The Afghanistan and Pakistan Thread

[AWP]

I think everyone can guess where I stand on this story.

US suspends security assistance to Pakistan

US suspends security assistance to Pakistan - CNNPolitics

Historically, the United States has provided Pakistan over $1 billion in security assistance annually. Some of that money has already been paid out or withheld for the 2016 fiscal year, but the amount withheld could potentially top $1 billion.

I can't wait to read about the fallout from this decision. Closing borders, ending tanker overflight, actually shooting down drones like they claimed weeks ago.

"...in the face with a garden weasel."
----

How cool is it that Fox and CNN have the same headline?!

 

[Gunz]

How cool is it that Fox and CNN have the same headline?!

I can't see too many Americans having an issue with this, although Trump-haters are gonna hate. It's absolutely the right decision given the track record of these treacherous bastards. We threw 13-billion down the shitter. And Leon Panetta has a problem with it? Really? Tell that to the families of our Fallen, and the men and women who've been fighting these Pak-assisted cunts for 17 years.

 

[AWP]

I can't see too many Americans having an issue with this, although Trump-haters are gonna hate. It's absolutely the right decision given the track record of these treacherous bastards. We threw 13-billion down the shitter. And Leon Panetta has a problem with it? Really? Tell that to the families of our Fallen, and the men and women who've been fighting these Pak-assisted cunts for 17 years.

I love you. Level of difficulty: no homo.

 

[DA SWO]

I think everyone can guess where I stand on this story.

US suspends security assistance to Pakistan

US suspends security assistance to Pakistan - CNNPolitics



I can't wait to read about the fallout from this decision. Closing borders, ending tanker overflight, actually shooting down drones like they claimed weeks ago.

"...in the face with a garden weasel."
----

How cool is it that Fox and CNN have the same headline?!

Trump can still retaliate if they do that, H2B and other visas suddenly stop getting processed and Pakistan's GDP takes another nosedive.
He's doing to them what they have been doing to us for years.

 

[AWP]

Back in Afghanistan...Russians gonna's Russia and take absurd to new heights.

Russia Claims US Coalition "Mystery Helicopters" Supplying Arms To ISIS In Afghanistan

The Russian government is continuing to demand the United States answer its questions regarding unsubstantiated rumors of unmarked helicopters delivering weapons or other aid to terrorist groups, including ISIS, in Northern Afghanistan. In line with a well established policy of responding to allegations about its own activities with equal or more sinister counter-claims, Russia is advancing this conspiracy theory to distract from questions about its own connections to Afghan militants, including the Taliban.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that the U.S. government should address the accusations after meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in Moscow on Feb. 20, 2018. The United States has accused both of those countries of either actively or tacitly backing the Taliban and other insurgents opposed to the government in Kabul and its American benefactors.

Hilarious.

 

[CQB]

Too right, considering the 2001 attack on the Indian government in New Delhi was seriously viewed in Pakistan as an attack by Indian terrorists to discredit Pakistan. There’s gamed & then there’s gamed.

 

[ThunderHorse]

So uh, when are we leaving? Afghanistan offers to recognize Taliban as legitimate 'political party' - CNN

 

[AWP]

Interesting move. The inclusion of women is a biggie. If the TB accept then they look weak and will drive supporters to ISIL-K or whatever. AF gov't can say "see, we're trying but these guys don't want peace" and continue to ask for foreign aid it so desperately needs to stay afloat. If the TB call their bluff though...that's when it becoomes interesting. Until then, my cynical side sees this as nothing but political theater.

 

[CQB]

It’s early days. The basis of terrorism is to pick up the gun when you can’t get further by other means. You put down the gun when you achieve your aim. Nelson Mandela is still the worlds most famous terrorist in this regard. The Bashi Bazouks (sorry, Arabic not Pastun) look after a huge swathe of the country, by one account 70%. It’s a good time to negotiate as they’ve really pulled off some big hits recently & Ghani looks to be on the back foot.

 

[AWP]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go eat a bag of dicks, PK.

Pentagon suspends $300M in military aid to Pakistan

The Pentagon says it has suspended $300 milllion in military aid to Pakistan for not doing enough to battle terrorists groups inside its borders.

But is PK doing enough to fund terrorists OUTSIDE of its borders?

In January, the Pentagon suspended nearly $1 billion in aid to Pakistan for what Defense Secretary James Mattis and other top officials said at the time was Islamabad’s failure to take on the Haqqani terrorist network.

Ima go touch myself.

Failure?!?!?!?! They fucking SUPPORT the HQN!!!!!!!!! "Taking on" the HQN is like fighting with your parents because they feed, clothe, and house you.

"Mom, dad, we aren't doing enough to destroy this family. I think its time I burned our house down."

 

[Centermass]

US commander survives Afghan gun attack

The gunman, reported to be acting as a bodyguard, opened fire as officials left a meeting in Kandahar province. Provincial police chief Gen Abdul Raziq died, as did the head of the NDS intelligence service, reports said. The Kandahar governor was badly wounded.

US commander Gen Scott Miller escaped unhurt but two other US citizens were injured, Nato said. Initial reports say the attacker was killed. The Taliban said they carried out the attack and that Gen Miller and Gen Raziq were the targets. In a statement, the group referred to Gen Raziq as a "brutal police chief".

US commander survives Afghan gun attack

 

[AWP]

At one point we had more UAV's over Afghanistan than Iraq. Good to know we aren't in involved in a war there or anything...

