President Donald Trump’s recent statement on Pakistan depicts the huge failure and deep flaws in the US policy towards Afghanistan since 9/11. America has gained nothing out of cash spending and taking body bags of its soldiers buried with anguish and pain in American graveyards. According to one estimate, as of October 18th, 2016, there have been 2,386 US military deaths in the war in Afghanistan.
War causalities continue after Trump assumed the Presidency. He is upset. He did not start the war but inherited from previous Republican and Democrat administrations. There is no debate and difference between these administrations dealing with Afghanistan. These administrations remained itchy with Pakistan as they perceived that the country is not proliferation American interests inside Afghanistan to win its war. How can Pakistan assist Americans to win a war inside Afghanistan?
But they have a perpetual faith in their policy that Pakistan is responsible for their failure inside Afghanistan. There is no end to the American blame-games on Pakistan. Sometimes they were Al-Qaeda groups, the Taliban terrorists, and the Haqqani Network operators. American blame-game did not move an inch away from the Haqqani Network in many years.
Pakistani government categorically refuses to have any Haqqani Network operated inside Pakistan’s territory. The internal security situation inside Pakistan has improved considerably in the past four years, indicating ruthless military operation against all terrorist groups.
The United States has failed to achieve the same results inside Afghanistan and finds it convenient to throw the failure of its policy on Pakistan.
Trump is actually demonstrating American frustration while comparing the situation with neighboring Pakistan. America possesses sophisticated intelligence technology and from inside Afghanistan it can easily apprehend if Pakistan is breeding terrorist groups on its border areas with Afghanistan. America could bring the same to the Congress and the UN Security Council for action but the fact remains that the whole episode is American failure inside Afghanistan.
Trump is confused whether to leave Afghanistan or to bring more troops and money into the war-ravaged country – the same old useless exercises. The number of troops does not matter. It is the policy that matters. He wants to find a way out and the convenient one is to blame Pakistan.
Pakistan needs to be extra vigilant of Trump’s frustration. His policy might affect the ongoing military policy in collaboration with the civilian administration. His Afghan fall out should not fall on Pakistan. Pakistan Foreign Office and GHQ readily and effectively respond to his statement and possible repercussions on Pakistan’s security.
If security deteriorates in Pakistan in coming days and months, the Donald Trump administration must be held responsible. In another befitting response, Pakistan should not accept any military aid from the Pentagon now onwards.
The United States also must learn and understand that in the past sixteen years it has been supporting a particular faction of Afghan society, which is the main reason for its failure.
Trump wants to find a way out and the convenient one is to blame Pakistan
Why does not it change its policy and embrace all Afghan groups instead of Ghani, Abdullah, and Karzai? They could not bring peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan is not in that policy. Americans need to assemble their failure instead of blaming Pakistan.
Pakistan is a fast emerging ‘as the ‘tiger economy’. The country is no longer living on the American aid like the 1980s and 1990s. Even the syndrome of the 9/11 has been fainted away from its soil.
America needs to reset its relations with Pakistan. The old relationship and logic would no longer determine its ties with Pakistan. The vitality of Pakistan strength has risen higher day by day in South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, and China.
Kabul is no longer a headache for Islamabad. It is an irritant for Washington and the Trump administration can act on Afghanistan freely and independently without consulting or fearing any threat from Islamabad. Pakistan is engaged on its democratic path and building infrastructure with China.
Trump’s statement made Pakistan upset and disappointed, as it was equivalent to issuing a direct threat. The US president must also understand that his policy statement would not stabilise Afghanistan. He has blown out more chaos and has failed to bring peace in Afghanistan.
The writer is Director of the China-Pakistan Study Center at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He writes on East Asian affairs
Published in Daily Times, August 24th 2017.