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This is not an attempt to disrespect Trump’s actions. Only he knows what his true intent and objectives are here. I can only wait to see how this plays out, and explain what I see as the dynamic in Pakistan.

Simply cutting off funds, may or may not help the situation. Again, I don’t know what the real plan is, or what the short/long term goals are.

Pakistan has a very problematic government. It also has a large terrorist faction within it’s borders. We know the government hasn’t been as helpful as it could have been rendering the terrorist contingent neutered, so we know the government is a serious problem.

Add to this dynamic the reality that Pakistan is a nuclear armed nation. Of course we are concerned with government actions, but we also have to consider if the Taliban would be a safer owner of those nuclear weapons.

Again, add to all this the fact that Pakistan has been an aggressor to India. It allows it’s Muslim populace to harm Indian interests, and conducts activities on it’s own to harm Indian interests.

When confronted India rightly reacts to Pakistani provocation, and is presented with a nuclear threat in return. Up until 12-15 years ago, the two nations seemed headed for a nuclear conflict. Several times they came very close to open nuclear hostility towards one another.

One of the dynamics of the war against terrorism, was the fact that we developed better relations with Pakistan. As soon as we did the talk of nuclear war was silenced. We brought a certain level of peace to that region. We can point to the strife there accurately, but the 600 pound gorilla in the room, was the possibility of nuclear war, millions of people (perhaps tens of them) dead in mere moments.

While those relations were better than what we had before, they were still not the level of relations we wanted and deserved, considering we were willing to help Pakistan stave off a Taliban takeover.

So what does cutting off aid to Pakistan accomplish. It may be only a temporary ploy to get it to wake up. It may be a negotiating tool.

One last dynamic in play here, is China’s intransigence against Iran. It wouldn’t be too hard to conceive of China being thrilled to see the U. S. leave a vacuum in Pakistan, which China would love to fill. It may very well be that Pakistan has been implementing desires expressed to it by the Chinese government already.

Pakistan going hot would put India between two nations licking their lips at the vision of it’s carcass.

It is not a simple dynamic in Pakistan.

There’s much to think about, and our strategic interests are at stake.

A strong India is not China’s goal. It is ours.