Pakistan is lobbying Afghanistan's president against building a long-term strategic partnership with the U.S., urging him instead to look to Pakistan—and its Chinese ally—for help in striking a peace deal with the Taliban and rebuilding the economy, Afghan officials say.
I try to have sympathy for Pakistan. I really do. They have many problems to balance. But more and more, rather than wanting to help Pakistan I look forward to the day when we can tell the Pakistanis that they are welcome to enjoy the friendship of China and send the bills for Pakistan's maintenance to Peking. I'd much rather be a full friend and ally of India.
But right now we need Pakistan as a partial ally to win in Afghanistan even though it pulls stunts like this.
One way we could rely much less on Pakistan is if we could destroy the mullah regime in Iran and get a reasonably friendly government that might let us supply Afghanistan through Iran. It's a Gordian Knot problem, to be sure.
Indeed, it is hard to think of any problem in the region that wouldn't be helped by the destruction of the mullah regime.
UPDATE: Welcome Bharat Rakshak readers. I do touch on defense issues related to India on occasion.
