InExile Reply
"That is assuming that Afghanistan does fall to the Taliban in its entirety which is doubtful."
"That..."? What do you mean? InExile, you're unclear here. If you mean that the Pakistani government must have a Taliban government in Afghanistan for Islamabad/Rawalpindi to focus solely upon India then you are mistaken.
All the Pakistanis need is a state of perpetual instability within Afghanistan that preoccupies and diverts pan-pashtun sentiments away from Pakistan.
"...Would the US permit that; after more than 10 years of war??..."
What part of "...come hell or high water..." don't you understand?
"...Even if all ground troops are removed; the Taliban can be destroyed from the air if they were to mass for an attack on major cities..."
Certainly, if America is as committed to doing so as we were in late 2001. Do you know this to be our commitment and, if so, how?
"...The more likely scenario is that of a weak Afghan government with little authority outside the larger cities; an Afghanistan which is neither a Western or Indian ally but not entirely a Pakistan allied , Taliban ruled, running large Al Qaeda terrorist camps that it was before 9/11."
Likely? Yes, in the near term. For how long a weak afghan government stands before fracturing into fiefdoms and full civil war is another matter. Either condition will suffice for Pakistani ambitions regarding India.
"That is assuming that Afghanistan does fall to the Taliban in its entirety which is doubtful."
"That..."? What do you mean? InExile, you're unclear here. If you mean that the Pakistani government must have a Taliban government in Afghanistan for Islamabad/Rawalpindi to focus solely upon India then you are mistaken.
All the Pakistanis need is a state of perpetual instability within Afghanistan that preoccupies and diverts pan-pashtun sentiments away from Pakistan.
"...Would the US permit that; after more than 10 years of war??..."
What part of "...come hell or high water..." don't you understand?
"...Even if all ground troops are removed; the Taliban can be destroyed from the air if they were to mass for an attack on major cities..."
Certainly, if America is as committed to doing so as we were in late 2001. Do you know this to be our commitment and, if so, how?
"...The more likely scenario is that of a weak Afghan government with little authority outside the larger cities; an Afghanistan which is neither a Western or Indian ally but not entirely a Pakistan allied , Taliban ruled, running large Al Qaeda terrorist camps that it was before 9/11."
Likely? Yes, in the near term. For how long a weak afghan government stands before fracturing into fiefdoms and full civil war is another matter. Either condition will suffice for Pakistani ambitions regarding India.
Comment