Primary purpose of Dreams of a Typewriter (DoT) is to make complex issues of secuirty and foreign policy accessible to common readers. To this end, DoT is introducing yet another weekly feature- Conversing Security. This feature will present the topics of security in the format of informal chat conversation between two friends. Thanks to Tony for suggesting this idea. The names of the two people conversing here have been stolen from my friends without their permission. So shh..
Achal: Yo
Mohit: yo, wassup?
Achal: what is this i hear about US giving Pakistan 2 billion dollars to Pakistan?
Mohit: Yup, it is military aid. Guns and tanks and stuff. US already gives Pakistan roughly 1 billion a year as military aid. This is on top of that
Achal: But I thought US and Pakistan were not so happy with each other after the border issue last week????
Mohit: Yeah. But Americans are trying to appease Pakistan. They think Pakistan is essential for their war in Afghanistan.
Achal: Why?
Mohit: Because they have to send in food, fuel and ammo to their people in Afghanistan. They can’t do it through Iran and they don’t wanna do it through Central Asian countries.
Achal: So Pakistanis get money and guns?
Mohit: Americans also want Pakistan to do some counter-insurgency on its western border in regions like NWFP and FATA because these places are safe haven for the Taliban
Achal: Hmm… so the Pakistanis are supporting Americans
Mohit: Well not exactly. They help Americans in their war but at the same time give shelter and guns and money to the terrorists and insurgents
Achal: ???
Mohit: Pakistanis have to help Americans because they pay the bills. But Pakistan needs to keep insurgents happy to A. train the terrorists for Kashmir and B. maintain influence in Afghanistan if Americans leave tomorrow
Achal: Ok. But the Pakistanis would want to do some counterinsurgency stuff in their own country. I mean terrorists are blowing up things in Pakistan too…
Mohit: It is complicated. Pakistan does not see every terrorist as their enemy. Some are good terrorists like Afghan Taliban and the ones that fight in Kashmir. So they cant just have a counterinsurgency operation. They have to choose their enemies selectively.
Achal: Hmm…so Pakistan wont stop their support of terrorist despite the aid?
Mohit: Looks like it. Also the military can’t send too many forces for counterinsurgency because they have keep their army on the eastern border looking at India, their real threat
Achal: That’s stupid
Mohit: Fear of India is the reason why Pakistani Army is so powerful in the country. Without this fear they will be weakened.
Achal: Why are Americans being so blind?
Mohit: They think they have no other choice. If Pakistan becomes very hostile it will shutoff the supply route to Afghanistan and then Americans are screwed.
Achal: Cant they attack Pakistan?
Mohit: Pakistan has nukes. Anyways the political fallout in the world will be huge.
Achal: So Americans are screwed either way?
Mohit: Looks like it. Although there are some people with different ideas
Achal: brilliant. Give money to people who you know wont work the way you want them too
Mohit: US is hoping Pakistanis will work for them at least some times
Achal: And will they?
Mohit: Pakistan thinks US may leave tomorrow, leaving it all alone stuck between Afghanistan and India. Pakistan is trying to make friends at least one of its neighbors by helping the future power in Afghanistan – the Taliban
Achal: Ah, this is too messed up
Mohit: Yup
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