Sentence:  Probably the United States has realized, a bit too late, that its stake on a pro-Pakistan regime in Afghanistan had been a mistake. Obviously, this was done not for the sake of stake itself: the strategic aim was to penetrate the Heartland.  From the point of view of the <WSD>tellurocracy</WSD> versus thalassocracy opposition a maritime power (the US) may entrench itself in the IRAFPAK zone. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Dominance or supremacy due to military or commercial power on land.