Analysts say Trump's warning to Pakistan could backfire


Islamabad, Aug 23 (PTI): President Donald Trump's warning to Pakistan to put an "immediate" end to harboring militants operating in Afghanistan didn't spell out the consequences of defiance or suggest a new strategy to get it to yield to longstanding US demands, analysts said today.

They also said that isolating Pakistan could unsettle the US relationship with Islamabad and push it closer to Russia, China and Iran, further complicating efforts to stabilize the region.

"The idea of US leverage in Pakistan is deeply exaggerated," Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the US- based Wilson Center's Asia Program, said in an email to The Associated Press. "No matter the punishment, policy, or inducement, there's little reason to believe that Pakistan will change its ways.

"Pakistan has an unshakeable strategic interest in maintaining ties to militant groups like the Taliban because they help keep Pakistan's Indian enemy at bay in Afghanistan," he added.

In a speech last night on his plan for the 16-year war in Afghanistan, Trump warned of the threat to US security from militant groups operating there and in neighboring Pakistan.

"Today, 20 US-designated foreign terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan the highest concentration in any region anywhere in the world," he said.
"For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror."

The threat is compounded by the fact that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers, he said, and their hostile relationship could spiral out of control."And that could happen," Trump said.

Some in Pakistan were baffled by his later statement demanding that India get more involved in Afghanistan, a scenario dreaded by Islamabad and the reason cited most often for Pakistan's support of the Taliban as a bulwark against India's influence in Afghanistan.

"Upgrading the Indian role in Afghanistan basically means perpetuating the hostilities," said Imtiaz Gul, executive director of the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

Pakistani Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal told reporters that his country "has rendered unmatched sacrifices in the war on terror. Our war against terrorism is not because of the United States; we will continue this war."

US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale met today with Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, according to a government statement, which also announced a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "in the next few days" in Washington. The US policy toward Afghanistan and South Asia will feature prominently in their meeting, it said.

While Trump's speech was widely criticized in Pakistan by politicians of all parties, it was welcomed by Afghanistan's shared leadership of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Abdullah told a news conference the US strategy marks a unique opportunity to ultimately achieve peaceful objectives in the region.

"The regional aspect of this strategy is very clear. It shows that the problem was very well identified," he said, referring to Trump's singling out of Pakistan.

But security analyst Amir Rana, director of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, warned that isolating Pakistan as the sole culprit could stymie efforts to stabilise the region or bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Wed, Aug 23 2017

    Analyst are right because too much adverse pressure on Pakistan may backfire

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K.C., Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 23 2017

    It's very true that it could backfire as the analysts says.
    US intervention in every country on the pretext of stabilizing is backfiring on them and destabilizing these areas more and more.
    Out of last 200 years US is engaged in one or other WAR for 180 years. These WAR mongers are interested in selling their WAR toys thus keeping their economy rolling.
    US Arms sales in the year 2014 - US $ 36,200,000,000/- ( 36.2 Billion US dollars )
    US Arms sales in the year 2015 - US $ 40,000,000,000/- ( 40.0 Billion US dollars )
    US Arms sales in the year 2016 - US $ 33,600,000,000/- ( 33.6 Billion US dollars )

    More wars more business. They don't mind selling weapons to both rival parties. One from front door and another from back door.

    More WARS on the way:-
    US - N. Korea
    India - China ( May be )
    India - Pakistan ( May be )
    US - Iran

    DisAgree [10] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Aug 23 2017

    Chilly chickens are trying to turn pakistan into another N-Korea & use it as a proxy to scare the world.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • moshu, mangaluru

    Wed, Aug 23 2017

    @Mr. Trumph
    Hiistory witnessing who are the real harborer of global terror. Its a known fact that who creating terrlrists. Its your policy which is unchanged from decades that feeds your nation.

    DisAgree [16] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Aug 23 2017

    Pakastani people have presense in all states of USA ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Don, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 23 2017

    Pakistan is strongly in the (Russia) China and Iran court, but at the same time it takes money (Jaziya payments) from the US. Their knife is sharp on both side and so it can from both sides.

    If the US has to find a solution in Afghanistan they have to rein in the Paki's first, and it is time the Trump administration takes off their mask and stops giving them money because a big chunk goes to the army and to fund all the Jihadi groups.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Analysts say Trump's warning to Pakistan could backfire



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.