 

[MikeDelta]

US commander survives Afghan gun attack

The gunman, reported to be acting as a bodyguard, opened fire as officials left a meeting in Kandahar province. Provincial police chief Gen Abdul Raziq died, as did the head of the NDS intelligence service, reports said. The Kandahar governor was badly wounded.

US commander Gen Scott Miller escaped unhurt but two other US citizens were injured, Nato said. Initial reports say the attacker was killed. The Taliban said they carried out the attack and that Gen Miller and Gen Raziq were the targets. In a statement, the group referred to Gen Raziq as a "brutal police chief".

US commander survives Afghan gun attack

Thank god Gen. Miller didn’t get zapped, but does anyone here know if anyone can readily step up to Gen Raziq’s position? Man, what a kick in the nuts

 

[Gunz]

Thank god Gen. Miller didn’t get zapped, but does anyone here know if anyone can readily step up to Gen Raziq’s position? Man, what a kick in the nuts

Maybe Ghani's younger brother, Tadin Khan. Whether anybody can actually "step up" and fill Raziq's shoes is the question. USFOR-A apparently depended upon him as the key strongman. A corrupt motherfucker, (who isn't over there), but he got things done. I would expect a power struggle and some destabilization.

The provincial NDS chief (Hussainkhel) was also killed. The gunman, Abu Dujana aka "Gulbuddin", was part of the Kandahar Gov's security detail.

The Taliban were late claiming that General Miller was also a target...that tells me they didn't have foreknowledge of assassin's plans and are taking advantage of the opportunity.

 

[MikeDelta]

Maybe Ghani's younger brother, Tadin Khan. Whether anybody can actually "step up" and fill Raziq's shoes is the question. USFOR-A apparently depended upon him as the key strongman. A corrupt motherfucker, (who isn't over there), but he got things done. I would expect a power struggle and some destabilization.

The provincial NDS chief (Hussainkhel) was also killed. The gunman, Abu Dujana aka "Gulbuddin", was part of the Kandahar Gov's security detail.

The Taliban were late claiming that General Miller was also a target...that tells me they didn't have foreknowledge of assassin's plans and are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Thanks. Good point on the late claim on General Miller.

It sickens me to hear that the Taliban is gaining strength and able to step up their offensive action. I feel for everyone, especially the people who have served and put their blood, sweat and tears into that particular AO.

 

[Deleted member 2517]

We need to stop working with the Afghans. Keep them away from our guys, period. Don’t rely on them. We need to move from being a partner force to a straight up occupying force.

 

[MikeDelta]

We need to stop working with the Afghans. Keep them away from our guys, period. Don’t rely on them. We need to move from being a partner force to a straight up occupying force.

@DasBoot Wait, don’t you like moving out with people that regularly have accidental discharges, fake illnesses and foot problems? Oh yeah, I almost forgot, shoot at you or tell all the bad guys when and where to shoot at you.

I know this is an awful thing to say because our troops have put so much work into these people. It’s aggravating to me, can’t even imagine how some people on the ground feel. But we have to do what we have to do.

All kidding aside though, I couldn’t agree more with what you said.

 

[Gunz]

We need to stop working with the Afghans. Keep them away from our guys, period. Don’t rely on them. We need to move from being a partner force to a straight up occupying force.

That would only strengthen the Taliban's claim that the Afghan government is just a puppet regime of the American crusaders...even though they themselves are a creation of Pakistani ISI. As much as I agree with the sentiment behind your post, it can't happen.

One of the dangers of working with host-nation forces involved in internecine warfare--or civil war, or insurgency--is treachery. Been there, seen that, and it'll never change. But the relationship, however flawed, has to be maintained.

A study conducted during OEF when green-on-blue murders were peaking found that most of these were not committed by Afghans who'd developed resentment toward Americans...but rather by Afghan Muslims who'd become radicalized or who were planning to defect to the Taliban and committed the murders for "street cred."

As far as working with indigs it's sometimes like working with difficult children...children who might kill you when your back is turned. Frustrating and challenging and sometimes even rewarding when they perform courageously.

 

[AWP]

It doesn't matter what we do, it doesn't matter what the Afghans do, war will always exist in AFG so long as PK exists. "A-dub this is your typical hardline, anti-PK rhetoric we've heard for years. You're a broken record, be realistic."

I am. PK is the reason AFG is a destabilized mess and has been LONG before we arrived. PK is a known supporter of the Taliban and a known supporter of the Haqqanis, which makes them a known supporter of terrorist groups. The effects of a friendly border on insurgencies are well known and documented. The notion that we can negotiate with PK to eradicate the TB safe haven(s) is folly. Asking them to kill their fellow Muslims (Pashtuns, family) is laughable. It will never happen to the degree which is required.

Unless we're willing to invade a nuclear-armed country, we need to leave AFG.

 

[MikeDelta]

It doesn't matter what we do, it doesn't matter what the Afghans do, war will always exist in AFG so long as PK exists. "A-dub this is your typical hardline, anti-PK rhetoric we've heard for years. You're a broken record, be realistic."

I am. PK is the reason AFG is a destabilized mess and has been LONG before we arrived. PK is a known supporter of the Taliban and a known supporter of the Haqqanis, which makes them a known supporter of terrorist groups. The effects of a friendly border on insurgencies are well known and documented. The notion that we can negotiate with PK to eradicate the TB safe haven(s) is folly. Asking them to kill their fellow Muslims (Pashtuns, family) is laughable. It will never happen to the degree which is required.

Unless we're willing to invade a nuclear-armed country, we need to leave AFG.

Makes absolute sense. Thanks for the brief, but concise education.