Donald Trump has promised more troops in Afghanistan and criticised Pakistan for supporting terrorism. Experts explain what this could mean for India and south Asia.
There is no evidence that Hafiz Saeed’s political party would do any better than the many Islamic parties which have been losing elections for years in Pakistan.
Rahimullah Yusufzai
The Italian term sprezzatura—a studied nonchalance that conceals intention—best captures the spirit of Trump’s foreign policy so far. The pattern is unpredictability, transactionalism, and disruption as diplomacy.
With 20.2 percent of its total loans in default by the end of last year, Bangladesh had the weakest banking system in Asia. Despite reforms, it will take time to recover.
This world is being restructured and redrawn by one man, and what’s his power? It’s not his formidable military. It’s trade. With China, it turned on him.
Very difficult to visualise what the United States can achieve in Afghanistan that has eluded it for sixteen years. So much blood and treasure expended. The more productive course of action would be for NATO to take China’s and Russia’s help to impress upon Pakistan the need to keep Afghanistan peaceful and free of terror. China and Russia both have restive Muslim populations close by. Also, with Afghan women having tasted freedom, assurances from the Taleban that they will not take the country back in time. India needs to consider whether, with the state of its relationship with Pakistan being what it is, it needs to open another theatre for proxy conflict.
Very difficult to visualise what the United States can achieve in Afghanistan that has eluded it for sixteen years. So much blood and treasure expended. The more productive course of action would be for NATO to take China’s and Russia’s help to impress upon Pakistan the need to keep Afghanistan peaceful and free of terror. China and Russia both have restive Muslim populations close by. Also, with Afghan women having tasted freedom, assurances from the Taleban that they will not take the country back in time. India needs to consider whether, with the state of its relationship with Pakistan being what it is, it needs to open another theatre for proxy conflict.