US Policy Towards Pakistan"incoherent,"-Clinton

[Patriot]

U.S. to give Pakistan $110 million humanitarian aid
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Tuesday it would give Pakistan $110 million to help the estimated two million people who have fled fighting between the Pakistani army and the Taliban in the Swat Valley...........

Clinton also described the last three decades of U.S. policy toward Pakistan as "incoherent," saying that the United States had worked with Pakistan to arm the Mujahideen fighters who helped drive the Soviet Union from Afghanistan in the 1980s only to effectively abandon both countries.

She said that U.S. President Barack Obama was determined to forge a long-term partnership with Pakistan to confront al Qaeda militants who are believed to have fled Afghanistan, where they plotted the September 11 attacks, to Pakistan.

'INCOHERENT' POLICY

"I think that it is fair to say that our policy toward Pakistan over the last 30 years has been incoherent," Clinton told reporters. "I mean, I don't know any other word to use."

"We have walked away from Pakistan before with consequences that have not been in the best interests of our security, and we are determined that we are going to forge a partnership with the people of Pakistan and their democratically-elected government against extremism," she added.

Patrick Duplat, responsible for Pakistan at the Refugees International aid group, welcomed the U.S. aid but said more money was needed.

"Clearly it is a welcome announcement. One hundred million dollars is very positive," he said, but he noted that with an estimated 2 million people now displaced within Pakistan, 1.5 million just in the last three weeks, more money was needed.

He also said the United States was partly responsible for the exodus from Swat.

"It is Pakistan's war but no doubt the United States has a special responsibility in it because it has encouraged the government to crack down on Taliban militants," he said..........

 

[BaburCM]

Not a good move in my opinion. What strings will there be attached to the humanitarian aids this time? Anything coming from the US needs to be scrutinised on a microscopic level because we simply have a trust deficit. Apologies represent hollow gestures at this juncture. Pakistan is bearing the brunt and it's too late now to come up with such empty excuses. The irony here is that Pakistan is fighting a war which was enthrusted upon it, but consequently now also depends on aid, weaponry etc. from the same culprit. Yet, Pakistan is being lambasted for not nearly doing enough by every Tom, Dick and Harry in that particular country. The sacrifices made by the thousands of PA soldiers are apparently not enough. Pakistan needs to act on the basis of self-esteem. Morally, the correct thing in this instance would be to reject this ridiculous amount of aids. The IDFs can live without this absurd amount. The Americans need to be sidelined as much as possible in our war. Fight the war on your own terms and conditions. Involve the Chinese for the acquisition of necessary arms and weaponry.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Given the hostility in the US Congress towards Pakistan, and the skepticism on display WRT the achieving success in Afghanistan, I am extremely skeptical that these claims of 'long term partnership' will last past the Obama administration, unless there is a measurable change for the good in the situation in Afghanistan in the next few years.

Barring that, I expect US public opinion to shift dramatically and the legislature to become extremely reluctant to fund anything but targeted strikes, and for Afghanistan to once more collapse into chaos.

 

[BaburCM]

Given the hostility in the US Congress towards Pakistan, and the skepticism on display WRT the achieving success in Afghanistan, I am extremely skeptical that these claims of 'long term partnership' will last past the Obama administration, unless there is a measurable change for the good in the situation in Afghanistan in the next few years.

Barring that, I expect US public opinion to shift dramatically and the legislature to become extremely reluctant to fund anything but targeted strikes, and for Afghanistan to once more collapse into chaos.

Exactly, another such hollow and meaningless term known as 'long term relationship'. I'm just sick and tired of hearing such insignificant diplomatic jargon only mean for exploitation. Frankly, everyone already knows where the priorities lie. These useless words don't have a meaning other than sucking up. In my humble opinion, now is the right time for Pakistan to change its priorities and review its relations. Alliances have already been forged. We know who's on whose side. Pakistan needs to choose the right side for its own good.