KABUL (SW): Analysts believe the regional countries opposing the new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan see the presence of American soldiers here as a threat to their interests.
A day earlier, the U.S. President Donald Trump announced the new strategy for Afghanistan. In its reaction, the Pakistani Army’s spokesman said the terrorists’ safe heavens are not located on its soil. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in its reaction that it sees no benefits for Afghanistan in this strategy while the Chinese officials have stressed that Pakistan has suffered a lot due to terrorism, but there is no reference of it in the new strategy.
Analysts believe the regional countries’ opposition towards the new U.S. strategy is not new as these countries see their interests in danger due to the presence of the Americans and other western forces here.
Moin Mrastyal, an analyst on political affairs, noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO)’s primary task is to resist the U.S. and Nato in the region. He said that is why members of this alliance do not want the presence of Nato and American forces here.
Akbar Jan Polad, expert on strategic affairs, stressed that the government of Afghanistan should convince those concerned about the foreign troops here that it is not against their interests. According to him, some countries want to exploit the situation in Afghanistan for their own interests.
A day earlier, the U.S. President outlined a revised vision for the U.S. war in Afghanistan pledging to end a strategy of “nation-building” and instead institute a policy aimed more squarely at addressing the terrorist threat that emanates from the region. Although Trump did not specify how many more troops will be sent to Afghanistan, congressional officials said the administration has told them it will be about 4,000 more than the 8,500 U.S. service members currently in the region.
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