Pentagon opposes Trump’s troop withdrawal plan
WASHINGTON: The US Department of Defence has informed Congress that it wants to continue to apply direct and indirect military pressure on the Taliban, while supporting nascent efforts for peace in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
The Pentagon’s strategy paper, submitted to Congress this week, clearly differs with President Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw roughly half of the more than 14,000 of US troops stationed in Afghanistan by the end of 2019.
Defence Secretary James Mattis also disagreed with the Trump plan and resigned earlier this week when the president rejected his advice to keep troops in Syria and Afghanistan.
Pakistan has welcomed the Trump plan, calling it “good” for the ongoing peace process.
But Marvin Weinbaum, Washington’s senior-most expert of South Asian affairs, warned that the United States should not give the impression that it was ready to leave Afghanistan.
“Without Pakistan’s belief that the US is prepared to be in Afghanistan for the long haul, any likelihood we can gain its cooperation on the Taliban evaporates,” he said. “Instead, it reinforces Pakistan’s determination to hold on to the Taliban as a proxy Pashtun force.”
The Pentagon goes a step ahead and tells Congress that the US should not only keep troops in Afghanistan, but the troops should also continue to engage the insurgents.
“DoD (Department of Defence) will continue to apply direct and indirect military pressure on the Taliban, while supporting nascent efforts by the Afghan government to facilitate local peace initiatives, including de-escalation, defections, and declarations of neutrality,” the Pentagon strategy paper said.
The Pentagon said that while it could not “forecast with precision the timing of a breakthrough on reconciliation”, it believed that the continued US military engagement in Afghanistan forced the militants to participate in peace talks. “US efforts to assist the Afghan government are likely to increase the stress on the Taliban movement inside and outside of Afghanistan,” it argued.
Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2018
Comments (39) Closed
Now I would like to see champions of democracy criticising US military for opposing elected government
It's US arms industry and other interest groups who wants to stay in Afghanistan and Syria . Trump understand the consequences of staying in those places . This is last face saving chance for US to leave
Confused people..!!
It is interest of the lovely American people that US forces should withdraw. How many more decades are American people ready to be blackmailed by Pentagon and US Generals who have not and will not win this war. At the end these trillions of dollars could be spent in betterment of American people and humanity. Please give peace a chance and stop this war mongering the world over.
This CLEARLY shows US does not want peace . Ignites more fire.
No help from Pakistan unless all payments due are payed with interest.
The Pentagon can voice it's concerns all it wants, the man in the White House is the boss. The US is only pulling out half of its force in Afghanistan. They are not all leaving...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
If Pakistan has welcomed this troop withdrawals, then it must not be good for Afghans.
Senior military officers never want end of any war, until their own lives comes under a substantial risk. They don’t care other lives. I don’t know this is because of their training or some hidden benefits.
@Zahid, Ultimately the decision would be made by the political government, not by the military. There is a history of such suggestion which were later turned down by the White House.
Pull out of Afghanistan now is better than loosing more US soldiers as it has been the case! The sooner the better.
@Zak, Agreed. That money will raise our GDP
@Zahid, Also the pentagon is headed by the Secretary of Defence
afghanistan must thanks pakistan for bring peace in afghnistan
A good decision from Donald Trump but rejected the idea by Pentagon. It means the differences in policy remains between President and Pentagon. The Trump announcement indicates that USA failed in 17 Years of war in Afghanistan.
the apprehensions of the us military are genuine.
The President made the right decision. There is no rhyme or reason to waste money and to put precious lives at risk. America has done enough for Afghanistan and now the Afghans need to help themselves and take responsibility for their own country.
it believed that the continued US military engagement in Afghanistan forced the militants to participate in peace talks.
Why did Trump write a letter and ask for IK to help? Consequently, within two weeks they had their first meeting with all Taliban groups in UAE. I don't think Trump wants to leak any more money in wars in Syria and Afghanistan. With economy weakening and congress dominated by democrats, he will lose 2020 election. He is right about the pull out.
Its a trap... mind you
@We , "If Pakistan has welcomed this troop withdrawals, then it must not be good for Afghans." So it is easy for Pakistan to force US troops in Afghanistan. All Pakistan will have to do, is to welcome US withdrawal.
Very disappointing development for this country.
@Iqbal A. Malik, Excellent comment.
Pakistan's hopes are hanging in uncertainty.
Corrupt Afghan politicians & military officials who shelter anti Pakistan terrorists & use the aid provided by US & EU for their own benefits must get isolated & kicked out !
@Zak, No unless! Still, we are not entering anyone's war. Mind it
bye bye USA ,afghanistan is not our war ,we Pakistan have our priorities, finish the time to do more for you , we must do more just to develop and secure our country.
Both Pakistan & Afghanistan will suffer, once US and NATO withdraws.
17 years and wars bring no peace in the region. Too much time but less effort. If Afghans has decided to solve their problems through dialogues, so we should give them a chance and support peace process. It is in States own interest.
Pentagon opposes Washington. Wow . What about civil military relationship here????
POTUS have given them a budget of 770 billion dollars and now pulling out does not make sense. But again they can go back wherever they want to go.
Pakistan has great opportunity. Pakistan should assure US and Afghan government that Pakistan would fill that security gap.
We must protect our interest first.
Trump is the best president that US has ever produced.....Trump may look immature but he has given US the stability..
To pull out or to stay, the advantages, interests, benefits are weighed. There’s no such thing today, except risking of lives, and social behavior of the world most refined forces in between most illiterate crazy land of warlords, the drug dealers, and bad history of fights without decency. There are reports of misconduct and drug addictions by persons in uniform, as drugs are so easily available. President Trump decision is afarsighted best option, which will save honor and integrity of valiant armed forces.Ofcourse everybody has right to comment , but facts remain that whenever US withdraw from conflict, it benefits, the burden of senseless expenditures, and loss of precious lives, all saved.Once withdrawals from Syria, Afghanistan, is complete, there will be billions of dollars saving, and US will come out of trade deficit .
@Des, Pakistan is "at last "winning the opportunity for which He has been sacrificing.US witdral!! Then no more Afghanistan but only Pakistan The Great Pakistan.US will withdraw coz their Lord has already declared about the downfall of US and rise of Israel.So in near future we shall see The Great Israel vs Greater Pakistan
These are all folks stories! ground realities are different.
@Pak_UK, Definitely!!
@khan, peace through Talibab proxies
Pakistan's peace efforts can only be effective if American occupying forces leave Pakistan completely, otherwise it may be impossible.