By: Azhar Azam
In a secret and hasty trip, US vice president Mike Pence barely touched Afghanistan in an ordinary military transport plane to conceal his arrival and addressed 15,000 US troops to make them believe that that ‘victory is closer than ever before’.
The ‘Sycophant’ then donned a bulletproof vest and went to meet Afghan government officials under cover of darkness and a heavily armed helicopter convoy to discuss new US security strategy and to break the stalemate in the America’s longest war.
Cellphone and internet connections of the reporters traveling with the Pence were disconnected over security concerns until Pence was about to leave the war-torn country after spending only about eight hours.
Charting the newly US national security strategy (NSS) – Pence harried Pakistan to stop providing safe havens to Afghan Taliban and other terrorist organizations and urged Pakistan to gain from US partnership or has much to lose otherwise.
Trump’s Administration is vainly employing all pressing tactics – including safe havens to terrorists and falling nuclear weapons in the hands of the terrorists – to persuade Pakistan for a military engagement in Afghanistan.
Buoying the partisan folklore, now NSS craves to pester Pakistan by vouching to deepen strategic relationship with India and supporting its role in the region alongside encouraging India ‘to increase its economic assistance in the region’.
The burning point is that the United States is seeking India to increase economic assistance not only in Afghanistan but in the entire region. Does the United States is supporting Indian economic assistance in Iran too to counter China’s B&R.
At the same time, the hottest security strategy also assures to cajole Pakistan by building trade and investment ties with Pakistan if it will assist the United States in its ‘counterterrorism goals’.
Just a few days back, Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana W. White – referring to James Mattis visit to Pakistan – said in a press briefing that no one has lost more troops and lives to terrorism than Pakistan.
For almost a year, Pakistan is United States’ Aunt Sally and the Trump Administration is nearly convinced that it could compel Pakistan to serve as victim purported for ‘US global security goals’ and ‘America First’ mantra.
So the United States is clearly maneuvering ‘a carrot-and-stick approach’ to coax or coerce Pakistan and its armed forces – counter to its own interests – to serve American interests and goals in Afghanistan and region.
But Pakistan has taken a strong stance to serve its national interests – not to engage in any conflict beyond its territory and has continuously denied to forfeit the achievements it availed in war on terror after losing thousands of troops and innocents.
It’s such a silly on the part of the United States to expecting Pakistan and its armed forces to protect America and its allies and partners by invading in Afghanistan after their troops sprinted out of the devastated country.
According to State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 – From 2012 to 2016, total terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan have declined substantially from 1,823 and 1,761 to 535 and 433 respectively – an attestation of the country’s success.
The terrorist movement and infiltration on Pak-Afghan border has also been restricted through various vital measures such as increased troops deployment, surveillance, and border management including fencing.
The backcloth of the latest rhetoric connects with the meeting of NATO defense ministers after which General John Nicholson called for the allies to contribute more troops for the war against Afghan Taliban and other insurgents but to no avail.
Currently about 15,000 US troops and around 8,400 other NATO troops are deployed in Afghanistan and only for Resolute Support (RS) mission (non-combat) mission. US is expecting Pakistan to do what 150,000 US and NATO forces failed to achieve in Afghanistan despite spending over $877 billion in Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Trump’s echo of the ‘massive payments’ to Pakistan is vastly embroidered. In FY2017, the United States has paid only $130 million to Pakistan for various social, education, health, and security programs.
China, Russia, South Korea, and Iran
Trump Administration’s four-pillared national security strategy also blames China and Russia for eroding American Security and prosperity – blasting both the countries for challenging American power, influence, and interests in the areas of trade, military, and information as well as developing advanced weapons and capabilities that could threaten American critical infrastructure and its command and control architecture.
NSS additionally boards South Korea and Iran for destabilizing regions, threaten Americans and its allies, and brutalizing their own people – North Korea is the most likely state to use nuclear weapon against United States.
Four Pillars of American National Security Strategy
First, our fundamental responsibility is to protect American people, the homeland, and American way of life by strengthening control on our borders, reforming immigration system, protecting critical infrastructure, going after the cyber actors. A layered missile defense system will defend our homeland against missile attacks. And we will pursue their source, so that the jihadist terrorists are stopped before they ever reach our borders.
Second, we will promote American prosperity by rejuvenating the American economy for the benefit of American workers and the American companies. We will insist upon fair and reciprocal relationships to address trade imbalances. The United States must preserve its lead in research and technology and protect its economy from competitors who unfairly acquire our intellectual property.
Third, we will preserve peace through strength by rebuilding our military so that it remains preeminent, deters our adversaries, and if necessary, is able to fight and win. We expect all allies and partners to shoulder a fair share of the burden of responsibility to protect against common threat.
Fourth, we will advance American influence because a world that supports American interests and reflects our values makes America more secure and prosperous. We will compete and lead in multilateral organizations so that American interests and principles are protected.
Irrespective of the number of pillars to protect American people, the homeland, its interests and influence – American people must question Trump Administration as why the State and 2,129,900 troops, marines, and airmen with defense budget of over $600 billion per year, cannot protect America and American people and why the US is relying on Pakistan to protect them.
