India hails Trump’s new Afghan policy

new delhi — India on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s new Afghanistan policy, saying New Delhi is committed to supporting Kabul in its efforts to secure peace and stability.

“We welcome President Trump’s determination to enhance efforts to overcome the challenges facing Afghanistan and confronting issues of safe havens and other forms of cross-border support enjoyed by terrorists,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

“India shares these concerns and objectives,” Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. “We are committed to supporting the government and the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to bring peace, security, stability and prosperity in their country.”

Trump on Monday signalled an open-ended involvement without an identifiable end game by announcing a conditions-based approach instead of a time-based approach to the Afghan war.

Kumar said India had been “steadfast in extending reconstruction and development assistance to Afghanistan in keeping with our traditional friendship with its people.

“We will continue these efforts, including in partnership with other countries,” he added. In his first major national address on a key foreign policy challenge, Trump spoke in terms of ending the focus on nationbuilding and instead concentrating on “killing terrorists”.

The speech was an about-turn on his frequent assertions during his presidential campaign and prior to that of pulling out of Afghanistan.

Trump also put Pakistan on notice with a virtual ultimatum warning that it “has much to lose” by backing terrorists and held out threat of action against them within its borders.

He accused Pakistan of sheltering “the same organisations that try every single day to kill our people” and warned: “It has much to lose by continuing to harbour terrorists.” —