Report: USAID in Pakistan

Soft Power, Influence, and Final Shutdown (1947–2025)

Guest Writer

Historical Overview of USAID in Pakistan

Early Cold War Era (1950s–1970s): U.S. assistance to Pakistan began soon after independence, intensifying as Cold War alliances formed. By the 1950s and 60s, Pakistan – a strategic U.S. ally in CENTO/SEATO – received heavy aid aimed at winning “hearts and minds” ( The erosion of American soft power ) (…