KABUL: US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser met Afghan officials in Kabul on Sunday and said the new administration was weighing diplomatic, military and economic responses to its Taliban and IS enemies in Afghanistan.

The adviser, H.R. McMa­ster, was making the first high-level visit by a Trump official. He spoke to ABC News’ “This Week” programme in the United States. Interviewed from Afgh­a­nistan, McMaster said the United States had a more reliable Afghan partner than before but at the same time had reduced the degree and scope of its effort in that country.

“Our enemy sensed that and they have redoubled their efforts and it’s time for us, alongside our Afghan partn­­ers, to respond,” he said.

Trump, who took office on Jan 20, had asked US officials, including some in the Treasury and Commerce departments, to work toge­ther to integrate the vari­ous political, diplomatic, military and economic responses available, McMaster said.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2017