NDTV: With China Support -And Its $50 Billion - Pak Can Ignore Trump's Warning
Donald Trump outlined an open-ended commitment to the conflict in Afghanistan that pledged more troops and diplomatic outreach to the Taliban.
A key plank of U.S. President Donald Trump's new strategy to turn around the 16-year conflict in Afghanistan will probably falter for a reason few of his voters would realize: China.
On Monday, Trump outlined an open-ended commitment to the conflict in Afghanistan that pledged more troops and diplomatic outreach to the Taliban. Importantly, Trump publicly tried to pressure Pakistan to end safe havens for terrorists who are striking at Afghanistan. A day later, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson followed up Trump's comments, adding that Pakistan "must adopt a different approach."
But this aspect of the Afghan strategy is likely to founder because of China's increasingly close economic ties with Pakistan, which reduces American leverage.
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Update #1: Pakistan rejects Trump’s allegation of harboring militants (Washington Post/AP)
Update #2: Respect Pakistan's sovereignty, security concerns: China to US (Deccan Herald)
WNU Editor: China's "Silk Road' project will involve the investment of hundreds of billions of dollars .... and the reward will be trillions in trade over decades .... a portion of which will go through Pakistan. The U.S. is only offering war and conflict. Faced with these two choices, it is obvious which choice Pakistan will take.
