There is much about modern asymmetrical warfare that you do not seem to understand even in theory, my friend. Every war is shaped by political objectives and considerations. War On Terror is not about fighting to exterminate affected countries but an effort to curb hardcore terrorist organizations and to reshape political landscape of affected countries and these kind of interventions are producing mixed results. Troops are trained to fight and not police affected environments; the latter responsibility fall on the shoulders of a government but potential allies on the ground are not perfect and corruption-proof. Some of the hardcore terrorist organizations could be vanquished, others are under pressure to reform themselves. As to costs incurred for these conflicts - see post # 33 above for further insight.
Pakistani armed forces defeated TTP inside Pakistan no doubt but they received beneficial support from Americans for the needful (Funding; Training; Drone Strikes; Intel sharing); TTP as a movement still exist because it found breathing space in Afghanistan (unfortunately). Some do not want to give Americans credit where due however because Anti-American sentiments are too strong and shape prevalent narratives. Ground realities are not as Black and White as you attempt to cast them in your posts, my friend; there are 50 Shades of Grey in the mix. The bigger picture is this: Pakistan helped Americans defeat Al-Qaeda Network and they helped Pakistan defeat TTP - a Fair trade.
Pakistani armed forces receive good training no doubt but they are not made up of superhumans receiving divine guidance at every step - they learn from mistakes and experiences much like any other force in the world; either these realities are not common knowledge or intentionally overlooked in some circles to shape prevalent narratives. It is important to look at developments objectively and give credit where due instead of turning into a propaganda machine.
Please do study "Operation Inherent Resolve" - a masterpiece of War On Terror in recent times.
Well sure, america has helped Pakistan, but the ttp problem only surfaced after the american led invasion of Afghanistan. Prior to that, there wasn't any semblance of an organized terrorist group that challenged Pakistan and carried out attacks on the scale and devastation, as ttp. The area of Swat, was under defacto control of the ttp. From Miranshah and Wana, to Datta Khel, Parachinar and right down to Karachi, ttp was attacking Pakistan's Military.
As for giving credit, well even there the americans have been found stingy and self-centered. Failing to acknowledge how Pakistan's UN Peacekeepers in Somalia rescued the americans from being completely overrun. The western media portrayal of Pakistan is and always has been a negative one, bordering demonizing Pakistan. And what about Pakistan's instrumental role in ending the Cold War with the defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan? No one has ever mentioned nor attributed this to Pakistan, in the western MSM .The incompetence of the americans (if you can actually call it that) is such an insult, one can not and ought not forget (as a Pakistani) when in 2011 Pakistan Military and the american-nato Military, exchanged blows in what was an aggression perpetrated by the Americans. Pakistani Soldiers died in an unprovoked attack by the americans.
20 years of american military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, a time equivalent to an entire generation ... and what has it yielded? Al-Qaeda ... ISIS ... Nusra Front ... a terrorist breeding ground in Libya ... terrorism in Europe ... mass migration of Africa into the West.
The War on Terror has given birth to more new terror groups, in the last 20 years than it has compared to the rest of history. It almost feels like the peaceful decade of the 90s when america became the sole superpower, was too much to handle. Like a cancer in waiting, the moment clinton's two terms were over, 9/11 happens. Everyone seems to forget the 2000 elections were a farce. What happened 20 years ago in the Bush/Gore fiasco in Florida? I would've doubted Al Gore would EVER order the invasions of Afghanistan (2001) or Iraq (2003).
I appreciate your post, giving a different perspective on things.
