General John Nicholson of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the US has said, “It is very difficult to succeed on the battlefield when your enemy enjoys external support and safe haven.” He was referring to the US operation against the Taliban. Senator John McCain has also echoed the view attacking Pakistan. Think-tanks in the US had asked President Donald Trump to “make it more and more costly for Pakistani leaders to employ a strategy supporting terrorist proxies.” One wonders if Trump will listen to such advice. In the past year Afghan forces have had 6785 dead and 11000 wounded. Pakistan has been consistently facilitating Taliban operations against US troops necessitating the US sending more troops into Afghan territory. It is expensive and unpopular and also goes Trump’s rhetoric in his inaugural speech. At the same time US would not like to lose influence to China and does not weakens its institutional military power in Afghanistan. It has always been consequently reluctant to turn its heat on Pakistan even when that country acted against US interests.
US economic aid to Pakistan may serve beneficial ends supporting the education sector, primary health and rural development in that country. That will fight religious obscurantism and authoritarianism in Pakistan. US aid should not strengthen its military in Pakistan. On the contrary, it should bolster democracy. It should not matter if it reduces US influence in Pakistan though its traditional links are with Pakistani generals.