KARACHI: On Thursday, two developments showed that the US military is apparently playing a good cop, bad cop game with Pakistan.
During 20-minute talk with COAS Gen Bajwa, US Defence Secretary James Mattis lauded the role of Pakistan army in combating terror and on the other hand top US commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson called for a "holistic review" of the relationship with Pakistan.
James Matti was all positive and recalled the sacrifices rendered by the people and armed forces of Pakistan in the fight against terrorists and praised their resilience.
They shared pleasantries and reaffirmed their commitment towards the common goal of bringing about peace in the region and discussed measures aimed at achieving that goal.
This was one side of the story.
Gen Nicholson, in a briefing told the Senate Armed Services Committee that "our complex relationship with Pakistan is best assessed through a holistic review," signaling a harsher policy under President Donald Trump´s administration.
He added that ties with Pakistan would be a priority in his discussions with US Defence Secretary James Mattis and the White House, which has given little details on its strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"The tools that will get Pakistan to hurt so badly, that it would want to do what the US is asking, is a very high-risk proposition in terms of what happens within Pakistan," said Moeed Yusuf, the associate vice president of the Asia Center at the United States Institute of Peace.
Yusuf said the review would likely lead to a harsher US policy toward Pakistan and could include looking at reducing the level of economic assistance and military support, increasing the number of drone strikes along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and sanctions against Pakistani individuals.
"US policy makers, deep down inside, they realize Pakistan is more important than Afghanistan in the long term," Yusuf said.