Explain the following statement with reasons: CENTO became non-operational.

Answer: The statement is true.

• The Baghdad Pact (1955) of Britain, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan, supported by the USA, was formed to stop the spread of Soviet influence in West Asia.
• After the revolution in Iraq in 1958, Iraq left the pact in 1959; it was then renamed the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) with its headquarters at Ankara.
• Pakistan was disappointed that CENTO did not help it in its wars with India in 1965 and 1971. After the Islamic revolution of 1979 Iran left CENTO, and Pakistan also withdrew.
• With its members leaving and the Cold War situation changing, CENTO became non-operational and was dissolved in 1979.