President Donald Trump’s new Afghan policy puts the stress on realism rather than on politics. President Barack Obama was committed to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan as much as possible. Trump on the other hand has authorized the dispatch of additional 4000 US soldiers to train and strengthen Afghan forces. Trump is right in thinking that a hasty withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan could create a void which would benefit terrorists, including the Afghan unit of the Islamic State (IS). President Obama’s withdrawal from Iraq had a destabilizing effect. He announced deadlines for withdrawal from Afghanistan as well which lent strength to Taliban terrorists. It was impossible to defeat the Taliban which got safe havens in Pakistan. Trump has decided that he will not announce deadlines for the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. He has also warned Pakistan against providing safe havens to terror groups. Washington’s close ties with Pakistan had botched its Afghan policy in the past .
Trump has rightly asked for a change. He says that it will be in Pakistan’s interest to stop providing safe havens to terrorists and helping them. If Pakistan does not comply, the US will use all diplomatic, economic and military instruments to disarm Pakistan. India should be happy that Trump has acknowledged India’s role in promoting Afghanistan’s stability and reconstruction. The US President will also do well not to antagonize Iran which also seeks Afghan stability.
