# How long will US-Pakistan relations survive for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-us-pakistan-relations-survive-for/579655>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 25, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-us-pakistan-relations-survive-for/579655 "2011-04-25T15:22:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-us-pakistan-relations-survive-for/579655/22 "2011-05-04T14:54:43Z")

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So what _will_ happen with US-Pakistani relations from here and what _will_ be the longer term effects?

(Asking if they will “survive” seems silly, no offense. There will be relations. The question is what sort of relations and how those changes in relations increase or decrease our security and our other interests.)

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**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-us-pakistan-relations-survive-for/579655/23 "2011-05-04T15:16:08Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I can see how that would be a concern. With that in mind:
> 
> No.

So if Pakistan did not have nuclear weapons you think the US would still consider them an ally?

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**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-us-pakistan-relations-survive-for/579655/24 "2011-05-04T15:37:16Z")

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From everything I have read about Pakistan their government is as corrupt as it is incompetent. That said, they are a soverign nation and they can do as they please. They have enough valuable resources and strategic location that they are important to US interests so we will be mutual allies for a long time to come.

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**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\
**Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-us-pakistan-relations-survive-for/579655/25 "2011-05-04T15:41:19Z")

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> [@sh1bu1](#):
>
> If the US could send in a force to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons (or just bribe the guards) could we then just tell them to fuck off?

I read an article awhile back (The Economist???) about just such a possibility if a coup by radical islamists succeeded. Apparently there is an agreement for US forces to secure Pakistans nuclear weapons if such a scenario occurs.

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