Vector check : prospects for U.S. and Pakistan air power engagement / Jonah Blank, Richard S. Girven, Arzan Tarapore, Julia A. Thompson, Arthur Chan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blank, Jonah, author.

Girven, Richard S., author.

Tarapore, Arzan, author.

Thompson, Julia A., author.

Chan, Arthur (Of Rand Corporation), author.

Contributor:

Project Air Force (U.S.), issuing body.

Rand Corporation, publisher.

Series:

Research report (Rand Corporation) ; RR-2107-AF.

Research report ; RR-2107-AF

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Security, International.

Military relations.

United States--Military relations--Pakistan.

United States.

Pakistan--Military relations.

Pakistan.

Security, International--South Asia.

South Asia.

Physical Description:

xviii,109 pages : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.

Other Title:

Prospects for U.S. and Pakistan air power engagement

Prospects for US and Pakistan air power engagement

Prospects for United States and Pakistan air power engagement

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, Calif. : RAND Corporation, [2018]

Summary:

"As U.S. military action in Afghanistan stabilizes at levels well below the Operation Enduring Freedom peak, the security relationship between the United States and Pakistan will enter a new phase. Formulating a strategy for future engagement requires a deep understanding of Pakistan's own security imperatives--i.e., the factors that determine what types of partnership are realistic, and the geopolitical and historical forces that shape Pakistan's cooperation with the United States. This report examines such factors from a variety of angles: It discusses the historical context of U.S.-Pakistan engagement, highlighting the two prior cycles of deep partnership and precipitous downgrade; it outlines Pakistan's strategic calculus with five nations (India, China, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran), which inform most important security decisions, and highlights Pakistan's overarching focus on potential conflict with India; and it looks at future trends for partnering, while examining several potential scenarios. A key finding presented is that U.S. leverage over Pakistan's security choices is limited, and that the U.S. Air Force effectively serves as the "loss leader" in the relationship. A key recommendation is for U.S. planners to be mindful of the cyclical pattern of the relationship. Given the growing security relationship between the United States and India, any future partnership with Pakistan may face a new set of challenges. If history is a guide, however, the United States would be well advised to maintain its engagement in the interim rather than ramping up next time from a standing start."--Publisher's description.

Contents:

Summary.

1. Introduction. Background. USAF-PAF security cooperation post-OEF. Pakistan Air Force goals as subset of Pakistan's broader security goals. The policy problem. Methodology. Purpose of this document. Organization of this report.

2. Historical context for USAF-PAF engagement. 1947-1979, the first cycle of engagement: Cold War allies. 1979-2001, second cycle of engagement: Afghan jihad. 2001 to 2016, third cycle of engagement: uneasy OEF allies.

3. Geostrategic context: Pakistan's nested security relationships. India. China. Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia. Iran. Chapter summary.

4. Future trends for USAF as the loss leader in the relationship: pathways to success, pitfalls to be avoided. Scenarios of the future U.S.-Pakistan relationship. The most likely outcome: combination scenario, and a riskier future. Implications for USAF. 5. Recommendations. USAF security cooperation and Pakistan. Policy-level recommendations. Specific recommendations. Closing thoughts.

Appendices.

References.

Notes:

"Prepared for the United States Air Force."--Title page.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 94-109).

ISBN:

0833099353

9780833099358

OCLC:

1028902167