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US SecDef calls COAS

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Frenemies.
I recall reading somewhere that in the 1980's, Pakistani exporters paid more tariff taxes to USA then French exporters did, even though French economy was much much larger and more developed. USA still had a protectionist textile industry at the time.

Imagine if Zia and Benizir asked for tariff concessions and not aid money or F-16's. Main hinderance for Pakistan has been a civil military elite that weren't focused on economic development. Thankfully, this has changed today.

If our leaders had brain cells Pakistan would be the South Korea of this region today. Alas, there is a window of opportunity and utilizing this without desired effect would be criminal and unforgivable. Pakistan has survived the onslaught. Both the internal and external struggle. There is a long way to go, but it seems that benefits can now be reaped if the cards are played accordingly. Pakistan should not divert from its main goals. Trade should be the main focus with EU/US. Regional development should be main goal with China and other regional partners. If Pak succeeds in these two areas the benefits will be enormous.
 
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Frenemies.

If our leaders had brain cells Pakistan would be the South Korea of this region today. Alas, there is a window of opportunity and utilizing this without desired effect would be criminal and unforgivable. Pakistan has survived the onslaught. Both the internal and external struggle. There is a long way to go, but it seems that benefits can now be reaped if the cards are played accordingly.

South Asians from what I see have a gulami mindset they just enjoy being turned inside out.
 
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Frenemies.
Good one ... keep them coming and when we have a comprehensive list compiled ... print it , frame it and send it to the person doing minutes of the meeting to interject the list in the middle IF the meeting attendees stuck and don't know how to proceed ... LOL
 
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I saw a recent conference that included Madeleine Albright. A year ago she has been pushing get tough on Pakistan language. At this conference, she was much more conciliatory advocating for a more carrot approach in the USA 's approach to Pakistan.

She even acknowledged that USA giving aid one day then sanctioning Pakistan the next day has done more damage then good. Saying that it only reinforced the narrative in Pakistan that the USA was a fair weather friend. First time I heard any former USA official say this.
 
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I saw a recent conference that included Madeleine Albright. A year ago she has been pushing get tough on Pakistan language. At this conference, she was much more conciliatory advocating for a more carrot approach in the USA 's approach to Pakistan.

She even acknowledged that USA giving aid one day then sanctioning Pakistan the next day has done more damage then good. Saying that it only reinforced the narrative in Pakistan that the USA was a fair weather friend. First time I heard any former USA official say this.
This is a test for the leadership of Pakistan ... let see how they take it...
 
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I saw a recent conference that included Madeleine Albright. A year ago she has been pushing get tough on Pakistan language. At this conference, she was much more conciliatory advocating for a more carrot approach in the USA 's approach to Pakistan.

She even acknowledged that USA giving aid one day then sanctioning Pakistan the next day has done more damage then good. Saying that it only reinforced the narrative in Pakistan that the USA was a fair weather friend. First time I heard any former USA official say this.

After the Cold War, when the US was the only game in town, it could arbitrarily make policy and walk away from the consequences, (look at Iraq over the last 30 years). With the ascendency of China, that is no longer the case.

Pakistan is the first of a number nations that could support China’s rise in ways the US would not like; not out of malaice but economic necessity. (Even countries like Germany, with their history with Russia, are still allowing the NordStream 2 pipeline.)

Mutually beneficial economic arrangements lead to a balance in country’ strategic policies. Economic benefits that trickle down to the people would go a long way to changing the perception of the US in Pakistan. This coupled with policies that don’t emboldened India to be more of a threat to Pakistan should be what the US considers if it wants a constructive relationship with Pakistan that will be mutually beneficial.

Every time the US has tried to make any country a pariah, it has always backfired. Continuing to do so with Pakistan through means like FATF will only backfire.

What would be interesting to hear, would be, what would General Austin do if he was in the COAS seat? (Having been a military leader for decades, particularly in the region, and now being a statesman)
 
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Let's try to make the most of it. In my opinion it should be about trade. Nothing more nothing less. In return we shouldn't give the Americans an arm and a leg. Give them the bare necessary. Airspace and ground access is fine as long as it doesn't undermine our own goals.

Sensible post.
Pakistan govt has a very carefully calibrated policy toward America. It used to be about weapons but now there is a focus on trade benefits. Remember: It is not just America--which is a giant economy itself--but also the EU, the UK, Japan... American allies, and rich too. A lot of them ask 'How High?' when America says 'Jump!'

Besides, it is probably good to have some leverage over America by giving the bare-minimum. As long as it is carefully understood by Americans that it would be okay to only target international terrorists then why not? Also, how much 'surveillance' or 'stealing Pakistan's nukes' or 'supporting India' America could do by having a tiny force which it couldn't do by having 100,000+ troops?

PS. Read a front page story at the NY Times about the American withdrawal. They are getting out by mid July as latest and they really want to be out by then.
 
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After the Cold War, when the US was the only game in town, it could arbitrarily make policy and walk away from the consequences, (look at Iraq over the last 30 years). With the ascendency of China, that is no longer the case.

Pakistan is the first of a number nations that could support China’s rise in ways the US would not like; not out of malaice but economic necessity. (Even countries like Germany, with their history with Russia, are still allowing the NordStream 2 pipeline.)

Mutually beneficial economic arrangements lead to a balance in country’ strategic policies. Economic benefits that trickle down to the people would go a long way to changing the perception of the US in Pakistan. This coupled with policies that don’t emboldened India to be more of a threat to Pakistan should be what the US considers if it wants a constructive relationship with Pakistan that will be mutually beneficial.

Every time the US has tried to make any country a pariah, it has always backfired. Continuing to do so with Pakistan through means like FATF will only backfire.

What would be interesting to hear would be what would General Austin do if he was in the COAS seat? (Having been a military leader for decades, particularly in the region, and now being a statesman)

Not only economic necessity. You have to look deeper and see the chess pieces. If Pakistan is adamant in its support for China it’s for its own territorial integrity. I’ve spoken to a few officers and some family members in PA and they’ve realized there hands in helping US in a blanket basis. Right now it’s basically creating a counter weight to US.

“The mistake has to be fixed”, according to a PA Officer.
 
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A lot of them ask 'How High?' when America says 'Jump!'
If the one sided “do more” policy remains for some of its allies then I am afraid NO ONE will be able to stand on their feet ... forget about asking how high they can jump on remaining one leg (if any).

IF the information in this video is true, then this will be an added pressure to the bilateral relations...

 
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we should stop giving our airspace and grounds to these beggars Americans freely , which causing distraction of our beautiful road & infrastructure
 
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