Is India Key To Trump’s South Asia Plans?
In the Trump administration’s strategy on 16-year-old conflict in Afghanistan, there were two key takeaways for India.
When Donald Trump took the stage at Fort Myer Army Base in Virginia to outline his administration’s strategy on the 16-year-old conflict in Afghanistan, there were two key takeaways for India.
One, the fact that he castigated Pakistan for its role in harbouring terrorists. Two, the fact that he highlighted India’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Trump, who had denounced the U.S.’ Afghanistan strategy as a “total disaster” during his presidential campaign, has now pledged to increase troops in Afghanistan without specifying a number. In trying to vindicate himself, Trump said that his original instinct was to pull out of the conflict but “decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk of the Oval Office”.
While this may appear as a stark contrast, Sameer Patil, Fellow-National Security Studies & Director at the Centre for International Security at Gateway House said it’s vital to remember that there’s often a difference between a candidate’s rhetoric and the decisions taken when the person assumes office.
“At least he was frank in admitting what I said as a candidate was different and what I am doing as a President is completely different,” Patil pointed out.
India Key To Afghanistan Strategy
In his speech, Trump singled out India as a key player in bringing stability to the region. As the world’s largest democracy, India naturally becomes a key security and economic partner of the U.S., he said. “We want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development,” he added.
Patil said India is imperative to Trump’s plans for a couple of reasons.
India remains a key for his South Asia plans. And that’s also a function of the current set of our relationships with Russia, China and Iran, the key regional players for the Afghanistan conundrum.Sameer Patil, Fellow-National Security Studies & Director-Centre for International Security, Gateway House
The other reason India is key to Trump’s plans is a shift by the U.S. from a time-based approach to a conditions-based approach and unless conditions are created for a US withdrawal from Afghanistan, there will be no peace in the region, Patil said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on Tuesday, welcomed the U.S. President’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.”