Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Michael Waltz, the National Security Adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has stated that American forces will not return to combat in Afghanistan under the new administration. Speaking to The Washington Post, Waltz emphasized that while the United States will avoid redeploying troops to places like Kandahar, it cannot afford to ignore potential threats emerging from the region.
“We cannot wait for Kansas City to be attacked,” Waltz said, stressing the importance of bolstering intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts to prevent another major attack on U.S. soil. He noted that the Trump administration would carefully review the intelligence community’s role in monitoring and countering terrorist activity, particularly in Afghanistan.
The Washington Post highlighted Waltz’s deep familiarity with Afghanistan, describing the region as central to his past comments and opinions. Despite his opposition to the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops, Waltz has not disclosed specific changes to U.S. policy on Afghanistan under the Trump administration but emphasized the need to improve intelligence-gathering capabilities in the country.
The Islamic Emirate, meanwhile, has dismissed concerns raised by Waltz, asserting that Afghanistan is now secure following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. The group maintains that no individual or group within the country is allowed to engage in terrorist activities and has repeatedly claimed that Afghanistan poses no threat to regional or global security.
Waltz, however, warned that threats from Afghanistan to U.S. national security are emerging, suggesting the possibility that the United States may one day be compelled to send troops back to the region. For now, the focus remains on preemptive measures to safeguard American interests without returning to combat zones.
