Summary US is pondering to expand drone strikes.
(WEB DESK)- Reports have emerged that Trump’s administration is said to be exploring hardening its approach toward Pakistan in a bid to stop alleged militants based in the country.
Responses being discussed included expanding US drone strikes, redirecting or withholding some aid to Pakistan and perhaps eventually downgrading Pakistan s status as a major non-NATO ally.
Against this backdrop, two potential questions stemmed that whether US actually desires peace in terror-stricken Afghanistan in order to fortify its interests or whether Washington will continue to use Kabul as a base to exert pressure on regional giants.
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Ostensibly, the motive behind sudden resurrection of ‘do more’ mantra seems to undermine efforts of China and Russia who have initiated efforts to bring Taliban on table for lasting peace in Afghanistan; Russia fears rebirth of ISIS while China wants to avoid creation of terrorists’ sanctuaries which could possibly disrupt peace situation in Xinjiang. Furthermore, the failure of US-led coalition drive indicates that Afghanistan requires regional peace forces comprising troops from Pakistan, China and Russia.
It is an established fact that the region, particularly Pakistan, witnessed upward trajectory in terror incidents after US toppled Taliban’s regime. Since then, Islamabad has launched multiple campaigns to uproot terrorism from its soil for once and all, suffering mammoth losses of lives. The fencing of Pak-Afghan borders sheds light on Pakistan’s solid and sincere commitment to halt cross-border terrorism.
But, the feeble and puppet government of Ashraf Ghani has utterly failed in fulfilling its promises whereas it incessantly blames Pakistan for its failures in order to avoid public backlash.
Unfortunately, recent political and military developments in region suggest that situation in Afghanistan will further deteriorate even if there is a modest increase in US military support for the war-torn country.
(Article written by Head of Political Affairs Dunya News Salman Ghani, translated by Zohaib Hassan)
