It is too late for such arguments. The people are bitterly opposed to US meddling in Pakistan. The US has truly exposed itself after the latest regime change debacle. Pakistanis want an independent foreign policy. Pakistanis want a government in charge of foreign affairs. Pakistanis don't want a COAS making and breaking governments at the request of Americans. Pakistanis don't want a COAS trained and selected by the Americans.
You are right. The F-16 breed is dying in Pakistan. Bajwa can sit this one out.
Regime change joke you mean?
Americans don't give a damn about IK or NS or anyone else because Pakistan isn't that important anymore. Your man, IK, was going to the IMF the same as the chap in the office right now (and I would support both of them in doing so!) Pakistan's economic survival is inextricably linked with the IMF. Its just that our awam, as always, is kept ignorant about what makes Pakistan run. What sells in Pakistan, more than education and logic, is poisonous propaganda and the west/amreeka is always ripe for that despite the fact that the majority of Pakistanis would have no qualms about going and working over there and sending money back from the West to their loved ones or taking advantage of the educational opportunities etc. etc.
As an experiment, perhaps we should learn to see ourselves from the lens of Afghans who we look upon as ingrates because despite getting help/assistance from us, they always bad-mouth us. This is what we, as Pakistanis, come across to others in the West who have tried to help us in the past. They did not always have insincere motives about helping us, but over time they too wisened up yet our poisonous view of them has remained constant. Over time, perceptions became reality on both sides and such is life.
Like idiots running from one camp to another has never worked for Pakistan, yet our nation is incapable of understanding such things. We are too emotional to realize that we need to learn to make hay while the sun shines. Looking ahead, Pakistan should stay aligned with all sides and this includes the Americans. If others are managing it, then we need to find a way to do it as well. But perhaps this type of thinking is a "dying breed" and we should continue to plunge into camp politics (this time with Russia!) despite being ravaged by it over the past 60 years.
Lastly, American training to this day makes a difference, as does the military equipment in our use. No ifs and buts about this and I can put money on this despite the political rhetoric by the anti-American lobby in Pakistan.
Thank you!