Afghanistan Times
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The President of the United States Mr. Donald Trump has made angry Afghanistan and India by making some irresponsible remarks regarding ongoing violent and uncertain situation in Afghanistan. Trump, at a cabinet meeting insisted on regional countries’ role in Afghanistan and said Russia, India and Pakistan should be fighting in Afghanistan, not the United States. “So you take a look at other countries – Pakistan is there. They should be fighting. But Russia should be fighting. The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there. The problem is it was a tough fight,” Trump said. He also brought up India’s aid during a rambling press appearance at the cabinet meeting as he defended his push for the United States to invest less overseas. While stating that he got along with PM Modi, the US President said Modi was “constantly telling me he built a library in Afghanistan”. “You know what that is? That’s like five hours of what we spend.” “And we’re supposed to say, ‘Oh, thank you for the library.” I don’t know who’s using it in Afghanistan,” Trump questioned. In reaction, the Afghan government on Thursday said it has asked the United States to provide clarification on certain statements, established through diplomatic channels on some policies, saying the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) continue to deal with heavy sacrifices in the battlefield, for the sake of international peace and security, particularly security of the friendly nations. Through a statement, the Afghan government states, it was unclear to which project Trump was referring, but India has committed $3 billion in assistance to Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled the Taliban regime after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Whatever might be its repercussions but President Trump’s remarks during the 95-minute cabinet meeting at the White House gave new insight into US new vision of Afghanistan and President’s frustration with the stalemate in the war-torn country – as well as with the generals who have advised him to stay, including his just-departed defense secretary, James Mattis. “What’s he done for me? How has he done in Afghanistan?” Trump said on Mattis. “I’m not happy with what he (has) done in Afghanistan, and I shouldn’t be happy.” Trump added that he’d “essentially” fired Mattis, though the Marine General resigned in protest over Trump’s announced withdrawal from Syria. All these thinking and remarks confirms doubts in US policies towards Afghanistan. No one can deny other regional countries especially Pakistan’s meddling in internal affairs of Afghanistan, which is the real cause of continuation of terrorism and extremism in the whole region. In the wake of President Trump’s latest statement, responsibilities rest with the regional countries particularly Russia and Pakistan to revisit its policies. Return of peace and end to every sort of terror in Afghanistan is key to resolving of all issues in the region.
