Experts back Trump’s Afghan strategy, larger role for India

LONG WAITED UNVEIL Trump warns Pak to stop backing terrorists, assigns strategic role for India

Experts have hailed US President Donald Trump’s Afghan strategy and invitation to India to play a bigger role in Afghanistan “especially in the area of economic assistance and development.”

“I think the broad thrust of the policy is admirable, but the devil will be in the details: What is the administration actually willing to do about Pakistan? Will the US and the allies commit the resources required to build up an effective Afghan National Security Forces quickly? How will the success of the counterinsurgency mission be evaluated?” said Ashley Tellis, a leading expert on Asia at Carnegie.

Michael Kugelman, South Asia expert at Wilson Center, said: “I’m struck by his comments on Pakistan and India. He talked a tough game on Pakistan, but he didn’t reveal exactly what he plans to do to get Pakistan to change its ways.

“As for India — no surprise there. It makes good sense to highlight how the US and India can work together in Afghanistan.”

Alyssa Ayers, former head of the India desk at the state department and a South Asia expert with the Council on Foreign Relations, welcomed India’s “elevation” to a more prominent role as an American partner in Afghanistan. “This South Asia strategy review has been under continual revision since April/May, so it was possible that we could have ended up with something far different, like the ‘viceroy” idea. Instead, it is a relief to learn that the new approach will have a lot of continuity with the old,” she said.