Closer Pakistan
American Defence Ties

Contributing Editor Air Marshal (Retd) AYAZ AHMED KHAN writes about the renewed US military ties with Pakistan.

The recent visit of the 44 member US Defence Cooperation Group to Islamabad could herald a new era of mutually beneficial defence cooperation, subject to the fact that decisions are pursued vigorously. This 14th visit of US Defence Cooperation Group to Pakistan took place after five years. The size and composition of the US group led by Mr Douglas J Feith — US Under Secretary for Defence, and the fact the US team had come prepared to discuss a purposeful agenda for military cooperation, and coordination in the war against terrorism proved that Washington attaches great importance to its new relationship with Pakistan. The need of greater and enduring defence cooperation between the two countries requires more frequent interaction and visits to promote solid cooperation. At the end of the three day sessions and visits of the team to Joint Staff Headquarters and Service Headquarters, Pakistan handed over a long list of equipment urgently required by the Army, Navy and the Pakistan Air Force. In the light of the enhanced threat and total enemy deployment on the borders the requirements of defence preparedness and national security has assumed great urgency. The requirement of modernization of the Armed Forces is long overdue. Pakistan has, therefore, sought from the US state of the art defence equipment of various categories including F-16 fighter aircraft. The supply of F-16 fighters for the PAF was unilaterally halted under the Pressler Law, though Pakistan had by then paid US $658 million to General Dynamics the F-16 manufacturer. But F-16 continues to be the most adversary. India’s enhanced conventional warfare capability which has multiplied many times over during the last decade, is the cause of India’s belligerance and thus instability in South Asia. Before analyzing the outcome of the meetings of the Pakistan-US Defence Cooperation Group, it is in order to study the somewhat chequered history of Pakistan-US defence relationship.
Pak-US defence relations started in early fifties after the visit of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan to Washington DC and of President Eisenhower to Karachi. Pakistan had firmly landed in the US lap, when the first Pakistani Prime Minister chose to visit Washington in preference to Moscow; though he had been invited by Marshal Stalin earlier. He landed in Washington in the mid of intense US-Soviet acrimony, which soon took the shape of a cold war between the two super powers. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister of India meanwhile chose the path of non-alignment, while aligning firmly with the Soviet Union. US Department of State and Department of Defence at the time had embarked on a policy of Soviet encirclement and containment of Communism by military pacts and economic and military support to allies. America went to the help of Europe and Japan under The Marshal Plan. North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created to
restructure and rearm European democracies including Turkey to become a bulwark against Soviet expansionism and Communist threat to Europe. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was a key player in the formulation of the policy of pacts against Soviet Union. In West Asia, Central Treaty Organization — CENTO was created with headquarter at Ankara. Pakistan was invited to join it in 1955, which it readily did. Other CENTO member nations were Iran, Turkey and Iraq. Iraq withdrew fron CENTO after the assassination of King Faisal. In the Pacific Rim Pakistan joined SEATO — South Asian Treaty Organization, and became firmly aligned with the United States of America. This was the beginning of ten years of close military relationship between Pakistan and the United States. US motive was to build Pakistan economically and militarily, as part of the bulwark to contain Communism and block Soviet expansion into West and South East Asia. Pakistan made use of this opportunity and benefited economically and militarily from the massive economic and military aid that soon followed.
The first priority was to build Pakistan’s civil and military infrastructure. US military engineers were the first to arrive to help build jet capable runways at Mauripur (now PAF Masroor), Samungli, Sargodha and Peshawar. Pakistan Army’s priority requirement was a cantonment at a strategic location. Pakistan Navy’s priority was docking facilities in Karachi harbour. US Engineers built a massive cantonment with American funding at Kharian. PN Jetty and a dockyard was built with US aid money at Karachi port. During the decade of the fifties supplies under the US Military Aid Programme included supply of two armoured divisions strength of M-47 and M-48 refurbished Patton tanks, 155 mm Howitzers, 8 inch calibre guns, range of mortars, field artillery with ammunition, and Ack Ack. Pakistan Army received substantial numbers of AOP and recce aircraft and helicopters. The Army was equipped with US made small arms and munitions. Radars, signal and command and communication equipment and all kinds of bridging equipment, APC’s, recovery vehicles, tank transporters, trucks and jeeps were also supplied in fairly substantial quantities. SSG group and commando training facilities at Cherat was created with the help of US Army. The huge Kharian cantonment built with US military aid funds is a living tribute to Pak-US defence cooperation. Close liaison was made in the field of officers training. Hundreds of officers attended courses, and seminars in the US.
