Op-Ed: Pakistan's alliance with the US and the Afghanistan war
By Karl Gotthardt
Apr 21, 2013 - 4 hours ago
Islamabad - Afghan Security Forces, for the most part, have taken the lead in taking the fight to the Taliban. NATO provides cover with air support and financial support. A US residual force to retain influence in the region is planned after NATO withdraws in 2014.
Aside from security concerns for Afghanistan, there are serious political considerations, by both the US and Pakistan that dictate a US presence in the region. The US and NATO insist on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to guarantee immunity for US and NATO forces beyond 2014.
While this was a deal breaker when the US withdrew its troops from Iraq, the US knows it must maintain a presence to retain regional influence.
With several power brokers in the region, including Russia, India, China and Pakistan's own security concerns, the US is between a rock and a hard place if Karzai can't get agreement by his Loya Jirga, or meeting of elders.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/348419