In what is going to launch the Pak lobbies in Washington into Overdrive, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Nikki Haley accused Pakistan of playing a double game for years and confirmed that the US will withhold $255 million in aid to that country[1].
President Donald Trump tweeted that the US has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018
Imagine what could have happened if the esteemed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had not bluntly ruled out the participation of Indian troops in Afghanistan during her meeting with the US Defense Secretary James Mattis[2]. Sometimes, not saying a Yes or a No could be the right approach. She should know – India’s arsenal is not exactly state-of-the-art. PGurus has written in the past about how not sufficient bulletproof jackets were supplied to the Armed forces to fight at the border[3]!
Combined with that an abstain vote at the UN against the decision of the US to move its consulate to West Jerusalem, would have endeared India to the US and Israel. This is the right approach, in my humble opinion. While building arms indigenously maybe a great idea in the long run, it should not come at the cost of engaging with a trigger happy enemy which is fast becoming another North Korea in its adventures across the Line of Control with India.
Who will Pakistan turn to, for Aid?
Pakistan has been looking to three countries for aid – the United States, Saudi Arabia and China. The Saudis are strapped for cash and are probably not going to open their wallets (at least officially). With US now withholding its aid, that leaves China as the only country that Pakistan can look to. And mark my words; China will extract its pound of flesh and then some before it parts with even a single Remnimbi.
The question that follows next is what China is going to demand from Pakistan in exchange for aid – its CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) is in serious jeopardy because of the unrest in Baluchistan[4] and Gilgit-Baltistan[5]. If reports are to be believed, Pakistan has already sold land in Gilgit-Baltistan to the Chinese (how can a country that does not own a territory sell it to another?) for the CPEC project[6].
In every one of its settled areas such as Baluchistan, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s only move is to resettle these areas with Punjabi Pakistanis[7]. Though the Punjabi Pakistanis in their newly settled environs are not numerically superior, they do enjoy economic superiority; plus many of them are from the armed forces and as such may be able to withstand covert actions from say Indian forces better than the common populace.
Slowly but steadily the noose is tightening around Pakistan’s neck. I hope India will withdraw the Most Favored Nation status to Pakistan now. Many allege that Pakistan is dumping cement in India and this needs a closer look. Does the Modi government have the political will to do this? I certainly hope so.
References:
[1] Only lies and deceit from Pakistan – Jan 3, 2018, CNN.com
[2] India won’t deploy forces in Pakistan – Sep 26, 2017, Indian Express
[3] Foot soldiers of India deprived of bulletproof jackets – Nov 29, 2016, PGurus.com
[4] Protests outside UN against Pak atrocities in Baluchistan, Sind – Sep 22, 2017, NDTV.com
[5] Massive anti-Pakistan protests held in Gilgit – Nov 18, 2017, New Indian Express
[6] Pakistan to sell land in Gilgit-Baltistan to China for the CPEC – Jun 6, 2017, IndiaTimes.com
[7] Intelligence – Past, Present and Future – by B Raman
His first book NDTV Frauds has been published and is an Amazon Bestseller.It ranked second among all eBooks that were self-published in 2017.
His second book, The Gist of GSTN which too is available on Amazon as an e-Book and as a paperback.
His third book, The Rise and Fall of AAP is also available in print version or as an e-Book on Amazon.
His fourth book, C-Company just released to rave reviews and can be bought as a print version or as an e-Book on Amazon.
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