Wednesday, September 21, 2016

US is not going to declare Pakistan a terrorist state anytime soon

Many on social media are gloating over Russia's cancellation of joint military exercise with Pakistan following the Uri terror attack in Kashmir which killed 18 army personnels and injured scores. At the same time they're peeved for US not declaring Pakistan a terrorist state (though two Congressmen have sought it through a bill, it's not gonna happen).

The closeness between US and Pakistan can be traced to Cold War era, and will be there for a while - whether we like it or not. These are the compulsions of realpolitik.

Pakistan is still a major non-NATO US ally. 40000 plus US military and non-military personnels are stationed in Afghanistan. America acknowledges any long term solution there can't happen without Pakistan, where the later is a factor and plays a major role.

Moreover, the NATO convoys run through Pakistan, as Afghanistan is a landlocked country, with Iran on west having no ties to US. So, due to geographical region and reason, it's not easy for Uncle Sam to cut ties with Pakistan. To expect US to declare Pakistan a terrorist state over Uri attack in Kashmir is both premature and preposterous.

Also note that Russia has just cancelled a joint exercise, hasn't cut off diplomatic ties with Pakistan. I don't think it is going to change the former's proposed plan to sell arms and fighter aircraft to Pakistan.

Will India declare Rwanda a terrorist state if Burundi attacks it ? I don't think so. Diplomacy is not a black and white world, had tons of gray area, where only self interest rules the roost, nothing else.

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