I know a country that has the biggest, most expensive military in the world and still lost a war in Afghanistan…
“Yet despite Pakistan’s formidable military strength and technology, against Afghanistan it may not be enough. The terrain, cross-border tribal networks, and the costs of prolonged occupation have historically prevented decisive outcomes, lessons learned by Soviet and American troops over the past half-century. For now, Islamabad holds every conventional advantage. What the coming weeks will show remains to be seen, but one thing is already clear: the World got new bleeding wound.“ (emphasis mine)
Glad this was put in at the end cause that’s a pretty important thing to remember.
If they aren’t trying to hold it, winning a war becomes pretty realistic goal. taliban that can’t enforce their rules beyond few villages isn’t a threat. Like you can’t actually fight with just guns and taliban isn’t known for their air-force or artillery or armor (or anything really except being regarded religious nuts).
Great … two new wars started in one day. Just what the world needed, right?
Afghanistan is essentially impossible to “defeat” unless you commit genocide, or drop nukes.
Even then, I suspect there would be a few dudes left in caves waiting for their chance
What exactly stops pakistan from commiting genocide?
Nothing other than the difficulty of the region.
The terrain over there is brutal. To kill everyone, you have to be able to get to them. That’s not an easy prospect.
They don’t need to kill everyone, killing just enough for coherent society to collapse will work as well.
Maybe, but from what I’ve heard, there’s not much in the way of a coherent society outside of cities. It’s insular and scattered, but that’s where the crazies come from.
Since leadership can also run and hide in those same places, it might not be enough.
What are they going to do?
I don’t know what you mean. They who?
