How the U.S. can punish Pakistan (Forbes)

[Solomon2]

...Actually, there is a lot that a creative Administration could do.

Shrink or end U.S. dependency on Pakistan as a supply line. Use our Central Asian allies to move more cargo by air and develop a supply line through India. Yes, the land route through India would be far longer and, on the Afghan side at least, roads and bridges would have to be improved. But we did the Berlin Airlift, we can do this. This would cost Pakistan in port fees, customs and prestige. And the symbol of using its enemy, India, would be deeply felt. It would be best to develop the India route in secret and announce its opening at a time of our choosing. It would be costly and prone to sabotage—but so is our current way of moving supplies. And so was the Berlin Airlift.

Direct the Voice of America to focus on corruption in Pakistan. Hard news reporting of payoffs to politicians and generals in Islamabad would electrify the opposition in Pakistan. America’s government-funded news service could also interview responsible opposition leaders, who would call for an end to military rule and the return of civil rights for women and minorities. This means working with Pakistan’s secular Left and its reformist lawyers. Again, the Obama Administration should feel at home championing the same message as the president outlined in his famous Cairo speech.

Stop selling military gear to Pakistan that it doesn’t need to fight terrorists. Why sell anti-submarine technology or anti-aircraft equipment or advanced avionics for jet fighters to Pakistan, when no terrorist outfit was a navy or an air force? Of course, this weaponry is designed to counter India, the world’s largest democracy and a friend to the United States. And much of this technology, like the wreck of the SEAL helicopter that crashed at bin Laden’s compound, is ultimately shared with China, which is not an American ally.

Call AT&T. Every month, the phone giant pays the government of Pakistan millions of dollars. Here’s how it works. Pakistan has to pay for access to AT&T’s satellites and undersea cables and AT&T pays for access to Pakistan’s phone network. Since roughly three times as many calls originate in America than they do in Pakistan, virtually every month AT&T owes Pakistan more than Pakistan owes AT&T. By executive order or congressional action, AT&T could be required to pay those funds into an escrow account in New York instead. The money would only be released on a monthly basis as Pakistan turns over named terrorists for trials in the United States or a place it designates. This amounts to bribing Pakistan with its own money, but it would work—especially if done in secret.

Something similar could be done with foreign aid as well as payments from Visa and Mastercard.

Inside the foreign policy bureaucracy, the complaint has long been that the relationship with Pakistan is “transactional, not strategic.” Attempts to transform the relationship have always failed—and no one tried harder than Admiral Mullen. Why not make it explicitly transactional and get value for our billions? link

 

[fd24]

They could punish us further by sending you to Pakistan and see how long your racism and zionism would be tolerated.

 

[lem34]

They could punish us further by sending you to Pakistan and see how long your racism and zionism would be tolerated.

naaa thats a fate worse than death evil personified

 

[Jango]

but the thing is, US needs Pakistan until the Afghanistan pullout and a couple of years after that, and the feeling is mutual.

Forbes can do whatever it wants to, but the fact is the fact.

 

[CorporateAffairs]

...Actually, there is a lot that a creative Administration could do.

Shrink or end U.S. dependency on Pakistan as a supply line. Use our Central Asian allies to move more cargo by air and develop a supply line through India. Yes, the land route through India would be far longer and, on the Afghan side at least, roads and bridges would have to be improved. But we did the Berlin Airlift, we can do this. This would cost Pakistan in port fees, customs and prestige. And the symbol of using its enemy, India, would be deeply felt. It would be best to develop the India route in secret and announce its opening at a time of our choosing. It would be costly and prone to sabotage—but so is our current way of moving supplies. And so was the Berlin Airlift.

Direct the Voice of America to focus on corruption in Pakistan. Hard news reporting of payoffs to politicians and generals in Islamabad would electrify the opposition in Pakistan. America’s government-funded news service could also interview responsible opposition leaders, who would call for an end to military rule and the return of civil rights for women and minorities. This means working with Pakistan’s secular Left and its reformist lawyers. Again, the Obama Administration should feel at home championing the same message as the president outlined in his famous Cairo speech.

Stop selling military gear to Pakistan that it doesn’t need to fight terrorists. Why sell anti-submarine technology or anti-aircraft equipment or advanced avionics for jet fighters to Pakistan, when no terrorist outfit was a navy or an air force? Of course, this weaponry is designed to counter India, the world’s largest democracy and a friend to the United States. And much of this technology, like the wreck of the SEAL helicopter that crashed at bin Laden’s compound, is ultimately shared with China, which is not an American ally.

