Hollow Promises

Pravin Sawhney and Ghazala Wahab

US President Donald Trump ©WhiteHouse

Two conclusions can be drawn from the recently announced United States President Donald Trump’s strategy for Afghanistan: There will be a spurt in Pakistan’s proxy war in Kashmir with increased infiltration and volatility in the Valley. And the situation in Afghanistan will be the same when Trump finishes his term in office. US defence secretary James Mattis had, in June conceded, that ‘we are not winning the war in Afghanistan.’

The long-awaited US strategy which followed a comprehensive review of Afghanistan and South Asia (India and Pakistan) has three essential elements. One, India has been offered a bigger role in nation-building in Afghanistan. Two, Pakistan was upbraided for not cracking down on terrorists’ sanctuaries (Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network) on its soil. And three, the US role has been restricted to counter-terrorism. When asked if the US position had altered on Kashmir as a consequence of close relations between US and India, the US spokesperson, Heather Nauert said that there was no change in US Kashmir policy; it remains limited to encouraging both India and Pakistan to talk.

Within 48 hours of Trump’s announcement, China’s powerful state councillor, Yang Jiechi phoned US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson to say, “We need to give attention to the important role Pakistan is playing in the Afghanistan issue, and respect Pakistan’s sover