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The U.S. is treading a rocky path in South Asia, despite striking a conciliatory tone in recent visits by top American officials to India and Pakistan.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, who visited Pakistan earlier this week to “reset” the otherwise strained bilateral relations, tried to woo Islamabad to use its so-called influence to bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table in war-struck Afghanistan.
In the second leg, Pompeo together with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis signed a much-delayed military communications agreement with India -- another sign of Washington’s longtime desire to contain China’s ambitions in Asia.
The United States constantly sends messages to Iran to begin negotiations, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday in a speech broadcast on state television.Tensions ramped up between Iran and the United States after President Donald Trump pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran in May and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic last month.Trump has said he would meet Iran's leaders."From one side they try to pressure the people of Iran, on another side they send us messages every day through various methods that we should come and negotiate together," Rouhani said.Iran, Russia can work together to restrain America: KhameneiHe added, "[They say] we should negotiate here, we should negotiate there. We want to resolve the issues... should we see your message?.. or should we see your brutish actions?"Washington aims to force Tehran to end its nuclear program and its support of militant groups in Syria and Iraq.U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector are scheduled to be reimposed in November.Iran is facing an "economic, psychological and propaganda war", Rouhani said Saturday, pointing to America and Israel as the Islamic Republic's main enemies.Iran closes border crossing with Iraq
US sends Iran messages 'every day' to begin negotiations: Rouhani
The agreement will allow New Delhi to receive military-grade communications equipment from Washington and permit the exchange of real-time encrypted information on platforms used by the two armed forces.
The two top officials of Donald Trump’s administration downplayed areas of tension with India -- buying oil from Iran and a missile defense system from Russia -- ignoring repeated sanction warnings from the U.S.
For many, revisiting of ties with Islamabad and downplaying areas of friction with India is not Washington’s choice but a “compulsion.”
The U.S. has cut funding for hospitals that mainly serve Palestinians in the occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Saturday.The Donald Trump administration cut more than $20 million in aid to hospitals in Israel-occupied city, according to the newspaper.The cut is part of the administration’s broader approach of cutting aid to the Palestinians, a U.S. State Department official told Haaretz.Israeli troops kill Palestinian, wound more than 200 at Gaza border protestOn Thursday, Trump said that he stopped paying money to the Palestinians until they reach a peace deal with Israel."I stopped massive amounts of money that we were paying to the Palestinians and the Palestinian leaders. We were -- the United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money," he said. "And I'd say, you'll get money, but we're not paying you until we make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we're not paying."The fresh U.S. aid cut could cause harm to at least five hospitals in East Jerusalem, including Augusta Victoria hospital and the St. John Eye Hospital, which is the main provider of eye treatments for Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.EU urges Israel to reconsider Khan al-Ahmar decisionDave Harden, a former USAID assistant administrator, warned that the U.S. aid cut puts August Victoria hospital in East Jerusalem at risk of “collapse”.Notably East Jerusalem hospitals provide medical services to Palestinians not only in East Jerusalem but also those in the West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip.Last week, Washington ended all of its funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA.The U.S. was -- by far -- UNRWA's largest contributor, providing it with $350 million annually -- roughly one quarter of the agency's overall budget.Palestinians have rejected any U.S. mediation since Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.
US cuts aid to hospitals in East Jerusalem
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Jere Van Dyk, a New York-based journalist and author of best seller "In Afghanistan: An American Odyssey" said: “The U.S. is concerned that Pakistan is becoming almost a satellite or a colony of China and the U.S., by drawing closer to India, is showing its displeasure.
Dyk said the U.S. is also trying to extract itself from Afghanistan and needs Pakistan's help and wants to put pressure on it indirectly.
“The U.S. feels closer in many ways to Pakistan, because of their shared role in containing Communist Soviet Union during the Cold War[…],” he added.
According to Dyk, Washington will not be happy that India has purchased oil from Iran but is aware that China, Pakistan and India need oil and natural gas to fuel their growing economies which Russia and Iran have in abundance.
The U.S. military will station about 1,500 additional soldiers in Germany by September 2020, adding to more than 33,000 American troops already in the country in a move that could trigger fresh tensions with Russia.Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested last month that NATO forces in eastern Europe posed a threat to Russia, a charge firmly rejected by NATO officials.The U.S. Army's European headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, said the new forces would be permanently stationed in Germany as "a display of our continued commitment to NATO and our collective resolve to support European security."Sharp criticism of the NATO alliance by U.S. President Donald Trump had triggered fears that Washington could reduce defence spending in Europe and reduce its presence."The addition of these forces increases U.S Army readiness in Europe and ensures we are better able to respond to any crisis," it said. The increased troop levels will still be far below those seen during the Cold War.The troop increase was mandated by 2017 U.S. legislation that called for an increase in U.S. Army troop levels, with a significant portion of the increase to come in Europe.The U.S. Army said it would begin activating new units at several bases in Germany this year, including a field artillery brigade headquarters, two multiple launch rocket system battalions, and a short-range air defense battalion.Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador in Germany, said the decision underscored Washington's commitment to strengthening he transatlantic alliance, while planned military spending increases had improved security.German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, a conservative who is battling the Social Democrat coalition partners to back a boost in German military spending, welcomed the decision."The U.S. decision to increase the military presence here in Germany is a welcome sign of the vitality of transatlantic relationship and a commitment to our joint security," she said. 
