Despite Trump, Kabul must know Pakistan still holds the key

Is Donald Trump really cutting Pakistan off from the sources of aid that have kept it afloat these past several years?

Written by Aimal Faizi | Published: January 9, 2018 7:52 am

Donald Trump, Pakistan, Hamid Karzai, Barack Obama, United States, Afghanistan, Donald trump Pakistan, US-Pakistan, terrorism, US foreign policy,

In order to get Pakistan to cooperate, Washington must genuinely choose “the path to peace” in Afghanistan and engage with China, India, Russia and Iran.

In a September 2012 telephone conversation with the erstwhile US president Barack Obama, then Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked him to “cut into the activity of war and make up with Pakistan on the peace process with the Taliban” in Afghanistan or “take the war against terrorism where the sanctuaries are”.

President Karzai said the war had been “brought to Afghan doors” and “imposed” upon Afghans from “outside”, but “nothing” had been done to prevent terror attacks emanating from Pakistan. He emphasized that the US should either “work for peace” or go on “a clear war against terrorism”.