The Impact of Nuclear Power on Pakistan: Analysing the Recipients of US Aid, Efficacy, and Future Consequences

Abstract

This study examines the United States' imposition of sanctions on Pakistan following the test of nuclear arsenals in 1998. The paper examines the elements that contribute to lifting U.S. sanctions on Islamabad and evaluates the effectiveness of imposing consistently strong economic penalties. It analyses the manner in which the United States employed Pakistan to serve its national security objectives by offering assistance in a counterterrorism effort spearheaded by the United States following the events of 9/11. The United States, driven by its own self-interests, chose to support Pakistan by easing sanctions and sending help. Pakistan, in turn, used this aid for military and general development goals. This study analyses the cost-effectiveness of U.S. aid and the disparity between internal and foreign opinions of the recipients of U.S. help in Pakistan. The primary aim of this article is to evaluate Pakistan's utilization of U.S. aid, specifically in terms of military expenditures against investments in the well-being of its people. This assessment will consider viewpoints from both internal and international sources. Within this framework, the study offers several recommendations that have significant ramifications for the donor-beneficiary approach to aid provision and budget allocation in the future.