Thread by @SyedIHusain

#Thread #Afghaniatan
In 2010, during a visit to White House, General Kiyani gave President Obama a 13 page white paper he had written to to explain his views on the outstanding strategic issues between Pakistan and US.
@vali_nasr

You are not going to win the war, and you are not going to transform Afghanistan. This place has devoured empires before you; it will defy you as well.
Gen Kayani to US President

Stop your grandiose plans and let’s get practical, sit down and discuss how you will leave and what is an end state we can both live with.
~ Gen Kayani 2010

We would first beat Taliban and then build a security force to hold the place together after we left. Gen Kayani thought the idea of an #Afghanmilitary was foolish and that we were better off negotiating an exit with the Taliban.
2010

I cannot forget Kayani’s reaction when we explained our plan to build up Afghan forces to 400, 000 by 2014.
His answer was: Please don’t try to build that army. “You will fail,” he said. “Then you will leave and that half trained Army will break into militias.
@vali_nasr

“I don’t believe that the Congress is going to pay 9 billion dollars a year for this 400,000 man force.” Kayani was sure it would eventually collapse and the fragments would resort to crime terrorism to earn their keep.

Gen Kayani’s counsel was basically “ if you want to leave, JUST LEAVE— we didn’t believe you were going to stay anyway— but don’t do any more damage on your way out.

@gripusa

Don't blame Pakistan.

Pakistan is a failure of #AMERICAN POLICY, a failure of the sort that comes from the President handing foreign policy over to the PENTAGON and the INTELLIGENCE agencies.

Concludes @vali_nasr
2012