Call AT&T. Every month, the phone giant pays the government of Pakistan millions of dollars. Here’s how it works. Pakistan has to pay for access to AT&T’s satellites and undersea cables and AT&T pays for access to Pakistan’s phone network. Since roughly three times as many calls originate in America than they do in Pakistan, virtually every month AT&T owes Pakistan more than Pakistan owes AT&T. By executive order or congressional action, AT&T could be required to pay those funds into an escrow account in New York instead. The money would only be released on a monthly basis as Pakistan turns over named terrorists for trials in the United States or a place it designates. This amounts to bribing Pakistan with its own money, but it would work—especially if done in secret.

Something similar could be done with foreign aid as well as payments from Visa and Mastercard.

Inside the foreign policy bureaucracy, the complaint has long been that the relationship with Pakistan is “transactional, not strategic.” Attempts to transform the relationship have always failed—and no one tried harder than Admiral Mullen. Why not make it explicitly transactional and get value for our billions? link

Pak's one word answer.. "China" !!

 

[lem34]

I am so happy when I see threads like this where americans and some indians suggest punishment of pakistan because esp american racist zionists are pakistans eternal enemies and if they want to punish pakistan army and or ISI it must be because we are doing something right to wind them up so much. long live pakistan its army and agencies

 

[VCheng]

I am sure there many ways "punishment" can be meted out. BUT:

The goals of US policy are to align Pakistan with its national interests without dismissing legitimate concerns. I strongly feel that carrots will work much better than sticks in the present situation, given the history of how we got to this point.

 

[gOtHmOG]

Weak. The US has tried to find an alternate route,if there existed one it would already have shifted its supply lines

 

[lem34]

I am sure there many ways "punishment" can be meted out. BUT:

The goals of US policy are to align Pakistan with its national interests without dismissing legitimate concerns. I strongly feel that carrots will work much better than sticks in the present situation, given the history of how we got to this point.

That hits the bulls eye. americans need to win hearts and minds and as the beatles said you cant buy me love nor can you punish someone to love you and do your bidding. (I have tried both methods with Mrs B so I know)

 

[my name is arya]

well just dont give free gifts

 

[longbrained]

I hate to answer these dumb propositions but...:

Shrink or end U.S. dependency on Pakistan as a supply line. Use our Central Asian allies to move more cargo by air and develop a supply line through India. Yes, the land route through India would be far longer and, on the Afghan side at least, roads and bridges would have to be improved. But we did the Berlin Airlift, we can do this. This would cost Pakistan in port fees, customs and prestige. And the symbol of using its enemy, India, would be deeply felt. It would be best to develop the India route in secret and announce its opening at a time of our choosing. It would be costly and prone to sabotage—but so is our current way of moving supplies. And so was the Berlin Airlift.

Central Asia is a land locked mass (which Americans being weak in geography might not know). The only way to access it directly is through Iran, Russia or China. All these three countries have constitutions which forbid any form of foreign force or its transfer through their lands. Maybe humanitarian aid can get through that also with restrictions and scrutiny but weapons and soldier, no way.
India will never allow Americans to go through it and even refused air corridor in heat of 2001. The reasons being their complex internal politics, and the fact that more Muslims live in India than in Pakistan. Now, India today can sit and watch the fun but once it is perceived by its local Muslim population that India is part of Anglo-Saxon assault on Muslim and the whole nine yards of Bush's crusade and his talking to God and stuff, it would make India unstable. After many years, India is seeing some stability and progress. India would not like to see this stability to go towards a civil war by alienating some 200 million Muslims. India simply can not afford to fight a civil war or a guerrilla war just because Indian Muslims seeing it as part of American designs against Islamic world.
Also the dumb have to take note here that Berlin airlift was successful since already the agreement existed for air transport between US and USSR. In the event Pakistan is excluded so will be the air corridor which is as sovereign as Pakistani land. Not even a Cessna will be able to fly through Afghanistan if Pakistan does not want it to, let alone large military transports. The only other way to access Afghanistan is through space. And since US does not have any CURRENT capability to launch humans in space, this option is also off the table.

Direct the Voice of America to focus on corruption in Pakistan. Hard news reporting of payoffs to politicians and generals in Islamabad would electrify the opposition in Pakistan. America’s government-funded news service could also interview responsible opposition leaders, who would call for an end to military rule and the return of civil rights for women and minorities. This means working with Pakistan’s secular Left and its reformist lawyers. Again, the Obama Administration should feel at home championing the same message as the president outlined in his famous Cairo speech.