Pakistan Army participated in joint exercises on a regular basis, and benefited hugely from it. Army commanders learnt a lot from high US expertise in organization, and administration. The restructured Pakistan Army equipped with US hardware performed well against a numerically superior Indian Army in the 1965 war. Had the Patton tanks been used properly, the armoured push through Khemkaran may have accomplished encirclement and capture of Amritsar. Some critics insist that the M-47 and 48 Patton tanks were too advanced for Pakistan Army. In the future it will be inadvisable to go for excessively advanced technology, which is beyond the grasp of Army personnel. Pakistan Air Force was indeed the biggest beneficiary of Pak-US cooperation and US military aid and assistance. By 1957 Pakistan Air Force had received one hundred brand new Sabre jets. Supply of C-130 Charlies, B-57 light bombers, F-104 Star Fighters, Sidewinder Missiles, bombs, rockets and large quantities of gun ammunition was supplied along with the fighters and bombers. Additionally amphibious aircraft, high powered radars, fuel bowzers, jet engine starting trollies, and every piece of equipment required by a modern air force was procured under the US military assistance and foreign military sales programme. Hundreds of Pakistani fighter pilots did jet conversion courses in the US. And engineers and technicians received useful training in the USAF training institutions. This helped develop much needed expertise both for the PAF fighter pilots and engineers. The high performance of US combat aircraft in the hands of PAF fighter pilots ensured victory over the three times bigger Indian Air Force in the 1965 war. The defence cooperation between the Pakistan and the United States helped the PAF achieve the impossible.
Pakistan Navy was initially equipped with British warships viz destroyers and supply craft. But in early 50’s the PN received substantial equipment under US aid programmes. In 1953-54 US financed and helped the PN in the constrution of PN jetty and berthing facilities at Karachi harbour. US aid helped construction of several shore installations, and Pakistan Navy Dockyard. Between 1956 to 1959 Pakistan Navy received eight coastal mine sweepers from the US Navy. Pakistan Navy crew went for training to the US and brought these boats to Karachi. PN cruiser Babar was acquired from the USN in 1958 under the US military assistance programme. All the Pakistan Navy destroyers of British origin were modernized under a special US aid project. Ghazi the first Pakistan Navy submarine was acquired from the US Navy in 1963. PN crew were sent to the US for submarine training. After completion of training they brought Ghazi to Karachi. During the 1970’s several gearing class Destroyers/ frigates were received under lease arrangements from the US Navy. In late 1980’s several Brooke-Gracia class destroyers were obtained on lease from the US Navy. These were returned on the expiry of the lease in 1990. Besides surface and sub-surface naval vessels Pakistan Navy had also received torpedoes, munitions of various kinds, radars and command and communications equipment under military assistance programmes from the US. Pakistan Navy also benefited from training courses for its officers and sailors and from joint seminars and sea exercises. Pakistan Navy benefitted a great deal from the defence cooperation and close liaison with the US Navy. The high state of preparedness of Pakistan Navy and its excellent performance in the 1965 war under the the command of Vice Admiral A.R Khan could not have been possible without the first rate ships, boats and naval munitions procured from the US.
After the 1965 war the United States blocked the supply of military equipment to Pakistan, alleging that it was meant only for use against the Soviet Union. With the main source of military supplies dried up, Pakistan was left to fend for itself. During the next fifteen years ie 1966 to 1980 Pakistan was left high and dry and had to procure defence equipment from wherever it could find. By blocking military supplies and spares the US had harmed Pakistan when US military cooperation would have been extremely valuable. The golden period of cosy Pak-US ended abruptly. The Soviet Union by redoubling military supplies to India, and by providing the Indian Armed Forces state of the art combat aircraft, powerful radars, Ack Ack, T-72 tanks, entire range of artillery guns, Surface to Air missiles, warships and submarines completely altered the balance of military power in favour of India. By 1970 eighty percent of Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy combat aircraft, warships and submarines were of Soviet origin. Seventy percent of battle and combat equipment of Indian Army was also supplied by the Soviet Union. Suddenly, because of what amounted to US sanctions against Pakistan, and massive Soviet military supplies to India, the ratio of combat power and the balance of military forces was tilted in India’s favour. 1971 Indo- Pakistan war proved it.
