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Before he entered the White House, President Trump looked at the American war effort in Iraq and came away with a simple solution: Take the oil.

Thankfully, this campaign-trail suggestion has not carried over to his presidency. But it was an early warning sign of Trump's own capacity for grand strategy. He sees everything, including international relations, as a transaction, a quid pro quo arrangement where even the complex legacy of a U.S. invasion in the Middle Eastcan be reduced to a bad deal and an argument to plunder another nation's wealth.

Now, it seems, he mayhold a similar view when it comes to Afghanistan, where American troops have been stationed for more than 15 years.

Recent reportshave underscored the brewing fight within the White House over the future of its Afghan policy. Someadministration officials most notably national security adviser H.R. McMaster are urging a mini-surge of U.S. troops to help Afghan forces fight the Taliban and affiliates of the Islamic State. But Trump appears unwilling to commit further American blood and treasure to a faraway conflict although he has no qualms dropping some especially large bombs and is loath to repeat the policies of his predecessors. I want to find out why we've been there for 17 years, he told reporters last week.

According to the New York Times, however, something has caught Trump's eye: access to a rumored $1 trillion worth of mineral deposits in Afghanistan. Evenwhile White House officials spar over the nature of their war strategy, they are exploring the possibility of sending an envoy to Kabul to meet with mining officials. Trump is reportedly eager to not let China eat the United States'lunch when it comes to securing Afghanistan's potentially lucrative deposits.

But many analysts are skeptical. A $3 billion Chinese project to develop a copper mine outside Kabul has been stalled for close to a decade. The country's lack of basicinfrastructure, endemic graft and perennial security concerns would undermine any serious venture.

It would be dangerous to use the potential for resource exploitation as a selling point for military engagement, Laurel Miller, who until last month was the State Departments special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, saidto the Times. The barriers to entry are really quite considerable, and that kind of argument could fuel suspicion about Americas real intentions in Afghanistan.

The discussion about miningcoincides witha change of heart fromAfghan President Ashraf Ghani, who during the Obama administration resisted the rapid development of the mining industry, largely because he worried about the threat of widespread corruption that would come with it, the Times reported. But as soon as Mr. Trump was elected, Mr. Ghani reversed his position, contacting the Trump team and promoting Afghanistans mineral wealth. He realized that Mr. Trump would be intrigued by the commercial possibilities, officials said.

On a certain level, Trump can't be blamed for being fatigued by Afghanistan.Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both struggled with the challenge of occupying and rebuilding the war-ravaged nation. Obama's slow withdrawal from the country was criticized by senior U.S. military officials including McMaster, a three-star Army general for handing the initiative to the Taliban.

In a bid to conjure up a new strategy, the White House has even contemplated outsourcing the war to private contractors. These discussions, apparently encouraged by White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, underlay an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal written by Erik Prince, the controversial founder of private military company Blackwater. Prince essentially called for an American viceroy to run Afghanistan with the aid of battalions of mercenaries.Prince likened the enterprise to that of the East India Company a chilling analogy given the company's history of plunder, corruption and violence in colonial South Asia.

Imperial delusions aside, few American officials can say what victory looks like, even after so many years invested in the country. The goal now seems more akin to 'not losing,' " my colleague Max Bearak wrote, before offering a grim summary of the state of affairs:

A resurgent Taliban now controls 40 percent of the country's districts. A fledgling Islamic State affiliate isproving hard to eliminatein the mountainous east. The popularity of the American mission here has eroded into cynicism as the war grinds on. Afghan civilians and security forces are dying in record numbers andmore than 600civilians were killed by NATO or government-aligned forces last year.Casualties among Afghan security forces soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to U.S. government watchdog SIGAR.

In interviews, Bearak asked prominent officialsin Afghanistan what would happen if the United Statesheeded Trump's America First"message and simply leftthe country. A U.S. military spokesman said it would leave a void that would be exploited by a constellation of insurgent groups. Some Afghans indicated that the U.S. troop presence was itself a spur for violence. Others warned that the country's weakgovernment, beset by scandal and infighting, would collapse without international support and protection.

I dont think there is any serious analyst of the situation in Afghanistan who believes that the war is winnable, said Miller, the former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan,to Politico's Susan Glasser.Its possible to prevent the defeat of the Afghan government and prevent military victory by the Taliban, but this is not a war thats going to be won, certainly not in any time horizon thats relevant to political decision-making in Washington.

And so despite Trump's desire for a win, youprobably will hearmore of the same from Washington.The basic parameters of the emerging new plan building up Afghan security forces, enlisting Pakistans support to eliminate Taliban sanctuaries, coaxing the Taliban to the negotiating table reflect the same elusive goals in place for the last sixteen years, wrote Michael Kugelman, the deputy director of the Asia program at the Woodrow Wilson Center. The Trump administrations open-ended commitment to Afghanistan effectively buys America more time to keep making the same mistakes. The strategy risks being little more than old wine in a new bottle.

