Next Day Rumors

Before coming to Afghanistan, the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made it clear long-term commitment of the United States in Pakistan with the announcement of a strong economic investment to contribute to the prosperity of that country, a key ally against the Taliban .
Clinton promised an aid of 7,500 million, already authorized by Congress to build in the next five years, hospitals, roads and swamps, to increase access to safe water and electricity, to grant loans to small entrepreneurs and to develop projects technological renovation. That is, to improve the lives of Pakistani citizens.

That money is the realization of a policy, which now defends the White House, which believes that without the cooperation of Pakistan can not win the war in Afghanistan and that to obtain such cooperation is necessary to win before the hearts of the Pakistanis.

In recent years, the U.S. has spent tens of billions of dollars, currently over five billion-year in military aid to Pakistan without that you have reported, or guarantees of a serious harassment by the Pakistani Army the Taliban, nor the sympathy of the population, where Islamic radicalism has become more adept than Washington.

“What the Pakistani people need is human security, not military security,” Clinton said in announcing the arrival of the first $ 500 million to implement some of the 24 civil development projects are planned. “This is a larger commitment than we have ever had, is a long-term investment in the future of Pakistan,” said Secretary of State.

It is obvious, however, that the United States tries not to Pakistan’s economic development per se as that country’s support in resolving the Afghan conflict. Pakistan is not only the territory in which they find refuge and rest tribal leaders fighting the Americans in Afghanistan but the country with enough authority to decide the fate of the Taliban. Without Pakistan, as the Administration has concluded Barack Obama, or you can win the war and can see a horizon is reasonably optimistic in Afghanistan.

But collaboration is not simple. United States and Pakistan are not only alienated by their mutual mistrust, but by different security interests. While the Taliban and other religious extremists are the enemies of the Americans, have for years been a great ally of Pakistan in the main front in his cold war with India, Kashmir.

In recent months, a series of attacks with numerous casualties among the civilian population has helped convince Pakistani authorities that Islamic radicalism can also backfire on them. But for the involvement of Pakistan in this war is really sincere, the U.S. has to help ease the constant tension with India.

That was part of Clinton’s mission in Islamabad. The visit came in time of great U.S. concern for the recent announcement of an agreement under which China will supply two nuclear power reactors for energy production in Pakistan. This agreement may violate international rules prohibiting trade with such countries as Pakistan, which have not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. But above all, the Chinese-Pakistani cooperation has alerted India.

Pakistan, in turn, complains that the U.S. administration, even though it has reduced the level of cooperation with India marked by George Bush, recently confirmed a new shipment to the country of nuclear technology, according to the Pakistani government can unbalance the delicate balance of this region.