Is US succumbing to Pakistani diplomacy?

[idune]

Abhey chawal

I am highlighting the possibility of US imposing crippling economic sanctions,

You run your mouth about imagination but can not even say what are sanctions US will impose and possible impacts??? why would anyone give a hoot to your master branded fear mongering????
Oh, speak English, I don't speak Urdu.

 

[LeGenD]

You run your mouth about imagination but can not even say what are sanctions US will impose and possible impacts??? why would anyone give a hoot to your master branded fear mongering????

They have halted all kinds of "military aid" to Pakistan as we speak.

Next, they might decide to stop IMF from injecting loans into our economy in order to stimulate it like it has since 2008. Afterwards, they might decide to impose sanctions on CPEC related projects by exerting pressure on Chinese state and corporations to suspend their activities inside Pakistan for indefinite period, and they can also go as far as to enforce blockade of flow of Chinese goods through CPEC to the Middle East. China can endure this pressure because it can continue its trading activities through sea-based routes. However, what will Pakistan do?

Business men do not like to operate in volatile sanctions-prone climate, I tell you. I have been in business and I understand the risks.

Again, I am highlighting the possibilities of how far Trump administration might be willing to go to pressure Pakistan into to doing its bidding. And the aforementioned possibilities are realistic. I am really concerned for the well-being of my country and my family.

Pakistani political climate is in disarray; PML(N) led leadership is busy in its "corruption bachao" scheme as we speak. Diplomacy has been left to few individuals who haven't done their homework.

I am scratching my head just like any fellow Pakistani, thinking WTH is happening. However, I do not harbor any illusions of Pakistani invulnerability in this mess.

 

[idune]

How can I tell what kind of sanctions they have considered to impose on Pakistan?

They have halted all kinds of "military aid" to Pakistan as we speak. Next, they might decide to stop IMF from injecting loans into our economy in order to stimulate it like they have since 2008. Afterwards, they might decide to impose sanctions on CPEC related projects by putting pressure on Chinese corporations involved and they can also go as far as to enforce blockade of flow of Chinese goods through CPEC to the Middle East. China can endure this pressure because it can continue its trading activities through sea-based routes. However, what will Pakistan do?

Are you that naive? I dont see you are fit for discussing the topic. Military "aid" is virtually non consequential. Pakistani PM and general already told US that. What are you harping about???

As far as IMF concern, their assistance stopped more than a year ago and Pakistan still managing at macro level.

CPEC projects are funded by China, not US or IMF. China has enough strength to face US stupidity. US blockade of Chinese trade - there you earn the "nuts" accolade.

 

[LeGenD]

Are you that naive? I dont see you are fit for discussing the topic. Military "aid" is virtually non consequential. Pakistani PM and general already told US that. What are you harping about???

No, I am not, but you are definitely naive.

How do you know that their "military aid" is virtually non consequential to Pakistani military in its struggles against terrorism?

I think you need to watch this interview:

Money doesn't grow on trees. Tanks, Jets, and other weapon systems are expensive assets to maintain and utilize in various operations. Pakistan could not bear the expenses of War on Terror on its own; all forms of aid were necessary to prevent a collapse of Pakistani economy in 2008 and military operations against rogue elements so far. Pakistan also has to manage its defenses against India.

What you see on media is for public consumption, to prevent panic. However, reality is much more complex.

As far as IMF concern, their assistance stopped more than a year ago and Pakistan still managing at macro level.

That doe not suggest that Pakistani economic woes are over. Have a look: https://tradingeconomics.com/pakistan/external-debt

Pakistan is finding itself in a debt trap and unable to get out of it due to rampant corruption, trade deficit and Industrial shortcomings. Unless, Pakistan is able to address these matters, it will never be able to escape from the vicious cycle of debt trap it has become accustomed to.

Good explanation in this article: http://labs1.tribune.com.pk/the-express-tribune-explains-foreign-debt/

CPEC projects are funded by China, not US or IMF. China has enough strength to face US stupidity. US blockade of Chinese trade - there you earn the "nuts" accolade.

