Why in news?
U.S President recently announced his new Afghan strategy.
What are the highlights of the strategy?
- Pakistan - It is acknowledged the fact that Pakistan has been playing a destructive role in Afghanistan by providing support and sanctuary to terrorists.
- India - India is the ninth biggest trading partner of the U.S. and India had a trade surplus of around $26 billion with the U.S. in goods trade alone in 2016.
- It pointed out that India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States and in return it wants India to help US more with Afghanistan.
- It recognized India as a strategic partner for security and economic development in Afghanistan.
- Similar demands were made on South Korea, Japan and Germany.
- By inviting India to be a partner in Afghanistan, it entirely overruled Pakistan’s position that India’s involvement to its west is part of the problem.
- South Asia - It followed the previous administration’s understanding of South Asia as a nuclear flash point.
- It sees the relationship between Pakistan and India as worsening wants to prevent nuclear weapons of either of the countries from falling into the hands of terrorists.
- ANDSF - It reiterated the centrality of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in defense of Afghan values, and safeguarding the space for democratic & constitutional play by keeping the Taliban and other terrorists at bay with military and financial assistance of the US.
- It clarified U.S’ stance in Afghanistan as not nation-building but killing terrorists.
Source: The Hindu
