Muslimyar optimistic about new US strategy

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Senate chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar on Wednesday said praising and seeking India’s increased role in Afghanistan.

Talking to reporters in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, the Meshrano Jirga chairman termed the new US strategy as positive for Afghanistan.

“I am optimistic about this three-pronged policy — one to put pressure on regional countries, second to fight militants and third to support the Afghan forces.”

Regarding the presence of foreign forces on the Afghan soil, he said it was nothing new as foreign troops have been in Afghanistan over the past 15 years.

He said in the past foreign troops had been committing self-styled acts but in future they would stay here under an agreement. 

Muslimyar said Pakistan should change its policy regarding Afghanistan, if not the neighboring country would meet the fate of Iran and sanctions may be imposed on Pakistan.

Muslimyar claimed Daesh was directly trained, equipped and facilitated by Iran, Russia and Pakistan.

President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new US strategy in which he ruled out a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, as he put Pakistan on notice for supporting terrorist groups.

In his prime-time address to the nation on America’s new policy toward South Asia, the president reached out to India for economic development of the country where US forces have been stationed for 16 years.

“A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum for terrorists, including ISIS and Al Qaida, would instantly fill just as happened before September 11,” said the president.

“A core pillar of our new strategy is a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions. I’ve said it many times how counterproductive it is for the United States to announce in advance the dates we intend to begin or end military options,” Trump added.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said America’s interests were clear. The safe havens that enabled terrorists to threaten America must be shut down, he stressed.

nh/ma

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