You do not understand how sanctions are imposed and what type of sanctions can be imposed.

North Korea does not have trade relations with the US so how come US is able to dictate the terms of its trading activities with lets say China?

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/arti...tions-not-trump-insults-matter-to-north-korea
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...sanctions-against-north-korea-trade-data-show

China is the largest trading partner of the US and not immune to its pressures. This is what you need to understand:

"New U.S. sanctions that give the Treasury Department the authority to block banks and businesses that do business with North Korea from using the U.S. financial system are a powerful tool."

Emphasis mine. Those banks and businesses are Chinese; US can influence them in regards to their dealings with North Korea by informing them that they will loose access to American markets in the process. This is how they put pressure on them to freeze their dealings with North Korea.

US is the 2nd largest trading partner of Pakistan and can not only freeze its trading activities but can throw a wrench between trading activities of Pakistan and China, if it wants to.

That is how US has forced North Korean leadership to the negotiable table. Chinese sources as well as US secretary of state Rex Tillerson have confirmed that these talks will occur very soon.

Please come out of your imaginary delusions.

We live in an era of GLOBALIZATION. Countries that are failing to become productive members of this phenomenon, are in deep trouble. Look at the situation of Venezuela for instance.

 

[idune]

How do you know that their "military aid" is virtually non consequential to Pakistani military in its struggles against terrorism?
Money doesn't grow on trees. Tanks, Jets, and other weapon systems are expensive assets to maintain and utilize in various operations. Pakistan could not bear the expenses of War on Terror on its own;

Because more than one Pakistani officials including PM said so. These people run the country as oppose to some American puppet.
Pakistan fought war against terrorism largely from its own resources: FO on US aid cut
SAM Report, January 6, 2018

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, file photo
A day after the Trump administration announced that it was suspending its entire security assistance to Pakistan, the Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement saying the country’s officials were engaged with the US administration on “security cooperation” and were awaiting further details.

The plan to cut security assistance for Pakistan had come as the Trump administration sought more cooperation from Islamabad as part of its strategy in Afghanistan. US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert had said at a news briefing in Washington that the cut-off was not permanent and only affects military assistance.

The FO’s statement, issued by Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on Friday (Jan 5), said that the “impact of the US’s decision on pursuit of common objectives would emerge more clearly in due course”.

“However, it needs to be appreciated that Pakistan has fought the war against terrorism largely from its own resources, which has cost over $120 billion in 15 years,” read the statement. “We are determined to continue to do all it takes to secure the lives of our citizens and broader stability in the region.”

The statement also adds that US-Pakistan cooperation in fighting terrorism directly serves US national security interests as well as the larger interests of the international community.

“Through a series of major counter-terrorism operations, Pakistan cleared all these [conflicted] areas, resulting in the elimination of an organised terrorist presence leading to significant improvement in security in Pakistan.”

The statement also said Pakistan is awaiting reciprocal action from the Afghan side “in terms of clearance of vast stretches of ungoverned spaces on the Afghan side, bilateral border management, repatriation of Afghan Refugees, controlling poppy cultivation, drug trafficking and initiating Afghan-led and owned political reconciliation in Afghanistan.”

Aid cut-off

The Trump administration had announced on Thursday that its security assistance to Pakistan would be suspended until “the country proves its commitment to fight all terrorist groups operating in the region”.

Meanwhile, official sources had told Dawn that the proposed plan does not call for “a total cut-off”; instead, it suggests a “condition and issue-based approach”.

The aid suspension will include equipment and the transfer of security-related funds, with possible exceptions for US national security reasons.

“We are still working through the numbers,” Nauert had said when asked to give an estimated impact of the suspension in dollars.
https://southasianmonitor.com/2018/...ar-terrorism-largely-resources-fo-us-aid-cut/

 

[LeGenD]

Because more than one Pakistani officials including PM said so. These people run the country as oppose to some American puppet.
Pakistan fought war against terrorism largely from its own resources: FO on US aid cut
SAM Report, January 6, 2018

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, file photo
A day after the Trump administration announced that it was suspending its entire security assistance to Pakistan, the Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement saying the country’s officials were engaged with the US administration on “security cooperation” and were awaiting further details.

