The most interesting point about the drone strike that killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is that the US lacks access to Afghanistan, which means that it needed the cooperation of a neighbouring country. That country was Pakistan.
The drone strike involved two Hellfire missiles, probably launched from an MQ-9 Reaper drone stationed at the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. But in order for the drone strike to reach Afghanistan, it would need to pass through Pakistani airspace. Iranian airspace is simply not an option.
It appears that the U.S. managed to get Pakistan on board for the strike just days beforehand. As reported by First Post:
But why is Pakistan suddenly in such a cooperative mood, after all Pakistan's ties to the Taliban are well known?
The reason is economic chaos and Pakistan's sudden dependence on the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, which recently "revived" a $6 billion loan program as reported by Bloomberg:
Yup, 6 billion dollars has a long and deadly reach these days.
Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa held telephonic talks with the Commander of United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) General Michael Erik Kurilla on Saturday.
"Pakistan values its relations with the US and earnestly looks forward to enhance mutually beneficial multi-domain relations," said General Bajwa.
During the call, General Bajwa and General Kurilla, discussed matters of mutual interests, regional stability as well as defence and security cooperation in detail, according to a statement by the Pakistan Army.
But why is Pakistan suddenly in such a cooperative mood, after all Pakistan's ties to the Taliban are well known?
The reason is economic chaos and Pakistan's sudden dependence on the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, which recently "revived" a $6 billion loan program as reported by Bloomberg:
Pakistan sees a way out of its current economic crisis without descending into default, thanks to progress on a stalled International Monetary Fund loan as well as spending cuts, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said.
“With the commodity super cycle and Russia-Ukraine war, oil prices skyrocketing and gas going as high as ever been in history, Pakistan and other emerging countries have been facing the worst crisis,” he said in a phone interview. “Nonetheless, Pakistan by having an IMF program, by introducing a significant tight budget and depressing demand for imports has weathered the storm.”
Yup, 6 billion dollars has a long and deadly reach these days.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All Comments MUST include a name (either real or sock). Also don't give us an easy excuse to ignore your brilliant comment by using "shitposty" language.