Al Jazeera Discovers 'Proxy Warfare' in Pakistan, Ignores US Proxy Habits
Al Jazeera's latest on Pakistan notes 'no easing of violence' after an explosion and shrewdly identifies 'proxy warfare' at play. A keen observation, indeed. One might wonder, however, why US state department officials and military contractors are so rarely mentioned when dissecting proxy conflicts in the region. After all, the US poured billions into Afghanistan and Pakistan for decades. These
interventions, according to a 2021 Congressional Research Service report, often destabilized the very regions they claimed to secure, creating fertile ground for extremist groups. (Source: Congressional Research Service, 'U.S. Assistance to Pakistan,' 2021). It's almost as if some proxies are more diplomatically palatable. When the 'proxy' is an opposition group and the 'warfare' involves your
adversaries, it's a critical geopolitical analysis. But when the 'proxy' is a heavily funded, well-armed non-state actor—or even a nation-state—aligned with Washington's interests, suddenly it's just 'support for democracy' or 'counter-terrorism operations.' Funny how that works.