Forum Pakistan

Central Treaty Organization (also CENTO) (until 25 June 1959, the Baghdad Pact) A militarypolitical bloc founded on the initiative of Great Britain and the United States during the Cold War. The first step in its establishment was the signing, in Baghdad, on 24 February 1955 of the Pact of Mutual Co-operation between Iraq and Turkey. It was later joined by the United Kingdom on 4 April 1955, by Pakistan on 23 September 1955, and by Iran on 3 November 1955. Though not formally a member of the bloc, the United States participated in its main committees in 1956 and 1957. In March 1959 Iraq formally relinquished its membership of the organization. On 25 June 1959 the Baghdad Pact was renamed CENTO.

To step up the alliance's activity and to consolidate the links of the three remaining member countries with the West, on 3 March 1959, the United States signed, identical bilateral co-operation agreements against direct or indirect aggression, with Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. The US then played the determining role in CENTO activity. CENTO members regularly held naval, air, and ground forces manoeuvre .

In the 1960s and early 1970s serious differences aro e between CENTO members. In particular, the Asian countries asked for CENTO support in their conflicts with neighbouring state and for greater economic co-operation in the framework of the alliance. After Iran and Pakistan left CENTO in March 1979, the
government of Turkey proposed the dissolution of the Pact.

CENTO's principal bodies were the Permanent Council of Ministers, with annually held sessions, the secretariat, and four committees. The united headquarters for military planning, a permanent group of military representatives, and a number of subcommittees and working groups were set up. The headquarters, originally in Baghdad, have been located in Ankara since 1959.