The US may be out of Afghanistan, but interest in keeping the war going is centering on trying to setup the ability to launch airstrikes there, and that is going through Pakistani airspace.
They tried that before, during the ground war, and it went so poorly for Pakistan that recent Pakistani governments have rejected any effort by the US to slide back in.
So it was a surprise when US officials said that Pakistan really wants a memorandum of understanding, and that the US would get access to Pakistani airspace in return for helping Pakistan fight terror.
Pakistan was quick to issue a statement denying this. They insist they’re already getting US cooperation, and that there is absolutely no understanding imminent on the airspace deal.
US airstrikes in Pakistan were wildly unpopular, particularly in the tribal areas. The return of US warplanes to their airspace, even if it’s just to attack Afghanistan, is potentially a risky move for Pakistan’s government.
Why is this needed if the US “has withdrawn” from Afghanistan?
Oh, it hasn’t. Now it’s just on to the ISIS-K operation to target China and Iran.
After An Historic Surrender of American & Associates by A Rag Tag Afghan Taliban Force, without any remorse are blaming others.
Now, a very lowest level Fifth Generation Hybrid Warfare against An Honest, Conscious, Sincere Pakistani PM Imran Khan’s “Absolutely Not” to defame him by The Real Terrorist doing Genocide of Poor Developing Countries: American Administration along with Cronies, is unsuccessfully putting pressure on Him (PAK PM Imran Khan), as you mentioned,
“to the ISIS-K operation to target China and Iran” also Russia & Pakistan Regarding CPEC Project.
So transparent. Biden and company have lost the plot. Long time ago.
Compared with the just ended Moscow meeting of all regional states and Taliban, and the final four point joint statement, our Afghanistan narrative reads like stone age tools.
The US seeks to use Pakistani airspace, while threatening Pakistan and siding against it with India (as more useful against China).
In such circumstances, a real understanding is impossible. Any apparent cooperation will be a thin layer of pretense veneered over reality, pretended for the media and DC politics.
Pakistan continues to amaze. It amazed the world (that knew) when it broke from London and New Delhi in 1947 to become the first Homeland for Muslims. It continued the trend when it challenged India’s nuclear program in the 1990s. This century it became the center of China’s Belt and Roadway with an investment of 65 Billion the largest in the subcontinent. India remains a lackey to DC while Pakistan shows backbone
I suspect that, after some posturing for the sake of good form and maintaining a semblance of sovereignty, Pakistan will be given an offer that it can’t refuse.