During the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto era there were distinct US distrust of Bhutto’s pseudo-socialism, his damaging nationalization, and the confiscation of all fiscal institutions viz banks, insurance companies, investment institutions, and big and small industries. Concerned with PPP governments reckless statements of “eating grass for one thousand years, but making the bomb”, after India’s 1974 Pokharan atomic weapon test, Washington made overtures for the supply of American conventional weapons to Pakistan, on the condition that Pakistan scraps its nascent nuclear programme. One hundred Crusader F-8 long range attack aircraft were offered to Pakistan with the provision that nuclear enrichment and uranium processing be discontinued and atomic weapon programme cancelled. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took Air Chief Marshal Zulfikar Ali Khan into confidence, and asked for written advice and proposals. Zulfikar Ali Khan who was Chief of the Air Staff PAF, advised the Prime Minister to reject the American offer. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto refused to scuttle the nuclear weapon programme. Washington, thereafter plotted to remove Bhutto. But it does great credit to both the Zulfikars ie the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Chief of the Air Staff PAF for upholding Pakistan’s national security interests and remaining steadfast in the face of immense US pressure and threats given by Henry Kissenger the US Secretary of State.
The next phase of Pakistan-US defence cooperation started in 1980, i.e. during the Afghan war. It lasted till October 1989. The United States badly needed Pakistan’s cooperation to accomplish its motives of making Afghanistan into a Vietnam for the invading Red Army. US motive was not only defeat of the Red Army, but defeat and humiliation of the Soviet Union. Pakistan-US Defence Liaison/Cooperation Group was informally formed to discuss military cooperation. Service headquarters were tasked to prepare listings of vitally needed combat equipment. General Zia-Ul-Haq had a fine team of senior generals, whose negotiating ability impressed visiting high powered American delegations. General Mohammad Iqbal Khan Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and General Ghulam Jilani Khan Secretary General Defence took fullest advantage of the emerging situation and got some of the best weapons systems for the Armed Forces from the US.
President Zia-Ul-Haq also played his cards very well. He rejected President Jimmy Carter’s offer of four hundred million dollars, with the remark that these were peanuts.This impressed President Ronald Reagan, who accorded high priority to help Pakistan economically and militarily. Three billion dollars of economic assistance was offered. Pakistan-US Defence Cooperation Groups met at Joint Staff Headquarters and in Washington DC regularly to pursue Pakistan’s major weapon acquisition programmes.
In early 1981 a large US team led by the Assistant Secretary Defence including several US Army and US Air Force Generals and Admirals from the US Navy visited Islamabad to discuss Pakistani military requirements. The Pakistani team was led by Lt General Jilani the Secretary General Defence. It included the scribe who was Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Major Generals Mirza Aslam Beg (Chief of General Staff) Major General Rafaquat and some other senior officers. Pakistan Navy was represented by Vice Admiral Quader. During the preparatory stage high degree of inter-service cooperation had helped formulation of a plan to ask the United States for the supply of F-16 fighters for the PAF. The US accepted PAF’s urgent requirement for the supply of forty (40) F-16-A Falcon fighter aircraft. Induction of these into the PAF in the following years gave a distinct edge to the PAF over the Indian Air Force. This was followed by the signing of a Pak-US Accord for the supply of 71 F-16 fighters, including eleven trainers. By 1989 Pakistan had paid US $658 million for 28 F-16 Falcons. These were in addition to the forty F-16 falcons already purchased. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan had paid US $23.5 million per F-16 Falcon jet to General Dynamics, a price well above paid by other F-16 buyers viz Israel, Norway, Japan and other countries.
During the period of General Zia’s military rule, requirements of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy had to be paid for under commercial deals. Pakistan Army did procure many important weapon systems including the Tow Missiles, and Cobra gunship helicopters. Licence was obtained for the in-country assembly and manufacture of US designed APCs. Pakistan Army’s exemplary support towards Pakistan Air Force, helped the PAF to acquire the first lot of 40 F-16 aircraft. I distinctly remember General Mohammad Iqbal Khan saying, “If the Americans agree to give F-16s to the PAF, Pakistan Army will forego its requirements in favour of the PAF.” US self-interest guided the instinct to release F-16 and other modern weapon systems to Pakistan.
