Pak threatens to pull troops from Afghan border

[Bosonic]

Source: IBN Live

Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday threatened to pull back its troops from the border with Afghanistan, as Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said his country could not afford to keep forces deployed there following the suspension of US military assistance.

Reacting to the Obama Administration's decision to suspend $ 800 million aid to Pakistan, Mukhtar said this would force the country to pull back troops from nearly 1,100 check posts set up along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The check posts were set up as part of understanding with Washington to beef up security in the restive tribal belt.

The minister disclosed that $ 300 million of the suspended aid was specifically meant for troops serving in this troubled region.

Read more: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pak-threatens-to-pull-troops-from-afghan-border/166960-56.html

[bemildred]

1. Interesting game of chicken. nt

[Igel]

2. Let them.

A few Americans will be hurt and many Afghans. Blame the Pakistanis for not willing to do their obligations without being paid for them and as a result letting chaos spread, hurting Muslims. Decry Pakistan as more nationalistic and hung up on honor and pride than on being Muslim in any meaningful sense that doesn't serve the self. Along the way point out that the border is effectively lawless and lacking Pakistani control and therefore sovereignty and R2P imposes its own demands.

Then use hot pursuit and R2P to establish order. And, when established, suggest that the UN grant sovereignty to that area based upon who can actually control it. If Pakistan wants a unified Pakhtunwha let it have one--just not under Pak control--by offering the Pakhtun regions the ability to be in a free and independent Afghanistan.

That'll roil the Punjabis, who amount to an ethnic set of caste lords in the country.

[bemildred]

3. That works for me.nt