COAS Qamar javed Bajwa official visit to the USA

[Longhorn]

I dont think this is damage control. These visits are part of regular interaction between the 2 armies and arranged well in advance. Even if US has played dirty with us, we will play it down rather than act hurt.
You are right in that Pakistan is at a difficult cross road where connectivity of the CPEC and extension into Central Asia will open doors for its progress which it has not seen ever. Increasing trade with central asia will blank out the 6-8 billion trade with the US.
However the matter is one of assuring the powers that be-that our aim is purely economic furthering of Pakistani interests. It maybe that there are specific US reservations about trade routes to Russia but genuinely they cannot object to trade with Central Asia. The counter could be to invite their trade delegation to come and invest in CPEC industrial zone, a move which the US might CURRENTLY not accept, but also it might allay their anxieties about being kept out of the CPEC loop.
On the military front it may all be about Pak wish to get credit from the US for its role in helping US out of Afghanistan. The US might want to restart the joint training programmes and invite Pakistan to attend the annual exercises which Pakistan will accept. I think Pakistan will again raise the issue of CSF dues which would be politely refused, but I think there is no issue in asking and we should ask for what we consider to be ours. There will be mutual back patting for Pakistan's role as major non Nato allie publically while behind closed doors there will be issues raised regarding Pakistan's support of Afghan Taliban, which would be diplomatically rebuffed. The future would be looked at and I think Pakistan will be forceful in its commitment to the West without equating US friendship with its relations with China. The only thing if it comes up (diplomatically it does not make sense) is-Pak anxieties about US interests in India instead of Pakistan, and while this would be taken as extension of US trade interests we might gently ask for similar access to US markets and avenues to increase trade. It may be decided to invite trade delegations from both sides to explore the possibilities, and it will be taken up on goverent to government basis
Kashmir will come up and US will restate its policy of being a mediator if both parties agree.
I do not think any arms will be requested nor granted. There maybe perks offered to the Chief and I will not comment on that. However I do not think much more than that will go on. I know this is an army chief's visit so a lot of political messages maybe passed around but deferred to inter-governmental level discussions.
As to the US if it wants to play dirty it will play dirty. However I do not see any advantage in doing so in the long term. Much more likely it will use all means to maintain pressure on the government.
A

For me, it is a good thing that Pakistan is engaging in a multipolar foreign policy strategy (if that is what it be) rather than being the poodle of one particular power regardless of who that power may be.
Every country must show that it has options if it is to avoid being dictated to by any one side, and to be fair, this is the first time in its history Pakistan has had the chance to play this particular game. Previously, with the bi polar cold War environment and with the Indians and Soviets being in each others pockets, Pakistan didn't have a choice but to throw in it's lot with the Americans, regardless of how the Americans chose to treat Pakistan.
The world has changed and Pakistan's geo strategic position is more significant and important than it has ever been to both sides.
Let's see how well Pakistan plays its cards.

 

[HAIDER]

Things are happening behind the scenes, nothing for fanboys to worry about

Within a few weeks we have or will be meeting the Chinese, Russians and Americans

US and EU love Bilawal Bhutto...in the next election, we may hear suddenly PPP is winning from all provinces with a massive majority, PTI wipes out cuz Imran Khan is keener to have good economic relations with regional countries and specially Shangai Corporation Organization.

 

[TheSolution]

I always said that never get into flags. Person's intention is visible from the words. It doesn't matter whether Pakistani flag or not. On such words; may be he was quoting as per the member's approach and not in way of denouncing - but used it while sitting outside Pakistan.

I explained it like two messages down after I first said it, responding to the person who initially brought it up...

And yeah, something like that

 

[hussain0216]

US and EU love Bilawal Bhutto...in the next election, we may hear suddenly PPP is winning from all provinces with the massive majority and PTI wipe out Imran Khan is keener to have good economic relations with regional countries and specially Shangai Corporation Organization.

They just want to be inclusive for homosexual and transgender people

 

[Longhorn]

They just want to be inclusive for homosexual and transgender people

Pakistan should be an inclusive country for everyone regardless of faith, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender, skin colour, sect or political leaning.
The only criteria should be loyalty to the state of Pakistan.

 

[Khan vilatey]

I know the reason for Gen Bajwa’s visit to America…… someone has to pay for J-10c Pakistan bought to fix the west’s India problem!

Pakistan keeping India at bay since 1947 with western tax payer money

K

 

[Bossman]

Some of the comments on this thread are shallow and reflects just knee jerk anti-Americanism as well a lack of understanding of state craft. In August some of us were celebrating how Pakistan helped defeat the American proxies in Afghanistan and now the people responsible for that change are being invited to visit the US.

I will wait for announcements of the concrete benefits of such contacts and then share my thoughts. Visit of PAF’s deputy chief of staff indicates technical level discussions. I still say, I will not be surprised if we hear about F16s soon.

 

[Menace2Society]

It's not a zero sum game. Whilst China and US have tensions, they are still trading billions with each other.

 

[SQ8]

It's not a zero sum game. Whilst China and US have tensions, they are still trading billions with each other.

It is like playing a game of Monopoly. Your objective is to eliminate all other players but that doesn’t mean you don’t trade properties with them or coordinate strategies even when you build houses and hotels for them to lose their money on.

 

[blain2]

Why waste time and fuel..

America is the enemy...no matter how you look at it. They will never ever be our friend and we don't want them anywhere near us

Jazbati, emotional talk isn't the way forward. I'd rather that our government delegation was going to the US instead of Gen Bajwa as the mil-mil relations are fairly cordial. It is the Gov-Gov level that needs fixing.

Second, why expect anything from them? We should have our self-worth and make ourselves appealing to the world (not because we are numerous and a consumption economy) based on what we have to export and offer to the world.

Not talking to the Americans does what? The best policy is to have a foot in each door. Never walk away unless absolutely necessary. With the US, there is no longer the tension of GWOT. Much better that both Pakistan and US talk about what they can do together and what they cannot.

The word "enemy" is loaded. Enemies don't provide support during the country's worst earthquake ever. Enemies don't provide military support, enemies don't provide social and educational grants and support. Enemies don't help with Polio campaigns etc. etc.

Our problem is that we have a sense of entitlement to what we got from the US. So they used us and we let them use us. It wasn't a case of us getting nothing. We got something. We need to wisen up and stop looking at things only through the black and white lens. Most countries and their relations with each other live in the shade of grey. We should understand that clearly.

 

[Super Falcon]

Retirment plans for sure