Once again, we are hearing calls for more US equipment like super Cobra and Apache - great aircraft -- but friends think past the present troubles that have beset Pakistan -- US equipment comes with US strings, it always will, in other words US will define PA aviation needs, this imples a much deeper startegic relationship -- today there is a strong effort being made to coerse the Pakistani state against Iran, and trouble is also being made further in Central Asia by stoking ethnic feuds, Kashmir is on the boil - All this is preparation for the possiblity of a larger, regional conflict - would you really want a Pakistan tied to US ?? Would you really want a Pakistan that has no option but to continue to rely on the US for as important a weapon system as attack helicopters?
Some here have asked whether I have gone Anti-US, but I will say that I am one of the foremost supporters of close relations with US, but this relationship must have basis, must have foundation -- in no time the US will be even more anti-Pakistan than it already is - this will be a reflection of her internal political problems and her effort to muscle into Central Asia and South Asia, areas which it will challenege existing relationships (read the creation of armed hostilities)
Lets just think this through - we need and would like US attack helicopters, but not at any price, certainly not at the price of making Pakistan captive to US policy once again. Lets explore absolutely any option other than the US.
Perhaps in the future there may be a basis or foundation for the kind of relations we hoped we would have with US, but lets not hold our breath for that to come about - for such a thing to happen US will have to change internally and that's not going to happen with anything the PA aviation will be able to effect.
