Trump’s dressing down of Pak

Donald Trump’s “fight to win” strategy in Afghanistan has significant portents for the ‘IndiaPakistan-Afghanistan triangle”. Trump has indicated that Pakistan can no more cosy up to the US now as it had done under past US regimes. That he has declared there will be more troop deployment in Afghanistan and no time frame for their withdrawal should worry Islamabad. Trump has warned Islamabad to “immediately” change its priorities failing which it may have “much to lose” — powerful words from the most powerful leader of the globe which cannot be swept aside. Though US’ own diplomatic options fomented additional unrest in a troubled region, to provide that extra “cutting edge” to Pakistan to continue with its nefarious designs, things seem to change because it’s for the first time that a US President has been so vocally critical of Pakistan. Meanwhile, his call to New Delhi to “join hands” with Washington is an opportunity for India to explore new possibilities in the region. India welcoming Trump’s words is enough indication that it senses an opening to up the ante in its fight against Pakistan-sponsored terror. New Delhi can also hope that a ruffled Pakistan may go slow in its bonhomie with China though Beijing did not figure in Trumps “new” South Asia policy. Though it

is highly unlikely that New Delhi will provide military support to the US troops fighting Taliban, heightened economic, humanitarian and diplomatic relations with Kabul should work wonders for a sustained fight against terror in the region.

— Ganapathi Bhat