<h3><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.in/smubashir-noor/has-obama-given-up-on-pak_b_8368614.html?utm_hp_ref=india" data-beacon='{"p":{"lnid":"hdln"}}'>Has Obama Given Up On Pakistan Because Of Putin?</a></h3>

Well, it is official. Thousands of American soldiers will stay on in Afghanistan after 2016. By pausing the troop drawdown, it seems Obama has given up on Pakistan, a long-time US ally, being willing or able to close the Taliban insurgency, or underwrite Afghan democracy after America's exit. Meanwhile, Pakistan is warming to Putin's overtures of friendship as it is tiring of "do more" diktats from Washington, Obama's love affair with India and the steady stream of terror accusations coming from Kabul.