WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has committed US troops to an open-ended war in Afghanistan, in a decision welcomed by the Afghan government. Taliban insurgents however, did not take the statement too well, and warned that they would make a “graveyard for the American empire”. The Prez who had in the past advocated a withdrawal, said he was going against his instincts in approving the campaign plan sought by his military advisers. He also added that he was convinced leaving posed more risk.
“The consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable. A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists, including ISIS and al-Qaida, would instantly fill,” Trump said. He promised an end to “nation-building” by US forces in what has become the US' longest war. Trump stressed that ultimately Afghanistan's struggling police and army must help defeat the Taliban. “The stronger the Afghan security forces become, the less we will have to do. Afghans will secure and build their own nation and define their own future. We want them to succeed,” he said.
Two top US leaders have warned that Pakistan will face consequences like losing the major non-Nato ally status if it continues to provide safe havens to terror groups. They made the warning, a day after Trump put Islamabad on notice for harbouring militants. Trump came down heavily on Pakistan for its support to terror groups, saying the country receives billions of dollars in US aid but continues to shelter extremists. Defence secretary James Mattis said the Trump administration will surely take action against Pakistan in this regard this time.
Pakistan suspends talks with US
Pakistan, meanwhile, suspended bilateral talks and visits with the US "as a mark of protest over the recent anti-Pakistan diatribe by US President Donald Trump", said top government sources. Pakistani government officials said that the country would likely not engage in any open talks with Washington before prime minister Shahid Abbasi's visit to the US next month to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.
Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif is said to have told the country's senate that Islamabad postponing a top US official's visit to the country, purportedly until a "mutually convenient time", was in reality an act of protest. Similarly, his own visit to the US, that was scheduled for last week and that he postponed, was also done because Islamabad is seriously miffed with Trump last week blasting Pakistan for hosting terror safe havens. Pakistan's senate has constituted a special committee to frame how it will react to what it believes is US bullying. A resolution on this is expected to be passed by the Pakistani senate on Wednesday, said Pakistani media.
