What was the ‘Afghan Miracle’?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2015). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] USSR's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 led to an immediate impact on Pakistan's relationship with other countries.
2. [1] Zia was seen as leader of a Muslim nation on the frontline against communist forces.
3. [1] Economic and military support came from the West and Pakistan became an important base against the Soviets.
4. [1] Pakistan became a leading country in world politics and this led to huge sums of money coming into the country to pay for the care of refugees and the armed forces.
5. [1] Zia was able to use some of the funds to make economic progress and reform the economy.
6. [1] LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement: It was time to change.
7. [2-4] LEVEL 2: Identifies reasons: Islamabad had a better climate than Karachi.
8. [5-7] LEVEL 3: Explains reasons: Government officials would be moved well away from the commercial districts of Karachi that might have some unwanted influences on them. It was also seen as an appropriate movement of the power base from the industrially and commercially developed south to the underdeveloped Punjab region in the north. Ayub Khan wanted to be closer to the army's command headquarters in the north which he saw as vital in times of martial law. Karachi had a very warm and humid climate and, as a port, it wasn't felt that it represented the needs of a capital city as the existing buildings were not adequate in number or up to the standards required by a capital. The layout and structure of the existing port city did not allow it to take on the functions of a modern capital. With its position on the coast, it was considered vulnerable to attacks from the Arabian Sea. The vast influx of refugees intensified the existing problems and created new ones.
9. [1-2] LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement: Pakistan has American bases.
10. [3-6] LEVEL 2: Describes the relationship/identifies successes or failures: Provides a narrative of events
11. [7-10] LEVEL 3: Explains successes OR failures
12. [9-13] LEVEL 4: Explains both: Successes: 1950 Liaquat Ali Khan visits United States; Willing to join US in anti-communism pack in return for military aid; Joins SEATO and CENTO; 1980s sees substantial military and economic aid for Pakistan ($4.2 billion) which sees Pakistan as third highest recipient of US aid; 1989 Bhutto visits US; 1993 Clinton restores sales of aircraft in return for Pakistan stopping production of weapon-grade uranium; 1996 Bhutto visits US and gains $388 million in military equipment; First Lady Hillary Clinton visits Pakistan. Failures: US provides military aid to India during its war with China in 1962 – places strain on relations; Pakistan turns to China for friendship in 1962; US places arms embargo on India and Pakistan during 1965 war which badly affects Pakistan; Bhutto leaves SEATO; American aid suspended in 1977 and again in 1979; 1988 US aid falls dramatically and creates problems for Benazir Bhutto; US President George Bush blocks aid to Pakistan due to nuclear weapons in 1989; 1992 US comes close to declaring Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism and places economic sanctions on the country; 1998 US condemns Pakistan's nuclear weapons tests.
13. [14] LEVEL 5: As Level 4 – also produces a judgement or evaluation