The US imposed sanctions under the Pressler Law on Pakistan as soon as democratic governments got into power in 1989. With these highly damaging sanctions military aid and assistance stopped, and even procurement of essential spares was blocked. The US refused to hand over the 28 fully paid for F-16’s to the PAF. And this unilateral violation of a solemn agreement became the cause of serious discord between the two countries. US had achieved its objectives and motives in Afghanistan, and Pakistan was no more as important for US security interests as in yesteryears. The United States had dumped a friend in its hour of need. Pakistan needed the US, but after the defeat of the Red Army and collapse of the Soviet Union, US had no need for Pakistan. The damage to Pakistan’s military capability and or economic recovery was obvious. The inherently corrupt Pakistani democratic regimes nevertheless did not curtail the defence budget and in fact fully supported the nuclear and missile programmes. It goes to ZAB’s credit to initiate the nuclear programme and to Mian Nawaz Sharif to order nuclear tests of six nuclear devices in May 1998 in response to five Indian nuclear tests at Pokharan. Stiff sanctions were imposed by the US both on India and Pakistan immediately after the nuclear explosions. India, however, benefited from the Russian channel for the purchase of latest weapons like 140 SU 30MK fifth generation force multiplier strike aircraft and 300 T-90 MBT’s. Pakistan had nowhere to go because France, UK or Sweden, known maufacturers of quality fighter jets would not sell to Pakistan without US clearance. China was the only source of some major weapon systems for Pakistan. These sanctions adversely affected the capabilities and potential of Pakistan Air Force in particular. Under duress from the Clinton Administration Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepted three hundred million dollars of wheat. What happened to the remaining 358 million dollars is not clear. Being wheat surplus, Pakistan had no need of this wheat. Morally speaking US should return the impounded F-16 fighters. Pakistan should return the wheat to the US, which should return Pakistani property ie the 28 F-16 duly paid for F-16 Falcons.
During the three days (September 25-27, 2002) sessions of the 14th DCG meeting, the focus was on common approach to enhance defence cooperation and to improve military to military ties. Three DCG working groups held result oriented discussions on the ways and means to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries. These groups discussed issues relating to the procurement of US defence equipment under the Foreign Sales Programme. This included purchase of major systems, the method of issuance of licences for the procurement of spare parts and the resolution of outstanding issues including the delivery of F-16 aircraft to the PAF. It was emphasised that Pakistan-US relations occupy an important place in the foreign and security policies of both the countries. Mutual respect for each others military forces will be the cornerstone of DCG activities and recommendations. The current standoff with India was discussed in depth. Acquisition of US defence equipment and stores for improving Pakistan’s conventional warfare capabilities were the key Pakistani priority requirement. Steps and measures for a long-term, sustainable defence cooperation relationship were discuss in depth. Also discussed were important issues like the war on terrorism and the ongoing Kashmir dispute. Matters relating to military training, Service education, combined exercises and visits were discussed. It was decided to hold six joint military exercises, eleven seminars to discuss security related developments, and eighteen exchange visits. The US delegation emphasised that such programmes were valuable elements of military relationship, and would give a momentum to defence ties between Pakistan and the US. The ongoing joint naval exercise which is taking place after seven years was reviewed. This is the first significant joint exercises after years. During the DCG meeting a DCG Counter Terrorism Working Group was formed. This group met for the first time to discuss the methodology for providing assistance to Pakistan to improve its counter-terrorism capabilities. It discussd in some detail the challenges Pakistan faces from internal and external terrorism, particularly in the adjoining areas with Afghanistan. The newly created Counter Terrorism Working Group will assist Pakistan’s to improve its capabilities to control infiltration across its borders by better monitoring facilities and fight terrorism within its territory. DCG meetings to review progress will be held annually, but considering the grave developments in South Asia, the next DCG meeting will be held in Washington in six months time. Both the sides clearly desire that defence cooperation should be long-term and sustainable. The trauma of September 11, 2001 is such that American forces have moved into the region, including Afghanistan to stay till assured of victory ie total elimination of terrorism. US forces are not going away in a hurry, and it is in Pak-US mutual interests to cooperate and develop policies and military power to accomplish stated aims. Pakistan’s conventional capabilities must be improved to contain Indian adventurism and belligerency and fight internal and external terrorism. US is in the best position to help Pakistan to improve its security capabilities; and the United States appears serious in helping Pakistan to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.