Hi,
This is my input---Gen Raheel has blundered at many a steps---it is atypical pakistani habbit when they see a problem at first---they exclaim---don't worry---it is not that bad.
When he had the chance---he should have let Imran Khan pull the plug on Nawaz Sharif govt---but Gen Raheel did not asses the situation properly.
It was and is an open secret that Nawaz Sharif's loyalties lie with india.
MK - The topic I wanted your input, was where the US is in terms of Pakistan right now (in context with India). And why the American team is coming to Pakistan. Blaming past 5 decades worth of failures to run Pakistan by the Pakistani military and not getting shiit out of it, isn't really relevant here. I am actually disappointed in your response. I was hoping for the truth. Your response is like that company who instead of reporting Quarterly loss on Wall Street EPS of 42 cents compared to the last quarter, instead reported "Diluted EPS of .001 Cent Profit". Which was a Cent left after the 42 cent loss compared to the last quarter. Hiding or covering up doesn't hide the governance failures of the past 5 decades in Pakistan by the Military!! A sad reality that many on here won't accept as they are either from the military or connected with it through families, etc. The best thing anyone can do, is to be honest with their OWN country. Not favor one party or another who has historically done bad governance and abused the right of people's civil liberties.
Pulling the plug on NS or any Civilian elected government is a habit which contributes a LOT to where Pakistan and her reputation is today and the situation she's in. Had it been a civilian run country, things would not be where they are.
On Imran Khan, no offense, but is there really a comparison between the progress and the alcoholic rage that comes in microphones with a hangover ? You have got to find someone better than that. No offense. This is the second reason WHY Pakistan is in the mess she's in. Based on imaginary conspiracy theories, you guys are quick to call others Infidels, and Disloyal, etc, etc. NS had a business minded brain. The same brain that brought China to Pakistan. The Gawader was there for the entire history of Pakistan and China has been investing in ports and infrastructures since early 90's. If their "need" was that strong, they would've come begging a LONG time ago. But everyone, including the US, India and China, want to work with Pakistan while the country has a system. You bring a general in uniform, and watch the Chinese run after phase I and will turn the entire CPEC into a road connecting them to the port for the PN.
This part has been communicated to the Pakistani military about 4 times in the past 3 years since talks of CPEC begin. The days to throw away a democratically elected PM are gone and have become history. Which is why, the establishment in Pakistan, is forced to use useless, inexperienced and emotional people like IK.
Then came the Yemen crisis---the way Gen Raheel cowed down was despicable---pakistanis had their bets on the iranians---not wanting to know at that time that the iranians were back stabbing them all the time.
That was the moment to take charge---get the needed weapons and increase the number of troops.
If Pakistan had gotten involved with Yemen; India and Iran (already cooperating in Baluchistan) would've made that region like the East Pakistan. Right now, the Iranians support the Indians through second hand information gathering, etc so they won't ever be caught. But after Yemen, that would fade away and Iran would get directly involved. They have a lot of experience destabilizing countries and spreading civil war and terrorism. Yemen is a clear example and there are many other like Iraq, Bahrain, etc. So that one step was right and it saved Pakistan's integrity and structure in my opinion. Otherwise, another East Pakistan would have been in making.
When you make major changes and decisions in your life and for your nation---the destiny also re-aligns its gears---and it was shocking that Gen Raheel made that decision and stayed neutral.
Its amazing how you and some others think how much the military has influence. The military isn't the PM. Yes, the foreign policy is dictated by them but that's it. If so wasn't the case, the military would've kicked out the civilians long time ago. A General in the entire globe can't grow a Carrot farm. Let alone an economy. Gen. Sharif was "TOLD" to stay away from it. Both the Civilians and the Chinese told him to stay away from it.
You are WAY off the reservation here in terms of understanding. A country can't effing get 8 F-16's, don't have the funds to put a fence on her border or the funds to get 40-60 J-10 jets (we've been hearing about those for like 8 years now). You think Pakistan would be financially able to deal with the consequences of post Yemen????? A few billion from Saudi will go quickly. But next ten years of "insurgency" in Baluchistan will take MANY more billions and more than likely, the loss of that state as an "ex" province of Pakistan. The Chinese forced the same truth on Gen. Raheel.
