Trump to announce new strategy for Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump will announce America’s new strategy in Afghanistan on Monday, nearly 16 years after the war began in the country, the White House said, amid reports that his administration looked into possibilities of a role for India during its policy review.

Trump’s address to US troops and the nation at 9 pm local time (7:30 am IST, Tuesday) from the Fort Myer military base in Arlington, Virginia, will follow Defence Secretary Jim Mattis confirmation on Sunday that the administration had decided on a new Afghan strategy after “rigorous” debate.

The much-awaited policy announcement comes eight months after Trump became the US president and after criticism from some US lawmakers that he was struggling to make a decision.

Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, announced his Afghan policy in the first 100 days of his office.

Frustrated with Trump administration’s delay, Senator John McCain on August 10 had unveiled his own strategy for Afghanistan in which he had proposed to impose “graduated” costs on Pakistan if it continues to support terrorist groups.

Announcing his strategy, McCain had said that the US was “adrift” in Afghanistan. The chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee had called for an “enduring presence” of US troops in the war-torn country. –PTI