The plan to cut security assistance for Pakistan had come as the Trump administration sought more cooperation from Islamabad as part of its strategy in Afghanistan. US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert had said at a news briefing in Washington that the cut-off was not permanent and only affects military assistance.

The FO’s statement, issued by Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on Friday (Jan 5), said that the “impact of the US’s decision on pursuit of common objectives would emerge more clearly in due course”.

“However, it needs to be appreciated that Pakistan has fought the war against terrorism largely from its own resources, which has cost over $120 billion in 15 years,” read the statement. “We are determined to continue to do all it takes to secure the lives of our citizens and broader stability in the region.”

The statement also adds that US-Pakistan cooperation in fighting terrorism directly serves US national security interests as well as the larger interests of the international community.

“Through a series of major counter-terrorism operations, Pakistan cleared all these [conflicted] areas, resulting in the elimination of an organised terrorist presence leading to significant improvement in security in Pakistan.”

The statement also said Pakistan is awaiting reciprocal action from the Afghan side “in terms of clearance of vast stretches of ungoverned spaces on the Afghan side, bilateral border management, repatriation of Afghan Refugees, controlling poppy cultivation, drug trafficking and initiating Afghan-led and owned political reconciliation in Afghanistan.”

Aid cut-off

The Trump administration had announced on Thursday that its security assistance to Pakistan would be suspended until “the country proves its commitment to fight all terrorist groups operating in the region”.

Meanwhile, official sources had told Dawn that the proposed plan does not call for “a total cut-off”; instead, it suggests a “condition and issue-based approach”.

The aid suspension will include equipment and the transfer of security-related funds, with possible exceptions for US national security reasons.

“We are still working through the numbers,” Nauert had said when asked to give an estimated impact of the suspension in dollars.
https://southasianmonitor.com/2018/...ar-terrorism-largely-resources-fo-us-aid-cut/

Utterly baseless political speeches, completely devoid of facts and statistical data.

Do you think that Pakistan had like 200 billion USD in its reserves? Have a look: https://tradingeconomics.com/pakistan/foreign-exchange-reserves

Pakistan did not had much liquidity to fulfill its domestic expenses, let alone expend 100+ billion USD on War on Terror through its own pockets.

FYI: https://www.cgdev.org/page/aid-pakistan-numbers

Much of the funds for War on Terror were generated through supply routes for NATO and foreign aid in different forms. And our personal investments in War on Terror were reimbursed to us from time-to-time.

Why do you think Pakistani economy nearly collapsed in 2008 even after receiving so much aid from US since 2001? Why we had to knock on the door of IMF to bail our economy out? An economy reaches the point of collapse when economic obligations cannot be fulfilled. At this juncture, borrowing becomes necessary.

It is a common practice of our politicians to fool the masses with political narratives and falsehood. You will not understand because you do not live here.

I attended a government-funded economic forum recently and I can tell you that scores of attendants were yawning and interested in personal matters. Ishaq Dollar syndrome.

 

[imadul]

Mattis has strong ties to Pakistan's military and over the course of his career has developed somewhat of a softspot for the country. Whether he can sway the civilian leadership is another thing.

No Sir, Americans remain loyal to their country and interests unlike Pakistani generals who have vested interests in USA.

 

[Crystal-Clear]

usa acts as a catalyst to boost up the relation between Pakistan & China and Pakistan & Russia .
.
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after all russia planted trump for a reason .

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

That means those Mattis connections inside Pakistani military listening/acting on Mattis request and influencing Pakistani policy and decision making. At this juncture, can Pakistan afford to allow such back channel exploitation by US? If anything, these connections or "beneficiary class" within establishment are biggest road block in pursuing Pakistani interest and gaining strategic independence.

'strategic independence' is a mirage, if its not Us, China it will be something else.