The US looked the other way as we developed our nuclear program, but was it enough that we bleeded only this out of the US? It is similar to our cooperation with the US in the WoT. We could have negotiated for far more from them.
Indeed we could and should have bargained for more, but a reminder is suffice that during eleven years of Zia's tenure, Pakistan's foreign debts remained less than $15 Billion, however successive democratic musical chairs managed to accumulate another $20 Billion in less than 10 years between them.
Somehow the opium trade is rejected as a legitimate argument. Militant organizations and armed rebels have used drug trade and extortion throughout the world to fund their campaigns. The Taliban use it and justify producing opium and selling drugs.
The menace of the drug trade has a checkered history, it basically originates in Afghanistan, and if Colombian and Mexican Drug cartel can land on the White House lawns, then expecting Pakistan to eradicate this lucrative trade i must say is a tall order.
Without going into how a 90 day promise turned into a 3623 day rule that only ended with his sad demise (SC validation is in invalid argument as he promised 90 days himself), Zia's shadow was visible in us trying to produce proxies for the struggle in Kashmir throughout the '90s.
Since we are prone to keep electing these clay footed politicians, hence we will have to endure such rules, specially when the elected are responsible for rocking the boat, none the less, in Zia's own words, "Whenever i call them, they come running with their tail wagging".
And the benefits of those proxies has culminated into the rude awakening that the culprit once kept busy in fighting these is now instead exercising them on you.
The point on the F-16s is valid and duly noted.
Credit should be duly given where it's due, another point worth noting is that after Indra Gandhi was killed there was jubilation in Pakistan and the same celebrations happened in India when Zia died. I doubt we will witness those scenes when say, M M Singh or Zardari kick the bucket.