BAGHDAD PACT

Formally known as the Middle East Treaty Organization, this Cold War, anti-Sovietalliance was created in 1955 withGreat Britain,Iraq,Iran,Turkey, and Pakistan as members. Although it was not an official member, theUnited Statesalso, in effect, participated. The pact's significance for the Kurds was that it also implicitly obligated Iran, Iraq, and Turkey to cooperate on the Kurdish issue, as did the earlierTreaty of Saadabadin 1937.

The Baghdad Pact became increasingly unpopular in the Arab world because it was seen as an agent of Western imperialism. After Iraq withdrew in 1958, its name was changed to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). Increasingly ineffective, CENTO was finally disbanded in 1979 after theshahofIranwas overthrown.