Aid Provided by the United States of America to Pakistan - Case Study Example

Running Head: US Aid to Pakistan: Development or Decline US Aid to Pakistan: Development or Decline [Institute’s US Aid to Pakistan: Development or Decline Introduction Even in the twenty first century where the globe has encountered numerous advancements in various fields; financial, economic, military and political assistance are few of the significant aspects for the nations of the world particularly the underdeveloped and developing nations that come under requirement from the powerful countries that have a dominance over others. However, criticism made to the foreign aid is not a new subject; nevertheless, it has become more acrimonious and sarcastic in the current epoch. Moreover, diverse opinions and perspectives have always come under incident when it comes to taking aid or assistance from others. Moreover, the subject whether aid causes development or decline in different areas and aspects has come under controversies, debates and arguments in the recent times (Bealinger, pp. 1-5, 2006). One of the crucial and considerable themes of concern of the modern instant is that whether aid provided by United States of America to Pakistan has caused development or decline in different areas and aspects. In particular, Islamic Republic of Pakistan is an underdeveloped nation that has gained freedom six decades ago; therefore, while looking at the financial and economic conditions of Pakistan, one can state that Pakistan is a very fragile country with unstable political conditions that needs financial assistance and aids by the superpowers (Mohiuddin, pp. 3-10, 2007). While looking at the other end of the spectrum, United States of America has been one of the most economically and financially stable realms of the globe (Miller, pp. 1-10, 2006). Discussion However, whilst giving a glance to the relationship between the two countries, one can come to an understanding that they share diplomatic and mutual relationship with each other since the time Pakistan came into existence on the world map. Historical evidences provide the information that United States of America has provided economic and military assistance to Pakistan and this has become the key and principal basis of the association between the two. Additionally, by looking at the liaison and bond between the two states, one can come under declaration that under few governments, Pakistan has enjoyed strong, powerful, and healthy bonding with the United States of America. Furthermore, the records and evidences also provide with the information that U.S. has provided aid to Pakistan as its ally in different aspects that include programs such as ‘War on Terror’ since the early years of Pakistan’s freedom (Hussain, pp. 2-8, 2009). The findings also suggest that Pakistan has been one of the top countries who have received millions and billions of dollars as aid since six decades (The Guardian, 2011). This was predominantly due to the reason that Pakistan had been facing security problems with some of the neighboring countries, which made Pakistan, explore, and seek out for allies to provide them with aid. Moreover, the economic crisis that Pakistan came across that incorporate drop in prices of cotton, shortfall of wheat and various others was another leading and contributing factor to this decision. It has come under verification with the piece of reality that during the war with India, Pakistan did not receive support from United States, which generated widespread feeling of a non-reliable ally or aider in the form of U.S. According to some more evidential reports, it has come under surveillance that U.S. is a country that helps those countries to a great deal who promote human rights rather than violating them, therefore, Pakistan also faced grave issues when U.S suspended its assistance to Pakistan over concerns about the nuclear programs. However, after getting things clear over the nuclear concern, Pakistan has and still is receiving aid from United States (Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, pp. 20-24, 1998). According to some of the schools of thoughts, foreign aid in general is a reason that causes more harm to the nations provided aids rather than producing superior or better aftereffects. Conversely, these perceptions also believe that the assistance might have worked in some occasions, but overall it is a bad idea to have aid from the powerful nations, as the end-result is not good in a broad-spectrum. Besides, foreign aid does not contribute to the economic development of the developing or underdeveloped countries on whole due to the reason that the countries taking aid become dependents on aids. In case of U.S. aid to Pakistan, it can come under verdict that the poverty concern in Pakistan has not come under due and suitable consideration by United States while allocating aid to Pakistan. Therefore, this is one of the prime and critical reasons that has created widespread perspectives for the inhabitants of Pakistan that U.S. aid has not been