No, we definitely had a choice. If you remember Gen. Dictator Zia had initially rebuffed the $400 million / year aid from Jimmy Carter, calling it ‘Peanuts’ adding “What do I buy with 400 million dollars? the hostility of Russians? and that does not suit me”
However when Reagan offered pretty much the same amount of aid it was accepted. The reason was political. Reagans Republicans offered General dictator Zia much needed political legitimacy.
Same as in 9/11. Musharraf bent over backwards so far that even Collin Powell was surprised (Bob Woodward, Bush at War). Again Mush needed political legitimacy.
I definitely think the civilian leadership would have acted differently. Especially if someone like ZA Bhutto was there. Who went against all international pressure in giving Pakistan nuclear capability.
Soviet Union with its “Prestroika” and “Glassnost” (Thanks to Gorbachev) was already on its way down (extremely bad economy, bread lines). Pakistan could have diplomatically played both super-powers and gained for its citizens.
Hindsight is 20/20 but I think had there not been a military ruler things would have gone better (in this particular case).