The ‘Sycophant’ then donned a bulletproof vest and went to meet Afghan government officials under cover of darkness and a heavily armed helicopter convoy to discuss new US security strategy and to break the stalemate in the America’s longest war.
Cellphone and internet connections of the reporters traveling with the Pence were disconnected over security concerns until Pence was about to leave the war-torn country after spending only about eight hours.
Charting the newly US national security strategy (NSS) – Pence harried Pakistan to stop providing safe havens to Afghan Taliban and other terrorist organizations and urged Pakistan to gain from US partnership or has much to lose otherwise.
Trump’s Administration is vainly employing all pressing tactics – including safe havens to terrorists and falling nuclear weapons in the hands of the terrorists – to persuade Pakistan for a military engagement in Afghanistan.
Buoying the partisan folklore, now NSS craves to pester Pakistan by vouching to deepen strategic relationship with India and supporting its role in the region alongside encouraging India ‘to increase its economic assistance in the region’.
The burning point is that the United States is seeking India to increase economic assistance not only in Afghanistan but in the entire region. Does the United States is supporting Indian economic assistance in Iran too to counter China’s B&R.
At the same time, the hottest security strategy also assures to cajole Pakistan by building trade and investment ties with Pakistan if it will assist the United States in its ‘counterterrorism goals’.
Just a few days back, Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana W. White – referring to James Mattis visit to Pakistan – said in a press briefing that no one has lost more troops and lives to terrorism than Pakistan.
For almost a year, Pakistan is United States’ Aunt Sally and the Trump Administration is nearly convinced that it could compel Pakistan to serve as victim purported for ‘US global security goals’ and ‘America First’ mantra.
So the United States is clearly maneuvering ‘a carrot-and-stick approach’ to coax or coerce Pakistan and its armed forces – counter to its own interests – to serve American interests and goals in Afghanistan and region.
But Pakistan has taken a strong stance to serve its national interests – not to engage in any conflict beyond its territory and has continuously denied to forfeit the achievements it availed in war on terror after losing thousands of troops and innocents.
It’s such a silly on the part of the United States to expecting Pakistan and its armed forces to protect America and its allies and partners by invading in Afghanistan after their troops sprinted out of the devastated country.
According to State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 – From 2012 to 2016, total terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan have declined substantially from 1,823 and 1,761 to 535 and 433 respectively – an attestation of the country’s success.
The terrorist movement and infiltration on Pak-Afghan border has also been restricted through various vital measures such as increased troops deployment, surveillance, and border management including fencing.
The backcloth of the latest rhetoric connects with the meeting of NATO defense ministers after which General John Nicholson called for the allies to contribute more troops for the war against Afghan Taliban and other insurgents but to no avail.
Currently about 15,000 US troops and around 8,400 other NATO troops are deployed in Afghanistan and only for Resolute Support (RS) mission (non-combat) mission. US is expecting Pakistan to do what 150,000 US and NATO forces failed to achieve in Afghanistan despite spending over $877 billion in Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Trump’s echo of the ‘massive payments’ to Pakistan is vastly embroidered. In FY2017, the United States has paid only $130 million to Pakistan for various social, education, health, and security programs.
China, Russia, South Korea, and Iran
Trump Administration’s four-pillared national security strategy also blames China and Russia for eroding American Security and prosperity – blasting both the countries for challenging American power, influence, and interests in the areas of trade, military, and information as well as developing advanced weapons and capabilities that could threaten American critical infrastructure and its command and control architecture.
NSS additionally boards South Korea and Iran for destabilizing regions, threaten Americans and its allies, and brutalizing their own people – North Korea is the most likely state to use nuclear weapon against United States.
Four Pillars of American National Security Strategy
First, our fundamental responsibility is to protect American people, the homeland, and American way of life by strengthening control on our borders, reforming immigration system, protecting critical infrastructure, going after the cyber actors. A layered missile defense system will defend our homeland against missile attacks. And we will pursue their source, so that the jihadist terrorists are stopped before they ever reach our borders.
Second, we will promote American prosperity by rejuvenating the American economy for the benefit of American workers and the American companies. We will insist upon fair and reciprocal relationships to address trade imbalances. The United States must preserve its lead in research and technology and protect its economy from competitors who unfairly acquire our intellectual property.
Third, we will preserve peace through strength by rebuilding our military so that it remains preeminent, deters our adversaries, and if necessary, is able to fight and win. We expect all allies and partners to shoulder a fair share of the burden of responsibility to protect against common threat.
Fourth, we will advance American influence because a world that supports American interests and reflects our values makes America more secure and prosperous. We will compete and lead in multilateral organizations so that American interests and principles are protected.
Irrespective of the number of pillars to protect American people, the homeland, its interests and influence – American people must question Trump Administration as why the State and 2,129,900 troops, marines, and airmen with defense budget of over $600 billion per year, cannot protect America and American people and why the US is relying on Pakistan to protect them.