Sensing an impending hardening of the US stance towards it, Pakistan is seeking to radically escalate violence in Afghanistan and Indian Kashmir, in the hopes of putting its enemies on the back foot. The Trump administration has decided to adopt a more aggressive strategy against Pakistan's Taliban proxies in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the US is considering applying targeted sanctions against select Pakistani military & terrorist leaders, in the same way it has against members of the Russian govt and Putin's supporters.
This decision by Pakistan's current military leadership is similar to Musharraf's 1998 decision to launch the Kargil invasion after suffering US sanctions in response to its nuclear tests. When put under duress, Pakistan chose to hit out offensively through a major military escalation. Likewise, as it comes under increasing duress now, it will attempt to do something similar.
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