Afghan transit trade'Treaty being used to bypass NATO supply suspension’

[illusion8]

Its a good move by Pakistan, but it seems a bit too early to use your trump card i.e. supply routes. Pakistan should define whether it wants to support the WOT or not officially.If 'NO' then close all routes and all cooperation, if they are still undecided then its a knee jerk reaction.

Pakistani people are against the WOT, but the government is supposedly still a part of it. Make a clear policy stand so at least people of PK and the world knows what exactly the government is thinking. What happens if you again resume the transit - people opposing the WOT look stupid.

Drones do operate from within Pakistan also or only AF.

 

[Developereo]

We know Pakistan will face severest sanctions similar to Iran post afghan war indefinitely,

If Pakistan is put under sanctions again, we would have nothing left to lose and I say we offer a nuclear umbrella to Iran.

Let the games begin!

 

[Developereo]

Pakistani people are against the WOT, but the government is supposedly still a part of it.

The West wanted a democracy in Pakistan. Here we go.

 

[illusion8]

The West wanted a democracy in Pakistan. Here we go.

The thing is how will isolating yourself from the west affect your economy, Is Pakistan geared up to withstand that? Sanctions will not affect your defense because it is almost completely china centric, but what about economy?

 

[Developereo]

The thing is how will isolating yourself from the west affect your economy, Is Pakistan geared up to withstand that? Sanctions will not affect your defense because it is almost completely china centric, but what about economy?

That begs the question what kinds of sanctions might be imposed. If they are only military, then it's manageable. But on what pretext would the UN impose full sanctions on Pakistan?

NATO would need to re-justify its mandate in Afghanistan but that runs counter to the myth being propagated in Bonn that its almost "mission accomplished" and troops can come home.

Finally, as I wrote above, if sanctions are imposed, Pakistan should sign a military pact with Iran offering full nuclear protection. It would make us an instant star throughout the Muslim world, from Morocco to Malaysia, and increase our leverage with China and Russia in the bargain.

A Pak-Iran alliance would also have 100% control over post-NATO Afghanistan. Pakistan has influence with the Pakhtuns and Iran with the other ethnicities. Between Pakistan and Iran we could tell NATO, "we'll take it from here; you can go home now."

 

[salvage]

this oil should go to our patrol pumps and gas stations.......hopefully we are looking Patrol at RS.30/- per Liter soon.

 

[illusion8]

That begs the question what kinds of sanctions might be imposed. If they are only military, then it's manageable. But on what pretext would the UN impose full sanctions on Pakistan?

NATO would need to re-justify its mandate in Afghanistan but that runs counter to the myth being propagated in Bonn that its almost "mission accomplished" and troops can come home.

Finally, as I wrote above, if sanctions are imposed, Pakistan should sign a military pact with Iran offering full nuclear protection. It would make us an instant star throughout the Muslim world, from Morocco to Malaysia, and increase our leverage with China and Russia in the bargain.

A Pak-Iran alliance would also have 100% control over post-NATO Afghanistan. Pakistan has influence with the Pakhtuns and Iran with the other ethnicities. Between Pakistan and Iran we could tell NATO, "we'll take it from here; you can go home now."

Sanctions against PK is far fetched and will be opposed by a number of countries including even India, but denying access to supplies in AF will affect Inter governmental relationships between PK and the US, NATO countries and India which is involved in developmental activities in AF.

NATO's mandate does look complete but they will also think of what will be the situation after their withdrawal, Will AF be able to resist the Taliban and avoid going back to being regressive or move forward. PK is the key here they can make or break AF. The next three years will be quite interesting. What is the actual stand of PK with regards to AF? by the looks of it they cannot handle AF alone - if what happened to AF after the Soviets left is any yardstick then PK does not have the right solution for AF.

I don't know the actual ground realities between PK and Iran so cannot say anything on it. The US has invested a trillion dollars on this war and to expect them to just up and walk away is naive. Not withstanding a lot of big powers namely Russia, India China are interested in AF's future and stability.

 

[53fd]

Its a good move by Pakistan, but it seems a bit too early to use your trump card i.e. supply routes. Pakistan should define whether it wants to support the WOT or not officially.If 'NO' then close all routes and all cooperation, if they are still undecided then its a knee jerk reaction.

Pakistani people are against the WOT, but the government is supposedly still a part of it. Make a clear policy stand so at least people of PK and the world knows what exactly the government is thinking. What happens if you again resume the transit - people opposing the WOT look stupid.

