New US National Security Adviser HR McMaster’s visit to Kabul was closely watched for clues to President Donald Trump’s plans for Afghanistan.
McMaster’s statements were a reiteration of US promises of support made by Trump’s predecessor.
Wahidullah Ghazikhil, spokesperson for the New National Front said, “No new promises were made in the trip of McMaster … promises made from the time of the government of Karzai (ex-president Hamid Karzai) are what the US continues to support; no new commitments for aid were made.”
Mohammad Hedayat, writer and political analyst thinks that apart from the promise of “comprehensive” support to Kabul, McMaster made it clear that the government has to meet expectations of reforms.
“He seriously spelt out Washington’s expectations from the Afghan government to bring about reforms in various fields, counter corruption and drug trafficking as the most important concerns for the US,” he says.
The US national security adviser arrived on April 16 only days after the US military dropped its largest non-nuclear bomb on what it claimed were ISIS hideouts in Nangarhar province.
Esmail Farid, a civil society activist from Kabul, wonders if the US has a good terrorist-bad terrorist policy. “Turning the pressure on one terrorist group while being indulgent about another is not acceptable to Afghan people, and the strategy must change,” he says. He then spells out just who he is talking about by saying that ISIS, which was the target of the bomb last week, cannot be seen as the only terrorist group. All groups that act against the interests of the government should be labeled as terrorists and their names put on the US list of terror organisations. “This is what the Afghan people were expecting to hear from the national security adviser of Donald Trump,” says Farid.
State of drift
Washington’s Afghanistan policy has been “aimless” ever since Barack Obama pulled out the majority of American troops in end-2014. Following Trump’s win, Afghans have been waiting for a new policy, one that is based on the reality of the situation on the ground.
Furaidoon Adel, a political analyst says, “The reality is that there is not one single leader in Kabul, there are multiple leaders and power centres. The separate parts weaken governance and result in anarchy.”
Some say McMaster’s visit has dispelled the ambiguity in US policy on Afghanistan that was created after Trump took charge.
Hekmatullah Azimi, civil society activist and member of the Institute of War and Peace Reporting in Afghanistan, considers the visit broke new ground. “General McMaster is a high ranking official, and his coming to Afghanistan has removed the doubts that existed about the Trump government. That it may ignore Afghanistan. His visit has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations,” he says.
What commitments were reiterated? There is more clarity on Trump’s support for the 5-year Bilateral Security Agreement. It assures Afghanistan of American military assistance and commitment to equip Afghan security forces.
Eqbal Joya, security expert, believes it would be far cheaper for the US to train and equip Afghan forces than send its own troops here. “This strategy serves is in our long-term interest,” he says since foreign troops will eventually leave.
It is likely that US boots on the ground in Afghanistan may increase – a prospect that is not welcome to the Afghans like Adela Sharif, a resident of Kabul. Sharif feels the presence of foreign troops for 14 years did not end conflict in the country. “The security situation is still critical and unstable. Instead of sending troops, enhance the capabilities of national security forces.”
