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Ghani: US, Afghanistan’s Interests Secure In New Strategy

In an address to the nation on Wednesday morning, President Ashraf Ghani said it was now the time for Pakistan to change its approach and that Afghanistan has never taken steps to destabilize Pakistan.

He said that Afghanistan’s war is not only rooted in the country but that it is also affected by regional and global influences.

Ghani said that both the US’s interests and that of Afghanistan are secure in the new strategy.

This comes after Trump announced that additional troops would be added to the number of US forces in Afghanistan within the framework of the new war strategy.

In his speech on Wednesday, Ghani also sent a message to the Taliban and said they must forget about winning the war and bringing down government.

He again called on the insurgent group to join the peace process.

Ghani also stated that Afghanistan can achieve its goals from a political perspective and through sacrifices made by security forces. He emphasized that it was now the country’s responsibility to end the 40-year crisis.

He made it clear that the past two years have been tough but that now with the new US strategy in place, Afghanistan has a better idea of its future.

Reacting to Trump’s strategy for Afghanistan, Abdullah meanwhile said on Tuesday: “Our message to our neighbors is that the new US policy is a chance for them (countries in the region) to utilize and benefit from this opportunity.”

Ghani also immediately welcomed the new policy and called on anti-government armed groups to lay down their weapons and join the peace process.

“After this there is no timeline or time-based conditions, the US will stay with the Afghan people to the end,” said Ghani.

Trump early Tuesday announced his administration’s new strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia.

Trump said: “I am here tonight to lay out our path forward in Afghanistan and South Asia.”

He did not however reveal details in terms of troop numbers to Afghanistan.

“We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities,” he said. “America's enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out. I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will.”

He said the US victory in Afghanistan will have a definition.

“Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition - attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS (Daesh), crushing al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge. We will ask our NATO allies and global partners to support our new strategy, with additional troop and funding increases in line with our own. We are confident they will,” Trump stated.

He said the new strategy of the US for Afghanistan will be conditions-based.

“As a result of our comprehensive review, American strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia will change dramatically in the following ways: A core pillar of our new strategy is a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions.”

“Another fundamental pillar of our new strategy is the integration of all instruments of American power, diplomatic, economic, and military, toward a successful outcome,” he added.

He also talked about giving more authority to the troops on the ground. “We will also expand authority for American armed forces to target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan,” Troop said.

He added that their mission in Afghanistan will be to eliminate terrorists.

“Ultimately, it is up to the people of Afghanistan to take ownership of their future, to govern their society, and to achieve an everlasting peace. We are a partner and a friend, but we will not dictate to the Afghan people how to live or how to govern their own complex society. We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists,” he added.

He also talked about the expansion of US forces authorities in the country.

“We will also expand authority for American armed forces to target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan,” he said.

On Pakistan, Trump vowed to change the US's approach to dealing with the Afghan neighbor, promising to crack down on Pakistan's harboring of terrorist and militant groups.

"They are housing the very terrorists we are fighting," Trump said, noting that the US gives Pakistan billions of dollars. "That will have to change and that will change immediately. No partnership can survive a country’s harboring of terrorists.”   

Ghani: US, Afghanistan’s Interests Secure In New Strategy

Addressing the nation on Wednesday morning President Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban must forget about winning the war and bringing down government.

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In an address to the nation on Wednesday morning, President Ashraf Ghani said it was now the time for Pakistan to change its approach and that Afghanistan has never taken steps to destabilize Pakistan.

He said that Afghanistan’s war is not only rooted in the country but that it is also affected by regional and global influences.

Ghani said that both the US’s interests and that of Afghanistan are secure in the new strategy.

This comes after Trump announced that additional troops would be added to the number of US forces in Afghanistan within the framework of the new war strategy.

In his speech on Wednesday, Ghani also sent a message to the Taliban and said they must forget about winning the war and bringing down government.

He again called on the insurgent group to join the peace process.

Ghani also stated that Afghanistan can achieve its goals from a political perspective and through sacrifices made by security forces. He emphasized that it was now the country’s responsibility to end the 40-year crisis.

He made it clear that the past two years have been tough but that now with the new US strategy in place, Afghanistan has a better idea of its future.

Reacting to Trump’s strategy for Afghanistan, Abdullah meanwhile said on Tuesday: “Our message to our neighbors is that the new US policy is a chance for them (countries in the region) to utilize and benefit from this opportunity.”

Ghani also immediately welcomed the new policy and called on anti-government armed groups to lay down their weapons and join the peace process.

“After this there is no timeline or time-based conditions, the US will stay with the Afghan people to the end,” said Ghani.

Trump early Tuesday announced his administration’s new strategy on Afghanistan and South Asia.

Trump said: “I am here tonight to lay out our path forward in Afghanistan and South Asia.”

He did not however reveal details in terms of troop numbers to Afghanistan.

“We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities,” he said. “America's enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out. I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will.”

He said the US victory in Afghanistan will have a definition.

“Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition - attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS (Daesh), crushing al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge. We will ask our NATO allies and global partners to support our new strategy, with additional troop and funding increases in line with our own. We are confident they will,” Trump stated.

He said the new strategy of the US for Afghanistan will be conditions-based.

“As a result of our comprehensive review, American strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia will change dramatically in the following ways: A core pillar of our new strategy is a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions.”

“Another fundamental pillar of our new strategy is the integration of all instruments of American power, diplomatic, economic, and military, toward a successful outcome,” he added.

He also talked about giving more authority to the troops on the ground. “We will also expand authority for American armed forces to target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan,” Troop said.

He added that their mission in Afghanistan will be to eliminate terrorists.

“Ultimately, it is up to the people of Afghanistan to take ownership of their future, to govern their society, and to achieve an everlasting peace. We are a partner and a friend, but we will not dictate to the Afghan people how to live or how to govern their own complex society. We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists,” he added.

He also talked about the expansion of US forces authorities in the country.

“We will also expand authority for American armed forces to target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan,” he said.

On Pakistan, Trump vowed to change the US's approach to dealing with the Afghan neighbor, promising to crack down on Pakistan's harboring of terrorist and militant groups.

"They are housing the very terrorists we are fighting," Trump said, noting that the US gives Pakistan billions of dollars. "That will have to change and that will change immediately. No partnership can survive a country’s harboring of terrorists.”   

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