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Originally posted here:
Trump's crude view of Afghanistan won't solve US's longest-running war - Washington Post

By: PTI | Islamabad | Updated: July 27, 2017 6:24 pm

Two abducted diplomatic officials of Pakistans consulate in Afghanistan have been rescued in an operation conducted by Afghan security forces, the Foreign Office has said. The officials, posted at Consulate General of Pakistan in Jalalabad, were abducted on June 16 while travelling from Jalalabad to Torkham border crossing, the Foreign Office said on day. (Afghanistan) President Ashraf Ghani personally phoned Pakistans Charge daffaires in Kabul to inform that the Afghan security forces had recovered the two Pakistani officials in a security operation, it said.

The officials were handed over to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They would be flown back to Pakistan to join their families as soon as possible, the Foreign Office said. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua talked to Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai and conveyed Pakistans deep gratitude to the Afghan Government for safe recovery of the two abducted diplomatic officials.

Jalalabad is the regional hub in eastern Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan. The Taliban and militants linked to the ISIS operate in eastern Afghanistan.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App

Here is the original post:
Two abducted Pakistan diplomatic officials rescued in Afghanistan - The Indian Express

They've just been granted Test status alongside Ireland. They are performing exceedingly well at the international level by beating top teams in world cricket. Things certainly are looking up for Afghanistan. But what about their people? Is cricket bringing a smile on their faces? Is cricket the godsent silver lining they needed?

Twitter

According to the Afghanistan A team coach, Raees Ahmadzai, cricket is obviously chasing the dark clouds away in the war-torn country. Rattled by terrorist activities, bomb blasts and a politically charged atmosphere, most of Afghanistan's natives find cricket an ideal atmosphere to vent their frustrations out.

Ahmadzai said, "I think the situation in Afghanistan will be changed by sports especially cricket. Everyone loves the cricketers. The political situation is not in our hands and I dont want to talk too much about it because it is above our heads. But we can travel anywhere we want in the country and no one will give us problems. No one wants to fight because the people of Afghanistan are friendly. But the things that are happening are out of our control.

Twitter

Highlighting the craze of cricket in the country, Ahmadzai said, "Cricket is the number one sport in Afghanistan and there will be millions of fans who following ball to ball of this tournament from local radios and on the internet."

Twitter

The Afghanistan A team is currently playing South African and Indian teams. And the world has its eyes fixed on the Afghan warriors yet again.

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Topix Offbeat

Sportingz

Cars.com

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Vera Bradley

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This Is How Cricketers Of The Afghanistan National Team Are Helping Their War-Torn Country Recover - Indiatimes.com

The devastated parents of a hero soldier killed in Afghanistan have been targeted by burglars.

Jimmy Major was just 18 when he was murdered by a rogue Afghan police officer while he was protecting a check point in Shin Kalay.

And now his heartbroken parents, who run a pub in Saltfleet, in Lincolnshire, have been targeted by burglars who have taken a charity tin full of money for Help for Heroes.

Ady and Kim Major have branded the thieves "scum of the earth" and are appealing for help in catching those responsible.

Ady, 54, said: Our son gave his life to protect our country and then you get these scum. They have no morals.

Burglars also stole around 800 and the keys to Adys grey Range Rover.

The couple, who used to live in Cleethorpes, believe it could be in the Grimsby area.

The pub was broken into around 5am on Saturday.

Kim and Ady and their family moved to Saltfleet to take over the village shop and petrol station.

Their hero son, who was a Cleethorpes Guardsman, was unarmed when he was gunned down.

Sgt Matthew Telford, 37, of Scartho of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was killed alongside him.

They were two of five servicemen targeted by shooter Gulbuddin.

As well as having a Cleethorpes street named after their son, the couple also named the cafe next to their shop Jimmys.

Kim and Ady took over the village pub The Crown Inn, in February this year.

Kim said: We are upset, especially when we are working hard for the community.

Ady told the Grimsby Telegraph: We have had a number of reports of sightings of the car. One was in West Street and another in Mill Road.

It is outrageous after all that we have been through as a family.

We have a charity event at the pub on August 6 and had a jar on the bar for Help for Heroes and they took that as well as the keys to the car. They just dont have any morals, said Ady.

He has been touring Cleethorpes and Grimsby to see if he can find his grey Range Rover registered R300 ADY.

A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said investigations were continuing into the burglary of the pub on Pump Lane, Saltfleet which was reported at 6am.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 93 of July 22.

See the rest here:
Thieves target parents of murdered Afghanistan war hero and steal charity tin in heartless burglary - Mirror.co.uk

KABUL The United States' longest war doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.

