US-Afghanistan supply lines remain open after Pakistan funding cut, Mattis says

[Musafir117]

Why not PTI block the roads once they did it on drone strikes
Once my life I with them on that.

 

[xyxmt]

has anything changed on any issue after Trump tweets....NO
will US cut aids....NO...they might cut aid but they cannot cut Coalition support funds that are for supply lines
will supply lines close...NO

 

[Inception-06]

If they have an alternative route then let them use that! That is what mattis says in the article. Musharraf needs to be shot for allowing this supply free of cost and the successors.

https://twitter.com/x/status/949403096429547520

https://twitter.com/x/status/949398802393391104

Musharraf must be hanged, he should explain this in in his childish interviews !

 

[Sully3]

HAHA.

post reported

 

[Falcon26]

Definitely. I was extremely surprised to learn that Pak-Afgan transit trade, the Afghan vehicles pay literally nothing. And they are using Pak's infrastructure and degrading it daily. Who does a deal like this?

It’s often claimed that “Pakistanis have mastered the art of negotiating with a gun to their head” but seeing all the blunders it has made, this is hard to imagine. Pakistan has consistently taken deals that harm its core interests repeatedly. Both the military and civilian leadership have done so. It’s one of the most buffling aspects in international diplomacy

 

[Dil Pakistan]

Pakistanis have become masters in playing this "Cat & Mouse" game with US.

All the rhetoric, of the last few days, of national pride etc. is for Pakistan's internal consumption only. They already know that they cannot fight a hot war with US. They also know that US has a lot of leverage, which they can use against Pakistan in a stepwise fashion.

But! at the same time Pakistan will not budge on its stance on acting against Haqqanis and Afghan Talibans - this is crucial for US and this is what US will not get.

Now! whatever the leverage US has, and whatever it wants to use, they cannot achieve their objective without Pakistan's agreement. Even a "hot war", initiated by US, cannot achieve the objective because Pakistan will simply move its "assets" deep inside its territory ("Quetta Shura" can easily become a "Lahore Shura").

Therefore, what we will see in the coming months will be as follows:

1. US will gradually tighten the screws, as much as it can.
2. Pakistan will face economic hardships.
3. There will be political turmoil too.
4. Failing with the above, US may try few "hot" pursuits and attacks in the border areas. But this will be mere frustration.
5. Pakistan will take the hit and not respond (there will be a real game of "poker" here).
6. Pakistan will use these hot attacks to its advantage on the international diplomatic and political front.
7. US cannot achieve anything in UN, because Pakistan has too many friends to protect her there.

The biggest loss for Pakistan will be more loss of civilian and army lives. This is where we should focus to minimize our losses.

The other issue Pakistan needs to focus will be, how to control the political fallout and damage to national pride when US makes military hits on Pakistan.

Economic losses are nothing because, thanks to China, major projects are in motion and will be completed in the coming years.

@BHarwana ; @air marshal ; @AZADPAKISTAN2009 ; @Imran Khan

 

[Falcon26]

Pakistanis have become masters in playing this "Cat & Mouse" game with US.

All the rhetoric, of the last few days, of national pride etc. is for Pakistan's internal consumption only. They already know that they cannot fight a hot war with US. They also know that US has a lot of leverage, which they can use against Pakistan in a stepwise fashion.

But! at the same time Pakistan will not budge on its stance on acting against Haqqanis and Afghan Talibans - this is crucial for US and this is what US will not get.

Now! whatever the leverage US has, and whatever it wants to use, they cannot achieve their objective without Pakistan's agreement. Even a "hot war", initiated by US, cannot achieve the objective because Pakistan will simply move its "assets" deep inside its territory ("Quetta Shura" can easily become a "Lahore Shura").

Therefore, what we will see in the coming months will be as follows:

1. US will gradually tighten the screws, as much as it can.
2. Pakistan will face economic hardships.
3. There will be political turmoil too.
4. Failing with the above, US may try few "hot" pursuits and attacks in the border areas. But this will be mere frustration.
5. Pakistan will take the hit and not respond (there will be a real game of "poker" here).
6. Pakistan will use these hot attacks to its advantage on the international diplomatic and political front.
7. US cannot achieve anything in UN, because Pakistan has too many friends to protect her there.

The biggest loss for Pakistan will be more loss of civilian and army lives. This is where we should focus to minimize our losses.

The other issue Pakistan needs to focus will be, how to control the political fallout and damage to national pride when US makes military hits on Pakistan.

Economic losses are nothing because, thanks to China, major projects are in motion and will be completed in the coming years.

