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President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. forces will go after terrorists in Afghanistan and asked neighboring Pakistan to stop giving refuge to forces of chaos and terror and support the new U.S. strategy to stabilize Afghanistan.
His administration’s strategy, Trump emphasized in a prime time address to Americans, differs from the past polcies in that he would not put a number on troops required in the country nor publicly set any timelines.
Washington, he said, will not micromanage the Afghan war, and added his Administration has already lifted restrictions on the American troops ability to fight the enemy.
“The next pillar of our new strategy is a change in our approach to Pakistan. We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond. Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor terrorists.”
Although Trump acknowledged Pakistan’s past efforts and sacrifices, he indicated that the United States would do anything to stop re-emergence of terrorist safe havens.
In the regional context, he acknowledged that Pakistan-India tensions make the situation worse.
“In Afghanistan and Pakistan, America’s interests are clear: we must stop the re-emergence of safe-havens that enable terrorists to threaten America; and we must prevent nuclear weapons and materials from coming into the hands of terrorists and being used against us.”
“Today twenty U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan – the highest concentration in any region of the world. For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror. The threat is worse because Pakistan and India are two nuclear-armed states whose tense relations threaten to spiral into conflict.”
Originally, Trump said he had thought of pulling America out of its longest war but now after months-long consultations he has decided that the U.S. should protect its interest and seek an honorable conclusion to the war.
