Well, it's good news. Nothing substantive is going to change with Trump in power and that is especially so in regards to Pakistan. As a military man (Gen. Mattis) he will know that Pakistan is pursuing it's self interest just like USA is. He will know know the only area where he can work on is where there is convergence - few dollars more will lubricate everything thank you !
To his juniors in the army. This 'dog- is capable of being muzzled or else how would he have risen through the ranks, by barking to his superiors?
The American's have no illusions about Pakistan. They have known for decades that this country is no push over. It is only ignorant Pakistani public who assume Pak has been a push over mostly because they don't know what really went on with any particulare aspect of a event. Or more often then not weak Pakistani leadership deflects the blame or hides it's failures behind USA.
Lol ..... No worries. I got enough - more ain't gonna add anymore sheen !
Do you see hostilities b/w USA/Pakistan where the interests don't converge? Just for educating myself, where do you see the convergence?
No. For the simple reason that the opportunity cost of a collision with Pak is way to high. The two 'costs' that cannot be ignored by US planners are (i) Pak Nukes (ii) Chinese stratregic alliance with Pakistan. Therefore the only time I can think of hostilities is if a direct attack on USA took place like 9/11 that was traced to Pakistan and there was some complicity of the Pakistani state in that attack. In that case the opportunity cost of not doing anything would be seen to be higher.
US knows that ultimately Pak has influence on what goes on in Afghanistan. The convergence is where groups exist that are hostile to both US/Pak like TTP. Pak's help is also need in crafting a future where all parties negotiate peace over a table. Further there is some convergence in having some influence on Pakistan so as to help in preventing nuclear proliferation to terrorist groups.
Some people may dispute that because it could have opened a whole new can of worms in Pakistan vis-a-vis reactionaries but I agree. Would Pakistan have that much leverage to influence USA to include Taliban when they wanted to join Afghan Government after their defeat. Norther Alliance wouldn't have considered Pakistan a huge enemy at least if we had liberated them from Taliban. Afghanistan is a graveyard of empires and Pakistan isn't even an empire. Its very hard to predict what could have happened but I kind of agree with you.
No problem. Most of the time I come here to post '****'. You know just chuck some good feel factor punches against our Ganga neighbours but occasionally I do like a quality discussion.
Very well noted. Pakistan is a 'weak state'. Fighting for Pakistan's interests is like boxer having a bout standing on floating buoy. The main problem is keeping balance let alone giving great punches. Althougth I am apt to blame Musharaf as he was the man in charge but on reflection it is easy for me to be keyboard warrior. God knows what actuall problems he would have faced in adopting this 'go forward policy' with the bloody reactionaries and a conflicted/divided polity.
Now that big powers are again at one another's throat, Pak needs to play her cards well. Sultan Abdulhamit used to be a master in this regard and thereby prolonged the conditions in his favor for 33 years while taking crucial steps to internally strengthen the Saltanat. The coup by Masons lost everything all together..
Now US will add two extra F16 in previous contract ?Stop there for a sec and make it very clear the F16 policy with Pakistan has come to an end. obama made sure of it and he done Pakistan a ginormous favor. Now new alliances are forged and I can say they will be far better than the ones we had with you.
Simple yet comprehensive.
True. But time has come that we must sallow the bitter pil and develop sources other than US (F16s). Not only, US has a history of being an unreliable supplier but often the strings attached to what they offer are very hard.
