Peter S. Henne, Washington Post: Trump says Pakistan ‘harbors terrorists.’ The real story isn’t so simple.
Announcing a new Afghanistan strategy on Aug. 21, President Trump accused Pakistan of “housing the very terrorists we fight” and said the situation “must change immediately.”
Yes, Pakistan’s counterterrorism record is frustrating, but Trump’s harsh words are unlikely to have much effect. My research suggests that Pakistan is not following a conscious policy of “harboring terrorism.” Instead, its leaders are constrained by a long and complex history that intertwines Islam and Pakistani security.
Ultimately, Pakistani leaders are more worried about domestic backlash than U.S. threats, so any U.S. effort to stabilize Afghanistan will find that Pakistan continues to be a problematic partner.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: What I find surprising is that the protests against President Trump's remarks have actually been very small in Pakistan. In the past you would have thousands at the U.S. embassy .... this weekend a hundred or two with Pakistani flags burning an effigy of Trump at some remote area (see above video). And while Pakistan is now trying to play the Chinese card .... Pakistani, Chinese officials discuss Afghanistan amid tension with US (Channel News Asia/Reuters) .... more here .... Pakistan looks to China as it turns away from Washington (Financial Times). The reality is that if Pakistan really wants real peace it will have to rein in the extremists within its borders, and it will also have to do this .... Pakistan Premier Says He Wants to Work with India on Regional Stability (Bloomberg).
More News On U.S. - Pakistan Relations
Pakistan warns new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan ‘doomed to failure’ -- World Tribune
Anti-U.S. Protests Held In Pakistan Following Trump's Criticism -- RFE
Pakistan fumes over US general’s Taliban remarks -- Gulf News
US-Pakistan-Afghanistan: The gloves are now off -- Express Tribune
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