Pak-US Relations (1991-2001): From Post-Cold War Estrangement to Strategic Re-Engagement after 9/11

This article examine the trajectory of Pakistan-United State relations from 1991 to 2001, a decade marked by strategic divergence, sanction, regional conflict, and eventual realignment after the events of 19/11. After the Cold War, the Soviet Union collapsed and Pakistan lost its position as a “frontline state,” leading to decline in its strategic importance for United States. Under the Pressler Amendment many sanctions were imposed, concerns over nuclear program of Pakistan, and disagreements over Afghanistan and Kashmir contributed to strained mutual relations. Pakistan’s support for the Taliban regime and outfall of the Kargil conflict further complicated ties, while the U.S. increasingly aligned with India in the reginal strategic framework. The emergence of the New World Order and the unipolar dominance of the U.S. reshaped South Asian geopolitics, placing additional pressure on Pakistan’s foreign and security policies. However, the extremist attacks of September 11, 2001, was a turning point, resulting in Pakistan’s renewed strategic significance as a major ally in the War on Terror led by U.S. The study argues that Pak-US relations during this period were predominantly interest-driven and issue-based, characterized by fluctuations between cooperation and confrontation in response to changing global and regional dynamics.