Sixteen years have passed. Nearly 2,400 U.S. troops have died. More than $700 billion has been spent. But talk of winning is scarce.

The goal now seems more akin to not losing.

A resurgent Taliban now controls 40 percent of the country's districts. A fledgling Islamic State affiliate is proving hard to eliminate in the mountainous east. The popularity of the American mission here has eroded into cynicism as the war grinds on. Afghan civilians and security forces are dying in record numbers and more than 600civilians were killed by NATO or government-aligned forces last year.Casualties among Afghan security forces soared by 35 percent in 2016, with 6,800 soldiers and police killed, according to U.S. government watchdog SIGAR.

Perpetual conflict and lack of opportunity are driving thousands of Afghan youths to either flee the country or join militant groups. Discontent with the government and the revival of ethnic rivalries are threatening to plunge the country into political chaos,or worse. Regional powers such as Iran, Pakistan and Russia advance their own strategic interests in Afghanistan, often at the cost of American objectives.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and President Trump's national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, are leading a White House review of Afghanistan policy. The United States currently has around 8,800 troops here, down from a high of more than 100,000 in 2011. The debate has been intensely fractious within the administration, with Trump particularly skeptical of his advisers' plan for a modest troop increase and a multiyear commitment to the war essentially par for the course. Given the way the war is going, many Americans may be wondering why their government is still in Afghanistan at all.

The United States is not winning in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Congress on June 13, saying he was crafting a new strategy which he will brief to lawmakers by mid-July. (Reuters)

With that in mind, The Post's Kabul bureau asked a variety of people here from the Taliban's spokesman to provincial politicians to taxi drivers to the press officer for the U.S. military this question:What would happen if the United States totally disengaged from Afghanistan?

Navy Capt. William Salvin, spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan

If the U.S. and NATO were to leave Afghanistan, it will leave a void that would be exploited by the 20 terrorist and violent extremist organizations that are based in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region. That is a higher concentration of terror groups than anyplace in the world. Those groups would seek to both destabilize Afghanistan and organize and launch attacks against the U.S. and the West. Those terror groups would also work to destabilize the legitimate government of Afghanistan that is fighting to bring peace and stability to the country.

Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban

It will be cause of salvage for both Afghans and America, if Americans withdraw and put an end to the occupation. It will prevent further loss of its manpower and economy and lead in ending America's longest war in history and decline of America's prestige globally.

From the other side, this will be a means of salvage for us Afghans, too; the war will possibly end here, Afghans will unite and will create a sound Islamic establishment. Therefore, if America's occupation comes to an end, it means that the problem between the two nations will end, too.

Davood Moradian, director of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies

Disengagement would result in the partition of the country into regions akin to Somalia and Somaliland. The Pashtun heartland will resemble the former and the central, northern and western regions the latter. In this scenario, Pakistan revives its strategic depth by creating a Grand Waziristan, comprising of Pashtun-dominated border regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Russia will consolidate its reign over Central Asian states. Should Afghan and regional players fail to manage this scenario, then the Pashtun heartland will revert toan Islamist, Sunni, Pashtun caliphate where attacks on the West could be launched.

Hashemi Nezhad, political analyst, researcher and writer

Afghanistan relies on foreign aid entirely. If the United States pulls out of the country, the government will collapse and inter-factional political and military conflicts will ruin all the achievements the country attained since 2001.

Hameedullah Tokhi, lawmaker from restive, southern Zabul province

The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan has earned the government here enmity of the entire region such as Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia, who all support the Taliban now.

We do not want the U.S. to remain forever in Afghanistan and defend us, but to leave in a responsible manner, without any fallout.Premature disengagement or departure will mean 100 percent failure of the United States not only in Afghanistan, but globally. It will be forced to end its military missions across the world and will mean a defeat similar to the one the former Soviet Union faced not only in Afghanistan, but in the world stage. The Soviet Union disintegrated after the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Putin as a strong leader has been able to make Russia, the heir of the Soviets, stand on its feet, but Trump is not strong at all compared to Putin. If he opts to disengage, that surely will be the demise of U.S. might globally.

Ahmad Shah, 57, taxi driver

If Trump chooses to pull the troops out of Afghanistan, the likely scenario will be another big war involving factional leaders, backed by our neighbors. It will be a disaster for us and also for the United States. Leaving without winning the war certainly means defeat. It will damage America's prestige in the world.

Read More:

Behind the front lines in the fight to annihilate ISIS in Afghanistan

Suicide bombing in Kabul leaves 24 dead, dozens injured

Political storm brews in Afghanistan as officials from ethnic minorities break with president, call for reforms and protests

More here:
What would happen if the United States totally disengaged from Afghanistan? - Washington Post