U.S. - Pakistan Security Ties after September 11th 2001 - Research Paper Example

The world forever changed the morning of September 11th, 2001. The attacks on the World Center represented the most serious terrorist act ever carried out on U.S. soil. A watershed moment in world history, that fateful morning will be forever engrained in the American national psyche. From a political, social, and economic perspective, the hijackings of 9/11 were unparalleled in scope and sheer devastation. The United States and Pakistan, sharing security concerns in the post-9/11 world, have actively worked in tandem to combat terrorism.

Accordingly, security ties have increased proportionately to American engagement in the region. We will address the American-Pakistani security relationship from a historical perspective, dating back to the Cold War, as well as analyze current events such as the shocking assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the paralyzing instability of Pakistani domestic politics in recent times. What is the security relationship between Pakistan and the United States? How has this relationship changed in the post-9/11 world?

Seeking to address these questions and many more, this essay will provide a holistic approach to analyzing a relationship that is steeped in complexity and intrigue (Hilali 2005).