Remember, if you tell the Pakistani military that the amazing salaries, packages, bonuses and expensive residential plots as gifts will not be there, the recruitment rate might drop by 70% and ONLY real Patriots will be left. No one can and wants to serve a country with their Children starving, period. So its beyond me how someone like you, can totally ignore the financial mess Pakistan's been in and can easily think getting into another conflict is actually good. You guys made the same mistake a few times before. A few billions don't last for long and then you as a country, lose ten times that money, cleaning up the mess that you got yourself into.......
With their nuclear power---pakistanis are giants---but in mentality---they have PEA BRAINS---they have no comprehension and no understanding that in any conflict or power positioning in the arena---they are not going to be left alone just because they chose to be left alone.
As I have stated before---many a times---the F16 crisis is Paf's doing---Air Chief Marshall Sohail Aman had BAD strategy and Bad planning. How he got there was thru bad information and poor strategic analysis of the situation.
Bad information---people incharge did not measure the temperature of the U S congress and senate properly---.
Bad strategy---threatening the U S---" if you don't sell us we will go elsewhere ".
Bad planning---not being aware that their utility had diminished in the eyes of the U S.
Bad disclosure---publicly making statements that the chinese J10C's were not a good aircraft and chinese equipment was not that great---and the F16 was a god.
There can be no other worst idiot than the pakistan air force on this planet the way they handled this deal.
Now out of this post, this is the part that I was looking for and I agree with it 100%. There is more, like you said earlier, somehow Pakistani military generals over the course of history, think closing eyes in front of a problem, will make it go away. Well, when you open up your eyes, the problem is still there and ONLY magnified ten times. This is where Pakistan stands.
The animosity you are seeing right now, is PURELY coming from the Pak military's dealings with the US. Thinking that the ONLY super power in the world that can actually do wonders for Pakistan in terms of military and economy, is SOOO dependent upon Pakistan that the Pakistani military generals think "they need us, they are not going anywhere" was seriously wrong and effed up. Now, the same US military will use India through Chahabar port and large Indian military columns (a few brigades) will be deployed to Afghanistan. So what's worst? Dealing with the US in normal relations, or bullshiiting the US with this insane idea that they are "so" dependent upon Pakistan that Pakistan can do anything or get anything they want to. When was the last time Generals run foreign policy and made strategy in dealing with foreign powers (including the super power)?? Wait......its STILL the case in Pakistan. Nowhere else Generals make foreign policies, establishment is in every country, including the US. But the foreign policy is based on national interests and the direction of the country and its growth. Due to that, friends and family members change as you'll align more with who'd help your country grow. When a Mechanic does Surgery on a Cardiac patient, this is the result. Its been over 50 years and the patients heart and body has been damaged and nothing's been fixed. That is the crux of the issue. The Civilians need to design foreign policies, make friends with countries and setup relationships. A general doesn't need to piss America off by visiting and asking to meet the US President who doesn't meet with his own generals unless absolutely needed.
I think you are overemphasizing India's importance to USA... all USA is doing is a fine balancing act... the balancing act need not be equal in our eyes, and it wont be. But US wants both India and pakistan as partner or at the very least have influence in both countries.
I know a LOT more about US-India strategic relationships than you can imagine. India will be the Second (or Third) super power (depends on who you ask and if they are pro-China, it would be the third, but in reality, it would be the second)
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Truth be told, the US administration wants to keep relationships with Pakistan but nothing close to how things were in 203-2004 (strategic relations). This would be more like how they deal with say Malaysia or Indonesia....don't hate them, but don't have special relations with them either, outside of some mutual business or some defense deals (fully paid by the buyer). The drone attack a few weak ago has meanings to it. If you remember, the POTUS had stopped the drone attacks on his orders a while ago. So it tells you how frustrated the Americans are on a double-game that they feel like they've been played against. At this point in time, if need be, the US can ask India to permanently station two three brigades inside Afghanistan (and the Afghans would LOVE that so a double win).
But if the Pakistani generals were wise, and didn't constantly think that they had the US by the balls........things would be different. This is one of the reasons why you NEVER allow military generals to create your foreign and strategic policies. These guys aren't designed for it, can't comprehend how to live in the world politically and mutually beneficially. Now shiits hit the fan, you'll see and hear people saying all kinds of stupid stuff to the Civilian government. All blame would go to the Civilian government when the military ran this shiit for 50 years. People here would go as far as saying that NS is on Indian payroll, just to push the blame away. But sooner or later, the pubic will know and this bad habit of intervention into a civilian system by the military will stop. I can see the writing on the wall.