Pakistan’s Strategic Partnerships: A Comparative Analysis of Ties with the US and China

Abstract

This study is based on the analyses of Pakistan’s foreign policy towards the United States and China, deciphering the key factors that have shaped these relationships over time. It explore the idea that alliances in international relations are based on shifting strategic interests rather than being solely based on permanent friendships or rivalries. Pakistan's significance to the United States was because of its geographical proximity to former Soviet Union and China and its strategic role in U.S. military and political objectives concerning Afghanistan. Historically, the US remained an important strategic partner of Pakistan, in terms of economic and military support. However, in recent decades, a notable shift has been seen in Pakistan's foreign policy, with a growing emphasis on its close relations with China. This shift is largely driven by the deepening of strategic and economic ties between the two countries in the 21st century, particularly through the CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) and bilateral trade and defence agreements.