persuasive in playing a positive and developing role in strengthening and fortifying the socio-economic sector of Pakistan (Jordan et al, pp. 404-410, 2009). Whereas according to the statistical data, it has come under consideration, that economic sector coupled to the workforce earnings or wages of the developing and underdeveloped nations experience substantial growth with the foreign investments. This is explicitly due to the reason that the investments transfer technology between the countries, at the same time as it brings improvement to the proficiencies and talents of the labors (Jordan et al, pp. 404-410, 2009). According to few of the data and records, it has come to observation that U.S. has paid attention to the security aspect of Pakistan that has been on and off; however, the political and economic regions of the country and well-being have significantly come under ignorance to large extent. Moreover, according to the facts, every time when United States tied its ally with Pakistan, all the aid came under provision to the military operations. Therefore, with the escalating economic and political instability within the country coupled to the failure of military approach to the emerging and rising violence at an unprecedented rate exhibited the need that bringing and improving stability should be the primary concern rather than military assistance (Center for American Progress, 2008). The findings also divulge the truth that the aid and assistance provided by U.S. has predominantly targeted for the fight against terrorism. Moreover, only a small proportion of allocated aid and money was for the economic and development that included food aid. A large and colossal faction of the population of Pakistan believed that the country was heading towards the wrong direction where the economic situations of the country were going into the worsening conditions. In addition, according to the statistical data, it has come under observation that considerable amounts of the populace of Pakistan were unable to secure their nutritional intakes and not much people had the option to become literate. However, these records expose the information that a huge amount came under funding for the education sector, yet the literacy rate in Pakistan did not augmented. Furthermore, more than eighty percent of the entire funds came under direction for the military operations (Center for American Progress, 2008). These vital and essential components led to the development of the country. However, with the data provided, it has come under strong surveillance that the primary and imperative needs of Pakistan have come under ignorance as all the efforts and support has come under provision for the military and defense sector of the country (Center for American Progress, 2008). However, looking at the other side of the coin, according to the viewpoints of several people, one can come to state that with the U.S. aid, Pakistan has come across the development in various aspects that comprise of the military assistance. This is principally because the “training facilities, military equipment, and other related serviced allowed and permitted Pakistan to sustain and uphold its security on an international basis and the legitimate self-defense” (Callaway & Matthews, pp. 167-178, 2008). Furthermore, the studies and findings also reveal the truth that the aid that U.S. provided to Pakistan was a mutual agreement in order to assist the Pakistani government to preserve and maintain the national independence and integrity. In addition, U.S. also offered billions of dollars with an intention to bring and promote effective development in the economic sector of Pakistan. However, studies also enlightens with the piece of verity that Pakistan recompensed United States by providing them with an air base for quite a few years (Picard, Groelsema, & Buss, pp. 130-137, 2007). The strong bond and alignment between the two nations proved to be very fruitful for Pakistan as it yielded a number of benefits to them. Furthermore, the fluctuating and vacillating economy of Pakistan witnessed an economical boom with the U.S. assistance, funding, loans, goods and services. Therefore, defense and security segment was the field that came across with most considerable contributions that helped widens and enlarges the alliance between the two countries. However, the military assistance takes account of arms and ammunitions, weaponry, various aircrafts, naval defense equipments such as warships, radar, and several others. Besides, the assistance group also provided Pakistan with the guidance, suggestions, and training courses that made them gain precious and valued experiences (Picard & Groelsema & Buss, pp. 130-137, 2007). Another instance in the times gone by that played a significant role in the development of the ties between the two nations was the Afghanistan war. This war closed the bond in the political, economic and security areas in the decade of 1980. Pakistan at this time received significant amount of economic assistance and military support by