paraman said:
America can route aid through India too if they wish to.
Does not look feasible. Neither is the alternate route practical, through central Asia, suggested in the article posted earlier. The recent incident in Georgia has not really endeared Russia. But its wait & see, if the US suffers, then maybe the Russians can get a better deal to allow supplies through. Otherwise if the US then ups & quits, Russia will have a bigger mess in her backyard but the Paks will have scored a major win.
The best route is unload at the port of Gwadar and through Baluchistan, losing this is the biggest showstopper.
paraman said:
America is under the illusion that Pakistan is helping them fight the Taliban.
The supply route and the fact the pak military has engaged the militants from time to time keeps them in their good books. Hard to say they have not bled for the Americans. US already invested billions in waging the Afghan war and are about to send in more troops if Obama follows through on earlier statements. They cant afford to dump the Paks at this point.
It's time like this you wonder how different things would have been if Iran was an ally instead of an adversary. Oil & gas plus just as short a trip to the Afghan border.
paraman said:
Now even Nawaz Sharief is changing his tune. Last week he said that Kasab was a Pakistani. Now he too is asking India for 'proof'.
Heh, yeah, all in very good form, typical of the Pak establishment.
A different angle came up on my reading, an
economic war. If so, then it has already begun. Keep them on hairtrigger alert through strongly worded statements for the next few months, an incursion here & there. Bleed them financially. We have a PM & HM that are specialists in all things to do with money.
If one of the major aims was to inflict economic loss then return the favour, but this time get the world to add conditionalities, need more money then clean up house.
Is it true that economically could be more effective than militarily ?
No shots fired, americans keep their WOT and we attain our objectives
Will only work if everyone beleives we are very certain to go ahead othewise !