Pakistan–United States relations: Difference between revisions

At the same time, Bhutto attempted to maintain a balanced relationship with the United States, but these efforts were largely met with resistance. While he opposed ultra-leftist ideologies, Bhutto was a strong advocate for left-wing politics, which had been opposed by the U.S. since the early days of his government in Pakistan.

Despite Richard Nixon's strong friendship and positive relations with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the dynamics shifted dramatically during Jimmy Carter's presidency. Carter, known for his anti-socialist stance, imposed stricter sanctions on Pakistan and exerted pressure on the government through the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Brigadier-General Henry Byroade. The socialist orientation of Bhutto’s administration and his left-wing policies alarmed the United States, raising concerns about the potential loss of Pakistan as an ally in the Cold War. The American perception was that Bhutto's government displayed a degree of sympathy towards leftist ideologies and maintained a favorable approach towards the Soviet Union. This relationship was particularly troubling for the U.S., as it seemed to facilitate the Soviet Union's access to Pakistan's warm water ports—an asset that both superpowers coveted but lacked.

In response to Carter, Bhutto initiated a more assertive diplomatic campaign directed at the United States and the Western world regarding nuclear issues. His firm position on nuclear matters placed the United States, particularly Carter, in a challenging position at the United Nations, where it became difficult for them to counter Bhutto's criticisms. Bhutto criticised India's nuclear program, accusing it of contributing to nuclear proliferation, effectively sidelining both India and the Soviet Union in the discourse. Through letters to global and Western leaders, Bhutto articulated his intentions clearly, making it evident to the United States and the international community what his stance was on nuclear policy:

{{blockquote|text=Pakistan was exposed to a kind of "nuclear threat and blackmail" unparalleled elsewhere..... (...)... If the world's community failed to provide political insurance to Pakistan and other countries against the nuclear blackmail, these countries would be a constraint to launch atomic bomb programs of their own!... [A]ssurances provided by the United Nations were not "Enough!"...  |sign=Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, <small>statement written in "''Eating Grass''"</small>|source=source<ref name="Stanford University Press">{{cite book|last=Khan|first=Feroz Hassan|title=Eating grass : the making of the Pakistani bomb|publisher=Stanford University Press|location=Stanford, California|isbn=978-0-8047-7601-1|pages=119–120|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yGgrNAsKZjEC&q=Eating+grass+mastering&pg=PA100|access-date=9 January 2013|chapter-format=google book|chapter=The Route to Nuclear Ambition|date=November 22, 2012}}</ref>}}