose unique challenges to the bilateral strategic relationship.

On February 6, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the future of the U.S.-Pakistan military relationship with three distinguished speakers: General Jehangir Karamat, a former Pakistani army chief of staff and ambassador to the United States; General Anthony Zinni, a former Marine general who served as commander of United States Central Command and was a U.S. special envoy to the Middle East; and Richard Armitage, who served as U.S. deputy secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. The event was moderated by Brookings Senior Fellow Philip Gordon.