Pakistan says last payment from US for fighting Taliban delayed
 

LOL, as if the US should actually pay for this. Pakistan should compensate all the victims of terrorism that the ISI enabled, and Pakistan sanctioned, over the decades.

This maybe, not sure though of course, a way for them to say the place is lawless- so the Americans can operate there, at least via air power. Otherwise there would be more of an outcry generally over loosing control of borders. They also loose less soldiers in the engagements, a win win for them given the circumstances.

Sounds like a protection racket. Pay us or the Taliban will be everywhere.

That's why -wage war, buy time and pay the rest while doing the dirty- is the only workable strategy instead of paying everyone around you while getting weaker and everyone getting stronger. Unfortunately it can only be stretched for a second term.