the United States coupled to some more assistance outside these packages. This assistance provided were in various fields of mutual interest that includes economy, trade, and investment, development in the socio-economic sector and military modernization with the supply of weapons and equipment. This association also escalated the influence of U.S in Pakistan, which demonstrated valuable for Pakistan as well (Picard, Groelsema, & Buss, pp. 130-137, 2007). The statistical data also reveals the piece of information that United States laid emphasis on aiding Pakistan chiefly on technical and commodity assistance, augmented trade, financial and technical supports in the areas such as food, education, counter-narcotics and few others. Moreover, the border security, building capability and competence for managing law and order, progression and advancement in communication, and many more were one of the key and leading motives of U.S. (Fair & Project Air Force, pp. 167-171, 2010) With the entire critique that has come under presentation in the literature review of the report, it cannot come to one conclusion that weather U.S. aid has caused development or decline to different areas, sectors and aspects of Pakistan or not. This is due to the reason that every individual has his or her own perceptions and viewpoints for which a biased and prejudiced verdict comes under drawing. However, it can come to well conclusion that both the countries are in quest of a productive relationship on a continual basis to defeat the concept of terrorism and terrorist organizations. In addition, United States according to their new policies have a focus towards providing assistance and aid to Pakistan in order to bring in political and economic stability, security and promote development. Conversely, the critiques states that only United States has only provided aid and funds to the defense and military sector, while the other sectors such as socio-economic, education and many other have come under disregard (Hussain, pp. 3-10, 2009). Conclusion In conclusion, according to the common and broad point of views, it can come to well conclusion that aid provided by United States of America to Pakistan since the early years from its independence six decades ago has proved to be profitable and constructive for the Pakistani government and nation in general, rather than being a failure. Although the records also give an idea about the fact that United States has provided fund to scores of the projects in Pakistan, yet the failures of some of the projects cannot come to conclusion that it is a waste as various projects have also proved to be successful. Moreover, even in the current point in time, U.S. is in a continuous effort to promote and aid the Pakistani government to bring in economic stability that ensures money and skills are passed to the general population of Pakistan (Hussain, pp. 3-10, 2009). Finally, according to the U.S. Secretary of State in an interview, “Pakistan is our strongest ally in the fight against terrorism and we want to build up and strengthen its institutions” (Rizvi, pp. 25). Finally, this statement highlights and accentuates the long-lasting commitment of U.S. with Pakistan for the support and assistance. References Bealinger, Andrew A. 2006. Foreign aid: control, corrupt, contain? Nova Publishers. Callaway, Rhonda L. & Matthews, Elizabeth G. 2008. Strategic US foreign assistance: the battle between human rights and national security. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Center for American Progress. 2008. “U.S. Aid to Pakistan by the Numbers.” Center for American Progress. Retrieved on October 08, 2011: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/08/pakistan_aid_numbers.html Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science. 1998. “Sanctions: Lift’em.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Volume 54, Issue 5, pp. 20-24. Fair, C.C. & Project Air Force (U.S.). 2010. Pakistan: can the United States secure an insecure state? Rand Corporation. Hussain, Touqir. 2009. U. S. -Pakistan Engagement: The War on Terrorism and Beyond. DIANE Publishing. Jordan, Amos A. & Taylor, Jr., William J. & Meese, Michael J. & Nielsen, Suzanne C. & Schlesinger, James. 2009. American National Security. JHU Press. Miller, Millie. 2006. United States of America: A State-By-State Guide. Turtleback Books. Mohiuddin, Yasmeen N. 2007. Pakistan: a global studies handbook. ABC-CLIO. Picard, Louis A. & Groelsema, Robert, & Buss, Terry F. 2007. Foreign Aid and Foreign Policy: Lessons for the Next Half-Century. M.E. Sharpe. Prof. Dr. Hasan-Askari Rizvi. 2004. “Pakistan’s Foreign Policy: An Overview 1947-2004.” Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency - Briefing Paper. Retrieved on October 08, 2011: http://www.millat.com/democracy/Foreign%20Policy/Briefing_Paper_english_11.pdf The Guardian. 2011. “Sixty years of US aid to Pakistan: Get the data.” The Guardian News. Retrieved on October 08, 2011: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jul/11/us-aid-to-pakistan Read More