Final answer:
Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan of Pakistan visited the United States instead of the USSR to align with the West during the Cold War, seeking support against Soviet influence, and to strengthen Pakistan's international alliances and receive economic and military assistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan, chose to visit the United States instead of the USSR during the early years of the Cold War for several strategic reasons. During this period, global politics were intensely polarized between the capitalist West, led by the United States, and the communist East, represented by the Soviet Union. Pakistan, seeking to align itself and garner support in the tense geopolitical landscape, looked towards the United States which was eager to counter Soviet influence in Asia.
The United States was also interested in establishing relations with countries in the region to create buffers against the spread of communism. Pakistan's inclination towards the United States could be seen as a part of its efforts to establish strong international allies, receive economic and military aid, and align with the broader strategic objectives of the West.
This decision can be understood within the broader context of international relations and the developing foreign policy dynamics of newly independent states during the Cold War era. While India, under Nehru, maintained a degree of non-alignment, Pakistan sought a clear partnership with the West, which influenced Liaquat Ali Khan's choice to visit the United States over the USSR.