Opinion | Trump wrong to ignore China’s role in future Afghan policy
US president is short-sighted in focusing on only Pakistan and India’s influence as he tries to end America’s longest war, writes Ankit Panda
After months of review and anticipation, US President Donald Trump unveiled his strategy for Afghanistan last month. In doing so, he became the third American president to take ownership of what is now the United States’ longest war.
Trump, while acknowledging that Americans have grown war weary after 16 years in Afghanistan, nevertheless doubled down on a continued US presence in the country. He did not shape his strategy around specific troop numbers or a withdrawal timetable, but instead outlined a far-reaching counterterrorism rationale for a continued American presence in the country.
The new US strategy is perhaps notable for its geopolitical myopia more than anything. In addressing the geopolitical position of Afghanistan and the Asian subcontinent in his speech, Trump reduced the latter to just India and Pakistan. Other regional stakeholders, including Russia, China, Iran and the Central Asian states received no direct mention.
The focus on South Asia notably zeroed in on Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan.
Trump’s strategy was predicated on a long-standing conception in the United States that has failed to drive successful policy outcomes – that the enduring interests of Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex are in direct opposition to US policy goals in Afghanistan.
Trump minced few words when discussion Pakistan’s culpability in fostering “agents of chaos” within its borders. “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond,” he added.
