Taliban could have wiped out America from Afghanistan in only four years if Pakistan had helped them fully. Says former ISI agent Maj Amir Khan

[LeGenD]

Allow me to post scenarios.

1. USA does not have independent access to Afghanistan (disadvantage). Americans have no choice but to seek access from a neighboring country and said country can present its terms for the needful. This game is rigged for the Americans in short.

Alternative is to fight all the way to Afghanistan. This can be through either Iran or Pakistan. This will necessitate heavy concentration of troops and firepower in the region.

In case of unwilling Pakistan, USA might seek Indian support to defeat the country. There will be much death and destruction in the region consequently (unfortunately). Unwilling Iran is a much less risky prospect in comparison. This is also a major war effort in itself but doable*.

*USA have substantial military might and a strong economy. They were able to invade and occupy Iraq while still in Afghanistan as a pointer (Facts & Figures).

Let us assume that USA have access to Afghanistan through Iran. This brings us to following question.

2. What is the agenda here?

Option 1: Regime change and political reboot of Afghanistan.

Option 2: Dismantle Afghanistan itself.

- - - - -

US-led war effort in Afghanistan was largely focused on COIN and to create a favorable political system as an alternative to Afghan Taliban.

They never felt the need to bring heavily armed mechanized divisions to Afghanistan because this country does not have a conventional army and military structure to dismantle.

- - - - -

Both options are possible to pull off to be honest.

Afghan Taliban stand no chance against heavily armed (American) mechanized divisions with CAS and independent strategic bombing runs.

Soviet armed forces of the 1980s are a joke in comparison to what Americans can bring to the table in the present.

Pakistan cannot do much in this regard. Pakistan will be risking 'economic collapse' if it becomes too involved. USA can cripple Pakistani economy with heavy sanctions in response. More in fact.

This is a matter of Political Will on the part of Americans however:

The region might have to bear a terrible cost in lives (and destruction) unfortunately.

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

The host was horrible, the Major seemed to have so many interesting stories but would always get cut off.

 

[Thorough Pro]

Did you listen to the whole thing?

Yes but then were we ready for the consequences? Reality is that still the US can totally crush our already weak economy.

 

[Pak_Sher]

This is a flawed thought & strategy. US & EU are our biggest trading partners. Hundreds & thousands of jobs are dependent on the exports especially textile, sports goods, services. Think of the impact on finances before any stupid programs are done like this. US can carpet bomb & level Afghanistan if they wanted to.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Irrelevant remarks.

Afghan Taliban have won the war. Thats all that matters now.

 

[K_Bin_W]

4 to 5 years if Taliban had the weapons... I know how good are amreekans at fighting I have seen some vietcong interviews speaks volumes.

 

[Goritoes]

Simple Answer could be no, If Americans wanted to stay they have resources and will (at that time) to stay in Afghanistan for as long as they wanted, America has lost a golden Opportunity to make a more respected exit from Afghanistan after 2011 OBL drama, but they put Pakistan under the bus (Thanks to Obama and his idiots) that makes them stay in Afghanistan for another decade to waste money and human lives, and I think after that betrayal Pakistan goes on full against America by helping Taliban and making sure US will have a humiliated defeat in Afghanistan, above all they also did Salala, Mistake after another, miscalculation after miscalculation is what cause for this fiasco.

 

[HAIDER]

Such tones are harmful for national security and foreign policy.

 

[SQ8]

The same kind of self glorifying mentality led to Kargil as well. The United States excels in conventional warfare and would waste Pakistan to the same level as Afghanistan.

The purpose of the WoT was to get OBL but that was muddled by the usual lobbying by private firms to get their payday in “rebuilding “ and the need for America to present that constant “good clean guy” image.Enduring Freedom was about revenge and that is all it should have been…

 

[wali87]

The question remains. Why did the military establishment at the time allow a foreign power to destroy our economy, turn our own people against us, caught and gave away hundreds if not thousands of its citizens to foreign agencies in exchange for money. All for a war that was not ours. Yet in the end the establishment started crying and blaming the us for not providing it with enough aid.

What a joke. These “ifs” and “buts” don’t matter now. The US stayed here for 20 years and left at their convenience and their economy is still strong unlike the USSR. So what was the point of even being part of it all? We could’ve done this Nd that don’t matter. Pakistan lost 20 years of economic development and 80,000 lives for a pathetic and selfish decision that favoured a few people in the establishment. Sad part is that the Organization itself doesn’t admit its mistakes.

 

[Genghis khan1]

Everybody is making premature remarks based on title without listening to the whole thing. He just made a small comment about the title.

Tactically and militarily speaking. He is right. Let’s suppose if Russians or Pakistan decided to play dirty from beginning and started supplying MANPADs, and anti armor weapons, this war wouldn’t have last 2 years. Helicopters are the workhorse of COIN operations.

Reasons they didn’t, because US with the support 54 other countries would have hit them, economically and covertly from all sides.

 

[bdslph]

Pakistan did the right decision by not interfering in the internal affair of Afghanistan & it also goes to show Pakistan wants a stable Afghanistan