@VCheng.
You have been surprisingly placid!!!.I have tended to agree with you more often than disagree recently.
I think from a purely Pak perspective we need to understand a few ground realities.
The Prophet SAW said "A strong Momin is better and more beloved to Allah than a weaker one" Taking it in a worldly sense the upper hand(giving hand) would be better than the lower hand(taking hand). In the US Pak relationship we have always been on the receiving end even when we have delivered to the US. This is more to do with our incompetence and lack of self assuredness than anything else.
At crucial moments in our history we have simply lied down rather than taking a stand and been walked over. This in international and US politics is never respected. For once, on this visit, we have stood up as a team and stated our point of view in one coherent voice. This alone is a huge victory.
Pakistan needs to move out of this taking relationship and mentality and learn to stand on its own feet. Help is required and our brothers in the Gulf have been amazing help to us in this regards not forgetting China of course.
We have gone to the US and I hope and pray said "this is our interest and we can do this to help us and our region".
The question of US aid is a tricky one. I am sure military to military aid will have come under discussion at some stage somewhere. However is it really to our benefit especially since we have begun to make advances of our own. I would suggest getting US help to come out of this financial crisis(IMF &FATF) and ask for what has already been promised. If we get it then fine otherwise move on.
The US can help us by investing in CPEC and in our industrial base. This is where we will reap benefits for our country rather than getting Aid.
A