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Electronic Information PublicationsBackground Notes/Country Fact SheetsPakistanU.S. Relations With Pakistan

Bureau of South and Central Asian AffairsFact Sheet

August 16, 2013

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More information about Pakistan is available on thePakistan Pageand from other

Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet. U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONSThe United States has had diplomatic relations with Pakistan since its 1947 independence fromthe United Kingdom. The two countries' common interest in peace and stability in South Asiahas informed their relationship over the decades. In the context of the Cold War with the SovietUnion, the United States provided military aid to Pakistan to modernize its conventional

defensive capability. However, Pakistans nuclear weapons program caused the United States tosuspend military assistance in 1990. The September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States byAfghanistan-based terror group al-Qaida led to closer coordination between Pakistan and theUnited States on security and stability in South Asia. Pakistan pledged cooperation with theUnited States in counterterrorism efforts, which included locating and shutting down terroristtraining camps within Pakistan's borders, cracking down on extremist groups, and withdrawingsupport for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The United States resumed a close securitypartnership with the Pakistani military and law enforcement. In 2004, the United Statesrecognized its closer bilateral ties with Pakistan by naming Pakistan as a Major Non-NATOAlly. Since 2001, Pakistan has provided assistance in counterterrorism efforts by capturing morethan 600 al-Qaida members and their allies. In May 2011, the leader of al-Qaida, Osama bin

Laden, was killed by U.S. forces in Abbott bad, Pakistan. Following the tragic accidental killingof 24 Pakistani soldiers in a November 2011 cross-border incident involving the North AtlanticTreaty Organization's (NATO) International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF),Pakistan closed the ground lines of communication (GLOC) to U.S. and NATO cargo for aperiod of eight months which, in turn, led to a significant slowing of U.S. security assistance. InMarch 2012, Pakistan's parliament approved policy recommendations for revised terms ofengagement with the U.S. and ISAF following a review of U.S.-Pakistan relations. The groundlines of communication were reopened in July 2012; the regular flow of security assistanceresumed. On a visit to Islamabad in July-August 2013, Secretary of State John Kerry announcedthe resumption of a Strategic Dialogue with Pakistan in order to foster a deeper, broader, andmore comprehensive partnership.

U.S. Assistance to PakistanThe U.S. Congress passed the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (often referred to asKerry-Lugar-Berman, or KLB, after its co-sponsors) in October 2009 in order todemonstrate the U.S. long-term commitment to cooperation with the Pakistani people and theircivilian institutions. Between October 2009 and July 2013, the U.S. disbursed over $3.55 billionin civilian assistance to Pakistan, including over $1 billion of humanitarian assistance followingnatural disasters floods and conflict.

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U.S. civilian assistance to Pakistan is focused on five priority areas: energy; economic growth,including agriculture; community stabilization of restive areas; education; and health. Thesepriorities were determined in consultation with the Government of Pakistan. The U.S.implements programs with Pakistani partners, including the Government of Pakistan, civilsociety, and private sector actors to increase local capacity and promote sustainability of efforts.

Thus far, U.S. contributions have added over 1,000 megawatts to Pakistans electricity gridthrough infrastructure upgrades, rehabilitation, and policy consultation; led to the launch of thePakistan Private Investment Initiative (PPII), which will provide seed funding to small andmedium sized enterprises in Pakistan; and funded over 650 kilometers of roads in the FederallyAdministered Tribal Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These results and others promote ourmutual goal of a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan.

Bilateral Economic RelationsIn 2012, Pakistan's exports to all countries were estimated at $24.63 billion and its imports at$39.81 billion. In 2012, the United States accounted for 13.3% of the country's exports, the mostof any country, and $1.5 billion of its imports. Bilateral trade between the United States andPakistan exceeded $5 billion. The United States is also one of the top sources of foreign direct

investment to Pakistan, with $223 million in FY 2012. Pakistan has taken steps over the years toliberalize its trade and investment regimes, either unilaterally or in the context of commitmentsmade with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), andthe World Bank. It is relatively open to foreign investment, but its ranking in the World BanksDoing Business Index continues to sink, largely due to issues of governance and the ongoingenergy crisis. In October 2012 and June 2013 the United States and Pakistan organized bilateralbusiness opportunities conferences in London and Dubai respectively. Major U.S. investmentsare concentrated in fast-moving consumer goods, construction, chemicals, energy, andcommunications.

Pakistan's Membership in International OrganizationsPakistan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations,including the United Nations, WTO, IMF, and World Bank. Pakistan is not a signatory of theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Bilateral RepresentationThe U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan is Richard G. Olson. Other principal embassy officials arelisted in the Department'sKey Officers List.Pakistan maintains an embassy in the United States at 3517 International Court NW,Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-243-6500). It has consulates in Los Angeles, New York,Chicago, and Houston.More information about Pakistan is available from the Department of State and other sources,some of which are listed here:

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/199937.htmhttp://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/199937.htmhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/111812.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/111812.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/documents/organization/111812.pdfhttp://www.embassyofpakistanusa.org/http://www.embassyofpakistanusa.org/http://www.embassyofpakistanusa.org/http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/111812.pdfhttp://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/199937.htm