A former US envoy to NATO, Douglas Lute, told ABC the United States is stuck in a political and military stalemate in Afghanistan, and it is unclear whether President Donald Trump's new strategy in the country will resolve it.

Lute was responding to Trump’s announcement last week about his new war strategy in Afghanistan.

But Khalilzad took a different view, telling Stephanopoulos that he believes the stalemate "has been shifting in favor of the Taliban in recent weeks and months."

"They have been gaining ground," he said.

"So why should they negotiate for peace if they think they're going to win the war?"

However, Khalilzad pointed out an important change in Trump's new strategy is its "sharp focus" on Pakistan.

In this episode host Mariam Sama discusses the topic with Sayed Hamid Anwari a political analyst.