@BHarwana ; @air marshal ; @AZADPAKISTAN2009 ; @Imran Khan

Pakistanis always tend misread the political and strategic atmosphere. We are seeing a repeat of this again. The Trump administration, and Obama before it have taken number of proping steps to gauge Pakistani response. Time and again, it has been found that Pakistan was bluffing. This latest steps and Pakistan’s reaction is a best case scenario. It’s begining of what’s to come. Pakistanis are fooling themselves if they think they can weather the storm by being a good boy.

The Obama administration was following the late Taliban leader from Iran & only targeted him once he entered Pakistani territory. Why is this? Truth is, Pakistan has been found out to be a loud barker that can’t back up its threats. The US can’t fly any drone let alone an armed one over Iran. But it does in pakistan brushing aside Pakistani concerns. In fact, it sends commandos deep inside Pakistan to target it’s enemies. Pakistan is a nuclear power. not Iran. But Pakistan is seen as a punching bag. You need to ask yourself why this is. My view is your military leadership just like their civilian counterparts are bunch of weaklings that have no interest in disturbing their elite lifestyles. They don’t have the stomach to confront the challenges they face. Instead, they issue statements for public consumption they have no interest in backing up. For years they claimed that they were against drone strikes when these drones were taking off from Pakistani bases with active backing of military leadership.

 

[Riz]

No need to cut supply line, just increase the taxes 200%

 

[Imran Khan]

pakistan is a banana republic

 

[Awan68]

If they have an alternative route then let them use that! That is what mattis says in the article. Musharraf needs to be shot for allowing this supply free of cost and the successors.

https://twitter.com/x/status/949403096429547520

https://twitter.com/x/status/949398802393391104

The one who okayed the purchace of ah1z's from the yanks needs to be shot..

 

[Dil Pakistan]

Pakistanis always tend misread the political and strategic atmosphere. We are seeing a repeat of this again. The Trump administration, and Obama before it have taken number of proping steps to gauge Pakistani response. Time and again, it has been found that Pakistan was bluffing. This latest steps and Pakistan’s reaction is a best case scenario. It’s begining of what’s to come. Pakistanis are fooling themselves if they think they can weather the storm by being a good boy.

The Obama administration was following the late Taliban leader from Iran & only targeted him once he entered Pakistani territory. Why is this? Truth is, Pakistan has been found out to be a loud barker that can’t back up its threats. The US can’t fly any drone let alone an armed one over Iran. But it does in pakistan brushing aside Pakistani concerns. In fact, it sends commandos deep inside Pakistan to target it’s enemies. Pakistan is a nuclear power. not Iran. But Pakistan is seen as a punching bag. You need to ask yourself why this is. My view is your military leadership just like their civilian counterparts are bunch of weaklings that have no interest in disturbing their elite lifestyles. They don’t have the stomach to confront the challenges they face. Instead, they issue statements for public consumption they have no interest in backing up. For years they claimed that they were against drone strikes when these drones were taking off from Pakistani bases with active backing of military leadership.

Very wrong interpretations, conclusions and assertions; I must say.

You have totally forgot that, whenever US has made deals with Pakistan in the past (be it Russia in Afgh or after 9/11), there was a military ruler in Pakistan. Naturally, a military ruler had limited room to negotiate and surrendered early to the US demands.

Now, although the military in Pakistan is still calling the shots, but there is an elected govt. on the front scene. Therefore, the leverages and the options are very different.

Include in this equation the Chinese and the Russian factor.

Pakistan army has much more manoeuvrability now compared to anytime in the past.

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

Cut the f**king supply line if you have any dignity for god sake.

It’s often claimed that “Pakistanis have mastered the art of negotiating with a gun to their head” but seeing all the blunders it has made, this is hard to imagine. Pakistan has consistently taken deals that harm its core interests repeatedly. Both the military and civilian leadership have done so. It’s one of the most buffling aspects in international diplomacy

2 things

1.If US makes a deal with Tehran giving them laxation over a new deal( coming soon) they could ask in return a passage for their supplies to Afganistan which can happen openly or in a clandestine manner docked at chahbahar (an Indian run port)and delivered to Herat by a third country like Indian trucks. Notice the abrupt ending of the chaos that was there past week, i might be wrong but it can be like someone pulled the plug of those protestors?
If the above scenario is true Trumps tweet can be more of an attempt to get a reaction out of Pakistan . Closing the GLOC would only give US a reason to declare ISI/Pakistan Army an aidor of their enemy.Not just that they will push their way with Iran in getting a way.


2. Alternatively US can prepare a full throttle to topple the regime in Tehran and godforbid this happens they will have the new govt. give maximum autonomy to the province of Sistan Baluchistan on the lines of Iraqi Kurdistan and use it to neutralize the Gwadar chapter of OBOR.

If PAkistan takes a hard stance and blocks GLOC it will corner US in Afghanistan and it will push them to go for either of the above two scenarios.

