Pakistan’s grand anti-US coalition
Washington’s plan to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan beyond the stipulated 2014 deadline does not seem to be sitting too well with the Pakistani establishment.
Washington’s plan to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan beyond the stipulated 2014 deadline does not seem to be sitting too well with the Pakistani establishment. Islamabad has begun secret diplomatic manoeuvres to forge a consensus among regional states to thwart American ambitions.
According to sources , Pakistan has stepped up efforts to take China, Iran, Russia and other neighbours on board to “convince or force” the US to abandon the region by 2014. PM Yousaf Raza Gilani just returned from Iran and President Asif Zardari visited Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, China and Tajikistan over the last two months.
Chief of Pakistan Army Lt Gen Waheed Arshad was in Beijing two months ago. His visit was said to be “part of the security establishment’s manoeuvres to get China on its side”.