Af/Pak: A War in Name Only || Bonus Video
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared his country as being in “open war” with Afghanistan on Friday 27, following a series of cross border strikes between the two neighbors. The reality is more muted.
While the Pakistani military is currently conducting strikes against militant targets in Afghanistan—as well as air strikes in Kabul and Kandahar—the difficult geography and limited reach of both parties mean a conventional military engagement remains very unlikely. Furthermore, Pakistan has spent decades trying, and failing, to bring its restive regions along its western borders under central government control. Despite their long shared border, Pakistan lacks a secure overland transport corridor to send troops and supplies into Afghanistan.
Islamabad is asking the weaker Afghan state to achieve a strategic goal that has thus far eluded Pakistan: getting Islamist militants inline and under control. Rhetoric and tensions will continue to flare as both states lack the tools to meaningfully address rising regional militant activity; Pakistan will launch strikes as necessary to respond to militant attacks, and Afghanistan will continue to lack the ability or desire to rein in Taliban-adjacent militants.
Comments (17)
Excellent analysis!
I was critical of your presentation style a couple years ago. And I stand by that. ~~AND~~ you are getting better and better with every video. Well done, mate.
Wonder if the "war in name only" will apply to Iran now that it seems some bombs and missiles are flying
Limited strategic gain. That says it all, and ignore it all. Most of the middle east is now in that category. Quite frankly, we have more important things to worry about
"Most of the middle east is now in that category" ... That is a really good point. It is, spot-on.
Thanks Michael!
Great presentation and very informative! Thank you as always!
Pakistanis were dicks throughout the US-Afghan war. We left stacks of small arms when we left. Afghans distributed weapons to groups inside Pakistan especially to Baluchistan. Baluchs are fighting Iran. Fun Games
And here we go with Trump's war. He's a little boy with big toys. Why do we need congress?
I have a feeling we’re gonna get a second one of these videos today. President peacemaker has decided to start killing Iranians…. I guess that’s not fair, his Israeli handler has made him complicit in killing Iranians.
Michael thank you for the synopsis.
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Thank you.
This is an example of why I constantly harp on US foreign policy in the ME. It's a snake pit of interlocking conflicts not worth our involvement unless some damn fool cave dwellers directly cause us trouble.
Thank you.
This doesn’t really answer my question as to whether or not this is a complicated Buzkashi competition?
Thanks mnno. Is this 'security operation' likely to join up with the Iran war in some form?