Pakistan has much to lose: Donald Trump threats Pakistan
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Donald Trump took a subtle yet hard line when speaking about Pakistan and its relations with the United States during his speech early Tuesday morning.
"Our commitment is not limited [and] our support is not a blank cheque," he clarified, indicating that Pakistan should take a stronger line against possible terrorist elements taking refuge in the country.
Interestingly, however, Trump said it may "be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan, but nobody knows if or when that will ever happen".
Later, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, "We stand ready to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban without preconditions."
The United States intends to expand its power to target terrorists and criminals hiding in Afghanistan, Donald Trump said.
"The killers need to know they have nowhere to hide," he stated.
Trump highlighted the US will, if need be, maximise sanctions and other actions against the militant networks and banned outfits in order to eliminate the extremists' "ability to export terror".
The US "will prevent Taliban from taking over Afghanistan".
Talking about the plans, Trump said military power alone will not bring peace in the country, which is why "strategically applied force" is required to achieve the goal.
Trump made it quite clear that Pakistan needs to understand the significance of its relationship and collaboration with the US against terrorist elements in Afghanistan.
Pakistan can "gain from partnering with the US on Afghan strategy [but has] much to lose by harbouring criminals".
The American president said that a partnership to eliminate terrorism cannot survive if the country it is in agreement with offers refuge to extremists. Pakistan, he stated, should "demonstrate commitment to civilisation, order, and peace".
Donald Trump in his address underscored that the United States understands the security threats in Afghanistan and the broader region are "immense".
Trump said that there's an urgent need to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.
Continuing from his statement on Pakistan offering "safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror", Trump said the US will not stay silent about it and "any re-emergence" of these must be stopped immediately.
The United States "will continue its support for the Afghan government", Trump said, stressing that its people now need to "take ownership of their future".
Trump also underlined the fact that interests of the US with regard to South Asia – and especially Afghanistan and Pakistan – are clear. "We are killing terrorists," he stated, referring to a change from the policy of "nation-building".
Update [0700 PST]: Trump's "original instinct was to pull out" but that "decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk at Oval Office".
Trump also discussed how the US seeks honourable and enduring outcome for the numerous sacrifices of its army.
"The security threats we face are immense!"
Nevertheless, he said that the consequences of a quick exit from the Afghan territory would be "predictable and unacceptable" since militants would fill the vacuum created by a "hasty withdrawal".
America will now be shifting from a "time-based approach" to "one based on conditions". However, Trump refused to discuss the number of troops or any policy change pertaining to "further military activities".
"[I] will not say when we will attack, but attack we will!" Trump said, in what sounded eerily akin to a threat.
Update [0645 PST]: "Our army, without prejudice, has sacrificed a lot," Trump commented, noting that all army officials are part of the American family.
Trump went on to explain that if one part of the United States is hit, the rest of the nation feels the pain.
The American president then moved to talk terrorism-related matters, bringing up September 11, 2001, attacks and saying "no one can forget" that tragedy.
The businessman-turned-politician said he shared the Americans' feeling of being "weary of war without victory".
Update [0630 PST]: "The consequences of a rapid exit [from Afghanistan] are predictable and unacceptable," Trump said early Tuesday morning during a live televised speech.
Trump said he asked Defense Secretary Jim Mattis "to undertake a review" of the situation in Afghanistan right after taking office.
Trump also said Pakistan – Afghanistan's east-side neighbour – "gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror" and that "we must stop any re-emergence of such safe havens".
Update [0500 PST]: US President Donald Trump has allegedly approved sending an additional 4,000 troops to Afghanistan, an American media outlet reported.
The report – disclosed by Fox News, which cited a senior US official – came a few hours before the American president is set to address the nation on his strategy for Afghanistan at 9 PM EDT Monday (6 AM PST, Tuesday).