Drones do operate from within Pakistan also or only AF.

Pakistan has a lot of 'trump' cards besides the supply routes.

 

[illusion8]

Pakistan has a lot of 'trump' cards besides the supply routes.

sure, you have other cards to play pertaining to NATO and AF, But the supply route via Pakistan is the most important one, for which you are relied on by NATO forces.

Others have been exhausted to some extent after OBL incident namely sharing of intelligence with NATO which has drastically reduced, joint exercises between NATO and PK to take out extremists - which has been put on the back burner.

 

[Developereo]

Sanctions against PK is far fetched and will be opposed by a number of countries including even India, but denying access to supplies in AF will affect Inter governmental relationships between PK and the US, NATO countries and India which is involved in developmental activities in AF.

NATO's mandate does look complete but they will also think of what will be the situation after their withdrawal, Will AF be able to resist the Taliban and avoid going back to being regressive or move forward. PK is the key here they can make or break AF. The next three years will be quite interesting. What is the actual stand of PK with regards to AF? by the looks of it they cannot handle AF alone - if what happened to AF after the Soviets left is any yardstick then PK does not have the right solution for AF.

I don't know the actual ground realities between PK and Iran so cannot say anything on it. The US has invested a trillion dollars on this war and to expect them to just up and walk away is naive. Not withstanding a lot of big powers namely Russia, India China are interested in AF's future and stability.

Yes, I agree the US will retain some presence in Afghanistan by hook or by crook. They will try to extend this WOT as much as possible since it provides an excuse for American presence there but, once they declare "mission accomplished", they will be hard pressed to convince Russia to allow a supply route to an American base.

As for the repercussions in Afghanistan, the Afghans made their bed by declaring open hostility to Pakistan and, I would say, even setting up this latest raid that killed 24 Pakistanis. I really have no problem letting them lie in it. Other countries like India will be collateral damage in this tit-for-tat between Pakistan and NATO/ISAF, but that's the risk you take when operating in a war zone.

Finally, as for Pak-Iran relations, my statement was more wishful thinking that actual reality. I don't believe for a second that Pakistani leadership has the foresight and skills to see the benefit in such a relationship. They are busy collecting paychecks from US and the Arabs.

 

[Luftwaffe]

The US has invested a trillion dollars on this war and to expect them to just up and walk away is naive.

That is exactly what will happen, it is a gamble, look at Iraq wasted billions and now they are walking away.

Aside from the topic, Pakistan need strategic crude oil reserves, Iran can help us. We will be better of with a mutual relationship with Iran, scientifically and in engineering fields Iran can help us alot for all oil-gas-mineral exploration, this is exactly what Pakistan needs and is looking for. Our relations are halted or stiffened by all Pakistan previous and the current government on behalf of US.

 

[Mercenary]

The US has invested a trillion dollars on this war and to expect them to just up and walk away is naive.

That is exactly what will happen, it is a gamble, look at Iraq wasted billions and now they are walking away.

Aside from the topic, Pakistan need strategic crude oil reserves, Iran can help us. We will be better of with a mutual relationship with Iran, scientifically and in engineering fields Iran can help us alot for all oil-gas-mineral exploration, this is exactly what Pakistan needs and is looking for. Our relations are halted or stiffened by all Pakistan previous and the current government on behalf of US.

That won't happen because we are strategic allies of Saudi Arabia.

 

[A.Muqeet khan]

islamist deserve the power because they sacrificed their lives to in millions win the afghan war

wrong Islamist deserves only if the afghans want them keep it simple shall we

 

[Omar1984]

That won't happen because we are strategic allies of Saudi Arabia.

Saudis are moving towards india.

Pakistan-Iran relations have improved drastically in these past 5 years.

 

[53fd]

All the 'parties' in some way or form need each other to a degree. We live in a global, connected world where the effect of an action in one part of the world has serious impact in an other part of the world.

Pakistan won't be breaking off ties with the US anytime soon, even when it inches closer to China, Russia & possibly Iran. Similarly, the Chinese need the US as they hold huge amounts of their currency, so China won't be breaking off its ties with the US either. Similar case with Russia & the US. What can be said though is the US, as we say in Urdu, "har cheez mein apni taang arraatta he". The US is acting as a spoiler for everyone in the region, acting as an irritant. Nations definitely want to remove this irritant, or reduce its influence, but it (this irritant, America) has a leverage over everyone. But this will change as well if things keep going the way they are right now.