Reply #13

In simple language, the US needs Pakistan as an ally, more then Pakistan needs the US as an ally. US Troops are in Afghanistan. You have three options to support troops in Afghanistan, via Pakistan, Via Iran or Via the Former Soviet Central Asia Republics (and then from Russia itself to those former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).

Technically, the US can ship things by air, but that is limited as to what can be hauled by air, i.e. men, light weight equipment etc, fuel, ammo, food and other supplies have to be hauled by truck (OR limit US Actions to what can be supported by air, which is NOT that much). Given the Location of Afghanistan, you will still need the support of Pakistan, Iran or Russia to FLY to Afghanistan.

The US is NOT on talking terms with Iran. Russia is worried about US power, thus that leaves Pakistan as the best way to get supplies to our Troops in Afghanistan. Thus we are paying for the privilege of shipping supplies via Pakistan. The US "Aid" to Pakistan is more to keep the Government permitting the supplies through (and to provide money to those people along the supply route who oppose the US intervention in Afghanistan money so those people have a reason NOT to blow up the supply conveys).

Thus Pakistan in the ally of the US, as long as the US is willing to pay Pakistan to be an ally. The problem is, the US needs Pakistan so it can have a secure supply route into Afghanistan, thus as long as US troops are in Afghanistan, the US will pay Pakistan to be a US ally. To cut out the aid to Pakistan is the same as cutting off the supplies to the US troops in Afghanistan. Thus Pakistan gets to write what the US has to pay, not the US deciding who the US gets to pay.