Pakistan is a mess. On one hand, as you say, they're an "ally" with US bases etc. On the other they actively assisted the Taliban. They've been useful in som

Pakistan is a mess. On one hand, as you say, they're an "ally" with US bases etc. On the other they actively assisted the Taliban. They've been useful in some situations, but have undermined the US in others. It's not clear whether they'd side with the US or China. And they leak nuclear secrets like a sieve. Plus they're basically turning into an Islamic theocracy so the long term does not bode well for the US.