The best way out for Pakistan is to keep US engaged in Afganistan and maintain a status quo. This is a war of fatigue and nerves, whoever gets tired first will walk out. Yes do keep them at bay and make sure their drones dont come in.Pakistan should also create a buffer zone in Afgan territory to make sure Afgan land no more gets used against them, get the fencing done asap, send the refugees back, make space in the local politics there, do surgical incursions when needed..This is how it should be for now.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

Quite an interesting take on events.
Despite all of the assessments u, me and others have made on said topic in various threads. One variable is quite unpredictable and matters the most. The Pakistani Politicians if they can somehow reform themselves either by danda or by virtue, this crisis can be navigated.

2 things

1.If US makes a deal with Tehran giving them laxation over a new deal( coming soon) they could ask in return a passage for their supplies to Afganistan which can happen openly or in a clandestine manner docked at chahbahar (an Indian run port)and delivered to Herat by a third country like Indian trucks. Notice the abrupt ending of the chaos that was there past week, i might be wrong but it can be like someone pulled the plug of those protestors?
If the above scenario is true Trumps tweet can be more of an attempt to get a reaction out of Pakistan . Closing the GLOC would only give US a reason to declare ISI/Pakistan Army an aidor of their enemy.Not just that they will push their way with Iran in getting a way.


2. Alternatively US can prepare a full throttle to topple the regime in Tehran and godforbid this happens they will have the new govt. give maximum autonomy to the province of Sistan Baluchistan on the lines of Iraqi Kurdistan and use it to neutralize the Gwadar chapter of OBOR.

If PAkistan takes a hard stance and blocks GLOC it will corner US in Afghanistan and it will push them to go for either of the above two scenarios.

The best way out for Pakistan is to keep US engaged in Afganistan and maintain a status quo. This is a war of fatigue and nerves, whoever gets tired first will walk out. Yes do keep them at bay and make sure their drones dont come in.Pakistan should also create a buffer zone in Afgan territory to make sure Afgan land no more gets used against them, get the fencing done asap, send the refugees back, make space in the local politics there, do surgical incursions when needed..This is how it should be for now.

 

[Falcon26]

2 things

1.If US makes a deal with Tehran giving them laxation over a new deal( coming soon) they could ask in return a passage for their supplies to Afganistan which can happen openly or in a clandestine manner docked at chahbahar (an Indian run port)and delivered to Herat by a third country like Indian trucks. Notice the abrupt ending of the chaos that was there past week, i might be wrong but it can be like someone pulled the plug of those protestors?
If the above scenario is true Trumps tweet can be more of an attempt to get a reaction out of Pakistan . Closing the GLOC would only give US a reason to declare ISI/Pakistan Army an aidor of their enemy.Not just that they will push their way with Iran in getting a way.


2. Alternatively US can prepare a full throttle to topple the regime in Tehran and godforbid this happens they will have the new govt. give maximum autonomy to the province of Sistan Baluchistan on the lines of Iraqi Kurdistan and use it to neutralize the Gwadar chapter of OBOR.

If PAkistan takes a hard stance and blocks GLOC it will corner US in Afghanistan and it will push them to go for either of the above two scenarios.

The best way out for Pakistan is to keep US engaged in Afganistan and maintain a status quo. This is a war of fatigue and nerves, whoever gets tired first will walk out. Yes do keep them at bay and make sure their drones dont come in.Pakistan should also create a buffer zone in Afgan territory to make sure Afgan land no more gets used against them, get the fencing done asap, send the refugees back, make space in the local politics there, do surgical incursions when needed..This is how it should be for now.

I disagree with that. Iran has shown time and again that it will stand up for itself. The Iranian population despite their domestic differences are generally united on foreign policy issues. The recent riots were a result of economic situation there. The last time US commandos were sent to Iran, they were shot down and arrested. It’s a country that takes it red lines very seriously and generally the state has a close eye on movements of what it considers anti-state actors both individuals and groups and they go very hard against them. In Pakistan, these lines are very blurred. Granted, it might serve some strategic purpose to have the GLOC/ALOC open, but why shouldnt pakistan charge them at a rate of its choosing? Your foreign minister is on record saying GLOC/ALOC are being provided free of charge. With all the hostile steps being taken against your country, it’s mindboggling to understand why you can’t charge for these lines of communication. Too often Pakistanis tend to take major positions without any careful analysis. It’s a position that is informed by ignorance or hubris. It’s a common feature among its policy makers and public alike.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Pak has become like a double-edged sword for the USA!!!! Every action or inaction from Pak is hurting the US interests big time!!!! It all started with Pressler sanctions!!! It reminds me of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin!!! When he was denied the payment by the town heads for his cleaning out the rats by playing his pipe, he just changed the tune to drive all of their kids - except a lame one - away, and along it sealed their future for good!!!!!