during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The Soviets were the biggest supplier of military hardware to India at that time. United States The United States was one of the first nations to establish relations with Pakistan upon its independence. Pakistan was allied with the US during the Cold war against the USSR. Pakistan was an integral member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), both alliances opposed to the Soviet Union and communism. A major factor in Pakistan's decision to ally with the West was their urgent need for aid. In the years that followed, the US supplied extensive economic, scientific, and military assistance to Pakistan. This close relationship continued through Pakistan's years of democracy and military rule. Relations only soured after West Pakistan had dissolved into Pakistan, when the left-oriented Pakistan Peoples Party came to power in 1971. See also East Pakistan Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 List of speakers of the West Pakistan Legislative Assembly Pakistan Movement References External links States and territories established in 1947 States and territories disestablished in 1970 Former subdivisions of Pakistan Post-independence history of Pakistan 1950s establishments in Pakistan 1960s establishments in Pakistan 1970s establishments in Pakistan Anti-communism in Pakistan Socialism in Pakistan 1947 establishments in Pakistan 1970 disestablishments in Pakistan Articles containing video clips