Thursday , November 21 2024
Home / Mike Norman Economics / M.K. Bhadrakumar — Pakistan trumps new US strategy for Afghanistan

M.K. Bhadrakumar — Pakistan trumps new US strategy for Afghanistan

Summary:
In the final analysis, [US Ambassador] Hale’s softer line was probably influenced by the resolution passed by the Pakistan National Assembly and Senate last week, which amongst other things demanded the suspension of supply routes for US forces via Pakistan in Afghanistan. The Pentagon heavily depends on Pakistani transit routes, which are logistically and financially the most optimal. Any American ‘surge’ in Afghanistan likely means even greater dependence on Pakistan’s cooperation to keep the routes open. It is debatable how seriously the Pakistani military’s leadership took Trump’s threats in the first place. They would know that Washington is hardly in a position to read the riot act to Pakistan, given the worsening security situation in Afghanistan, the ineptitude of the US’

Topics:
Mike Norman considers the following as important: , ,

This could be interesting, too:

Chris Blattman writes The danger of demonization

run75441 writes Biggest military evacuation in US history is going pretty well. Something to talk about

Barkley Rosser writes Biden Follows Trump On Foreign Policy

Barkley Rosser writes Keeping Fingers Crossed As US Commits To Removing Military From Afghanistan

In the final analysis, [US Ambassador] Hale’s softer line was probably influenced by the resolution passed by the Pakistan National Assembly and Senate last week, which amongst other things demanded the suspension of supply routes for US forces via Pakistan in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon heavily depends on Pakistani transit routes, which are logistically and financially the most optimal. Any American ‘surge’ in Afghanistan likely means even greater dependence on Pakistan’s cooperation to keep the routes open.
It is debatable how seriously the Pakistani military’s leadership took Trump’s threats in the first place. They would know that Washington is hardly in a position to read the riot act to Pakistan, given the worsening security situation in Afghanistan, the ineptitude of the US’ Afghan ally and a highly complicated regional milieu where the US faces near-total isolation.
In all likelihood, Pakistan sensed that Trump was largely grandstanding before multiple US audiences.
Asia Times
Pakistan trumps new US strategy for Afghanistan
M.K. Bhadrakumar

See also

The plot thickens.

North Korea declares H-bomb test ‘a perfect success’
Ben Blanchard and Philip Wen
Mike Norman
Mike Norman is an economist and veteran trader whose career has spanned over 30 years on Wall Street. He is a former member and trader on the CME, NYMEX, COMEX and NYFE and he managed money for one of the largest hedge funds and ran a prop trading desk for Credit Suisse.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *