Trump's Praise for Pakistan: A Dangerous Endorsement for Afghan Chaos?

• Donald Trump praised Pakistan's leadership amidst its 'open war' on the Taliban regime in Kabul, calling PM Shehbaz Sharif a 'great prime minister' and COAS Asim Munir a 'great general'.
• Trump's endorsement, despite Pakistan's economic struggles, may embolden Islamabad to escalate conflict across the Durand Line, potentially increasing civilian casualties.
• The US President's remarks provide international cover for Pakistan's airstrikes, framing them as 'self-defence', and could distract from Pakistan's internal issues like inflation and political instability.
• Escalation could strain Pakistan's military, expose internal vulnerabilities in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and lead to refugee inflows and anti-government protests.
• The article suggests Trump's praise is a 'corrosive compliment' that could plunge Pakistan deeper into chaos, rather than leading to de-escalation through diplomacy.