This one is again so dumb. This is just like saying MacDonald to advertise its own foods as junk. The Pakistani leaders are corrupt because of being on the side of Americans. All the corruption in Pakistan starts with foreign loans and aid. These aid and loan which are just a fraction of the cost Pakistan suffers in damages in the pat of American goals, is paid not to ameliorate those damages but actually to bribe the leaders to keep Pakistan on that path. This easy money which is not accountable in any form is the source of corruption in Pakistani society. There are two types of corruption in Pakistan. The small time corruption, like the cop taking 10 rupees for a traffic violation or similar things like that which is bad and can be controlled if people's salaries are increased. The second form of corruption which is damaging Pakistan is the big form of corruption, where these leaders make billions upon billions. This is supported by US through so called aid program which is actually a bribery program. A few senators come and sit with a few MNA and laugh out on lavish dinners, senators give a few hundred millions of dollars for MNA's to allow them do some stuff in Pakistan. Then MNA's take the money and channel it to their private bank accounts through elaborate schemes.

Stop selling military gear to Pakistan that it doesn’t need to fight terrorists. Why sell anti-submarine technology or anti-aircraft equipment or advanced avionics for jet fighters to Pakistan, when no terrorist outfit was a navy or an air force? Of course, this weaponry is designed to counter India, the world’s largest democracy and a friend to the United States. And much of this technology, like the wreck of the SEAL helicopter that crashed at bin Laden’s compound, is ultimately shared with China, which is not an American ally.

Pakistan does not need American military gear at all. The total American military gear given to Pakistan by America compared to the amount given to other countries such as India and Turkey is laughable. Just a dozen old models of F-16 which are even reported to be required American inspections so that Pakistan can not disassemble them, is useless. The pride of Pakistan military are its missiles which were made while Pakistan was under sanctions. So it is good go shun expensive American military gear and develop the needs locally using local engineers providing jobs locally and having control over it. Iran is doing it successfully so can Pakistan.

Call AT&T. Every month, the phone giant pays the government of Pakistan millions of dollars. Here’s how it works. Pakistan has to pay for access to AT&T’s satellites and undersea cables and AT&T pays for access to Pakistan’s phone network. Since roughly three times as many calls originate in America than they do in Pakistan, virtually every month AT&T owes Pakistan more than Pakistan owes AT&T. By executive order or congressional action, AT&T could be required to pay those funds into an escrow account in New York instead. The money would only be released on a monthly basis as Pakistan turns over named terrorists for trials in the United States or a place it designates. This amounts to bribing Pakistan with its own money, but it would work—especially if done in secret.

Something similar could be done with foreign aid as well as payments from Visa and Mastercard.

Another dumb proposition. The satellites Pakistan use for communications are not owned by AT&T. These satellites have been launched under a UN program for international communication and much like fiber optics are owned collectively by the world and not broke AT&T. In case of any doubt, US first should try cutting telephone and internet connections of Iran first, where more people use internet and have phones than Pakistan and lots of calls also go through US to Iran too.

About banking sanctions, again. They are ineffective. Infact in banking sector the less a country is in contact with American financial institutions and banks the better. They are going down to the bottom. When a ship is sinking one has to cut lose all ropes connecting our ship with that ship. Again case to remember is Iran. The banking sanctions have no effect on them at all. They are thriving. So can Pakistan.

 

[Gofer]

the infamous American 'bait n switch' technique.

 

[Veeru]

USA have dozens of ways to punish pakistan but it will not apply anything or do anything till USA is about to doom.

USA only

 

[bc040400065]

my godness, can someone show the map of pakistan afghanistan and their borders with other countries,,, because atleast what i know that india have no common border with afghanistan so im just trying to figure it out how the forbes suggestion of supply route through india will work.
dear Solomon, last time i checked india wanted access to afghanistan through pakistan's land route so please enlighten me how this indian secret supply route thing will work?

 

[DV RULES]

...Actually, there is a lot that a creative Administration could do.

Shrink or end U.S. dependency on Pakistan as a supply line.

Direct the Voice of America to focus on corruption in Pakistan.

Stop selling military gear to Pakistan that it doesn’t need to fight terrorists.

Something similar could be done with foreign aid as well as payments from Visa and Mastercard.

Inside the foreign policy bureaucracy, the complaint has long been that the relationship with Pakistan is “transactional, not strategic.” Attempts to transform the relationship have always failed—and no one tried harder than Admiral Mullen. Why not make it explicitly transactional and get value for our billions? link

I wish that US will use any option stated above and Pakistan need it to open eyes of politicians in order to work for strengthen regional geopolitics. Pakistan should refresh its uncertain relations with Russian federation & even with India to help in regional stability and security from any illegal occupation under flag of WOT. This is time when Pakistan can boost up ties with SCO countries to ensure solution of regional problems without third continental party.