US military to send 1,500 more soldiers to Germany by late 2020
Retreat
Abdul Khalique Ali, a Karachi-based political and security analyst, believes the U.S. is compelled to retreat from its previous stand on several issues relating to India and Pakistan.
“The U.S is facing a multi-faceted imbroglio in Asia, which has compelled it to retreat from its previous stand on several issues,” Ali told Anadolu Agency.
He was referring to Washington’s opposition to India’s oil imports from Iran and acquisition of S-400 missile defense system from Russia, and multi-billion dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition began war games Friday in eastern Syria in what it said are exercises aimed at honing "warfighting skills for counterterrorism operations".The games were launched out of the at-Tanf garrison near the Iraqi border and included an aerial assault and about 100 U.S. troops who will conduct a live fire exercise before departing the airbase.“Our forces will demonstrate the capability to deploy rapidly, assault a target with integrated air and ground forces and conduct a rapid exfiltration anywhere in the OIR [Operation Inherent Resolve] combined joint operations area,” Navy Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, said in a statement."Exercises like this bolster our defeat-ISIS capabilities and ensure we are ready to respond to any threat to our forces.”Urban was using another name for Daesh.The U.S. is de-conflicting the exercises with Russia using established protocols, the command said.Despite the stated "counterterrorism" aim of the exercises, CNN reported they are actually a direct response to Russian military threats.Moscow reportedly sent a written note to the U.S. on Thursday warning that it would carry out "precision strikes" on militants around the at-Tanf area despite a roughly 55-kilometer (34-mile) deconfliction zone around the base."The United States does not seek to fight the Russians, the government of Syria or any groups that may be providing support to Syria in the Syrian civil war. However, the United States will not hesitate to use necessary and proportionate force to defend U.S., coalition or partner forces, as we have clearly demonstrated in past instances," CNN quoted Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Sean Robertson as saying.It is unclear how long the exercises will last, but the outlet reported they could go on for days.Regime trains YPG/PKK, leftist terrorists in NW SyriaTehran summit joint statement calls for political solution in SyriaErdoğan says it is important to end bombardments in Syria's Idlib, ensure cease-fireTrilateral Syria summit between Turkish, Russian, Iranian leaders beginsAssad regime, Russia shell Syria’s Idlib
US-led coalition stages war games in Syria
“India is Trump’s one of the targets of recent trade tariffs, whereas, New Delhi has completely ignored the U.S. warnings against oil imports (from Iran) and growing defense cooperation with Russia,” he noted.
“But despite all this, Washington desperately needs New Delhi to check rising China. That’s why it has to bear with India,” he observed.
Similarly, Ali opined, the U.S had long been opposing the CPEC, and growing defense and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. “But, since it (U.S) is running short of options in Afghanistan, it needs to reset ties with Pakistan,” he maintained.
Brigadier Retired Mehmood Shah, an Islamabad-based security analyst, however, sees “lack of sincerity and substance” in Trump’s policies vis-à-vis Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Pakistan, in particular, cannot trust Trump because he is the most unbelievable person. He is using threatening language to bring every country at its knee but this behavior is pushing the U.S itself into trouble,” Shah said while speaking to Anadolu Agency.
Pakistan, he opined, should take advantage of Trump’s hostile policies towards his allies.
“Pakistan is currently not alone. He (Trump) has created issues with Turkey, Russia, China, Iran, Canada and many other countries simultaneously,” he noted. “Now this is the time for Pakistan to tell him we cannot do more.”
Adjustment
Shah observed that the U.S was facing isolation in the region, where all regional powers except India were against it.
He was referring to Washington’s hawkish approach towards Russia, China, Turkey, and Iran.
“Pakistan has recently signed several defense agreements with Russia and already have good relations with China. Therefore, in terms of its defense needs, Pakistan does not need America.”
“But, I think, the increasing isolation in the region would push U.S. into more trouble in Afghanistan,” he maintained.
Deepankar Banerji, a retired general and New Delhi-based security analyst, believes that the U.S has to “adjust” with India over the former’s relations with Iran and Russia.
“Washington is certainly not happy with New Delhi’s growing relations with Iran and Russia, which are currently facing U.S. sanctions. But the question is what’s the alternative if America prevents India from signing agreements with Tehran and Moscow,” Banerji told Voice of America in an interview.
“I do not think India will bow to this demand. I feel that the U.S has to adjust with India’s ties with Iran and Russia, which are longtime and historic”, he opined.
Prof. Harrshvardhan Pant from Kings College London thinks that Trump administration has given a “strong message” to Islamabad by cutting its military aid that there will be no change in its policy despite the change of government in Pakistan.
“This continuity can benefit India as Trump administration is not ready to give benefit of doubt to new Pakistani government”, Pant said.