Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
The air-strikes were certainly within Pakistani borders.
There is, as of right now, not a single credible casualty figure from the alleged 'highly accurate machine gun fire and mortar rounds fired at US and Afghan forces' that 'forced them to retaliate in self-defence'.
Airstrikes came later, so thats irrelevant. And it would be a little foolish to wait for casualties before responding to the attack.. No?
What lies behind such asymmetry is 100 years of economic progress. If only Pakistan had not lost sight of the importance of the economy for the last 50 years, things might have been quite different.
Popular pressure is no match for international pressure, particularly economic. It would be unfair to judge IK on this one measure only. He may be able to deliver on the rest of his promises if he sees the sense to compromise on the blockade issue.
Where did Imran Khan come into this? He is not even in power. If Zardari orders the routes to be opened and Military complies, what can Imran Khan do? He is not yet an elected representative.
And thats exactly why the routes will open
Why there is so much pressure to open a route with 30% supplies ? or is it 30% only, a propaganda done to tell US senators to agree on attack on Pakistan.
Where did Imran Khan come into this? He is not even in power. If Zardari orders the routes to be opened and Military complies, what can Imran Khan do? He is not yet an elected representative.
And has it been established that the NATO and Afghan forces were indeed within Pakistani borders?
Now lets see pakistan response. What else it can do? USA and NATO knows pakistan will stop supply.
And US and NATO claim that they don't need the Pakistani route, so good riddance to them ... both sides can live happily on that count.
Which wouldn't have happened if we didn't have so many America fascinated Pakistanis who see subservience to America acceptable for petty gains.
"International pressure" is orchestrated by Western media, which is but an appendage of Western governments.
American agenda in the region is squarely against Pakistan's long term interests. Either we make a stand now, or we will die a slow death once America's geopolitical pieces are in place......................
I just think it rather coincidental that the Defence Ministry made that comment when it came to the SC asking it about the testimony of the Military to the SC on the Memo issue ...
Kayani and Pasha would have no issue with passing their testimony through the MoD - what difference would it make? The only reason this has become an issue is because the PPP has decided that they want to keep the Memo investigation out of the hands of the court and in a 'parliamentary committee' where they can 'blackmail' the opposition through 'reopening corruption cases' and/or stall the process. As part of that whole process, the PPP has decided that the President will not testify to the court, and the PPP probably did not want Pasha and Kayani testifying either, and therefore the two bypassed the MoD, resulting in the current tantrums by the PPP.
It is easy to make these statements on the web.This is in contradiction to what the Americans have been claiming publicly i.e. only 30% of Nato supplies come through Pakistan. Consequently, it should not affect Nato operations in Afghanistan if the border remains closed. Pakistan should not open the border and let Nato bring in 100% of nato supplies through Russia, since the supplies thru Pakistan is insignificant according to the Nato declarations.
Nato has taken just the step 1 which is admission of its culpability.
Step 2 , Nato Commander and President Obama should officially appologize to the Pakistani Nation and pay severe raparations to the Martyrs families.
Step 3, cease the Occupation of Afghanistan immediatly and vacate Afghanistan.
The border with Afghanistan should be permanently sealed till the Nato forces withdraw from Afghanistan.
Given the proximity of Pakistani forces along the border, the only way this holds any meaning is if a significantly large 'no-fly zone buffer' is created along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Otherwise, given the range of the weapons on US air assets, US AC wont have to violate or be on a 'trajectory to violate' to be able to target Pakistani territory and positions.
It is easy to make these statements on the web.
US/NATO have responsibility in Afghanistan and they need to set things right before they leave it. Stable Afghanistan is good for the WORLD. No one can force them out.
However, Pakistan can choose to leave WOT.
I am referring to primarily economic pressures, such as bilateral trade, and IMF loans, not just the diplomatic or media pressures.
To make a stand against these takes years of preparation which is sadly lacking at present
The pieces you refer to have been moving into place for nearly a decade now; they are in place already.
You are right. But what you refer to as a 'buffer zone' is known as 'No Man's Land' in tactical language. Typically a NML exists between to belligerents are engaged in a fighting/defence on common borders, in this case, we or the ANA/NATO dont consider each other enemies, still designating the area a buffer zone/NML wont hurt. That's the least they can do now to compensate for their grave mistake of Nov 26. Point to be noted is that not only a no fly zone is created but a 'no operation zone' is also created there in tandem.
Yes, absolutely, I was also referring to the economic blackmail. But the situation is not as simple. America can not afford to completely alienate Pakistan and drive it straight into the Chinese camp. Pakistan's leverage is underestimated. Full closure of NATO supplies (road/air) will make the US dependent on Putin 100%. That's just the tip of the iceberg -- the real fun will start when the ramifications of that dependence impact America's relations with Europe -- especially eastern Europe.