WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s new National Security Adviser(NSA) John Bolton has said that the United States cannot quit theyears-long frustrated war in Afghanistan due to the larger threat from theTaliban, the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, according to Voice of America.
Bolton, who is also known as a hardliner, was picked by Trump for NSA afterformer adviser HR McMaster resigned following reports of differences withthe president and key officials of the White House.
Speaking at the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security inWashington in late February, Bolton told that Americans did not want thiswar as they were tired of it.
“We didn’t start this war, we don’t want this war. But one side doesn’t getto say, ‘Okay, we’re tired of it, I think it’s over,’ ” he said.
Bolton in his speech also urged Americans to be patient about the Afghanconflict, despite the war being “costly in terms of American lives.”
*US involvement in Afghanistan*
Bolton’s views on ensuring the Taliban are degraded square with Trump’sAfghan strategy announced last August.
In his South Asia strategy, the US president had revealed that forces inAfghanistan will be empowered more in order to defeat militants. Later,more troops were also sent to the war-torn country to boost the fightagainst Taliban.
The Trump administration faced criticism over the new policy forAfghanistan due to the lack of political and diplomatic measures to getreconciliation in the country.
In an interview with VOA, former US Ambassador Robin Raphel praisedBolton’s recognition that the US cannot walk away from the Afghan war.
But she noted Bolton must also recognize “the need to energize thepolitical track, as has been affirmed by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis andGeneral Nicholson, who recognise there’s no military solution to the Afghanconflict.”
*Radicalism*
Giving a reason for the US’ military stay in Afghanistan, Bolton in hislast month talk said that to prevent radicals from again gettingstrengthened in the region.
Bolton said that if the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal wasthreatened, “you would have Iran on steroids right now.” His views backedthe view held by a section of Pakistan’s authorities that the US wanted tostay in Pakistan permanantly to safeguard Pakistan’s nuclear aresenal incase of emergency.
Pakistani officials have long rejected the impression that the country’snuclear weapons are at risk.
“There’s a lot of dissatisfaction with the Afghan performance over theyears. We’re obviously in a difficulty in our relationship with Pakistan.It’s been a difficult relationship for a long time,” VOA quoted Bolton.
*Taliban talks*
Bolton’s appointment came at a time when US officials are trying topersuade the Taliban to be part of the peace talks offered by Afghanpresident Ashraf Ghani.
Earlier this month, Ghani has pledged the Taliban’s reintegration inAfghanistan’s political and administrative structures if they formed apolitical party by leaving armed conflict.
However, there is no any clear message from the Taliban regarding becomingthe part of the peace process in the larger interest of the country.
The article was orignally published by the *Voice of Americalink>*.