Amidst the military conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump has given such a statement, which is considered very important from the point of view of regional equations. On the question asked about interfering in the issue of Afghanistan, Donald Trump clearly said that if necessary, he can intervene. During this, he also laid special emphasis on his ‘very, very good’ relations with Pakistan.
Donald Trump, while talking to reporters on Friday, said that he plays with Pakistan ‘very well’. He openly praised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir and said, ‘They have an excellent Prime Minister, an excellent General and a great leadership. These are people I respect a lot. Pakistan is doing very well at the moment.
This statement of Trump has come at a time when the situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has become extremely tense and Islamabad has termed the recent developments between the two countries as ‘open war’. Experts believe that Trump’s comment is being seen as a sign of support for Pakistan in the current situation.
Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan, declaration of ‘open war’
Pakistan on Friday carried out air strikes on several major cities of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul and Kandahar and Paktia. This is the first time that Pakistan has directly targeted major cities under Taliban control. Pakistan’s Defense Minister said after these attacks that now a situation of ‘open war’ has arisen between the two neighboring countries.
These air strikes are being seen as a response to earlier cross-border attacks by Pakistan. According to Pakistani officials, Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border posts on Thursday night, which Islamabad said was in response to earlier airstrikes.
Pakistan claims that 12 of its soldiers have been killed in the recent clashes, while Afghanistan has said that 13 Taliban fighters have been killed. Both sides have claimed to have caused heavy damage to each other, although these figures have not been independently confirmed.
America in support of Pakistan
Meanwhile, the US State Department has also indicated a soft stance towards Pakistan. Alison M. Hooker, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the US State Department, said she spoke to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and expressed condolences for those killed in the recent conflict.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and support Pakistan’s right to self-defense against Taliban attacks,” Hooker said. This statement is also being considered an important signal in favor of Pakistan in diplomatic circles.
Taliban ready for talks
Although the situation is very serious, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has expressed its desire to resolve the issues through dialogue. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, ‘The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to solve problems through dialogue.’
At the same time, Qatar is once again trying to play the role of mediator. Qatar has already played an important role in reducing tension between the two countries and now efforts have been intensified to ensure that the situation on the 2,600 km long border does not worsen.
United Nations’ concern, appeal to stop violence
The United Nations in New York has also expressed deep concern over the increasing violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the Secretary-General is ‘deeply concerned’ about this violence and its impact on civilians.
“The Secretary-General calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges both sides to resolve their differences through diplomacy and dialogue,” Dujarric said.
Why increased tension?
Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan has failed to take action against anti-Pakistan terrorist organizations from its soil. Especially Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is accused of carrying out attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban administration has been denying these allegations.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated rapidly in recent months. Most land border posts have remained closed since deadly clashes in October. In those clashes, more than 70 people had died on both sides.
Meaning of Trump’s statement
Political analysts believe that Trump’s inclination towards Pakistan can not only influence the politics of South Asia but also gives indications of America’s future strategy. If the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict escalates further, the role of global powers may become even more important.
At present, the world’s eyes are on whether the situation can be handled through diplomacy or whether this conflict will take the form of a major regional crisis.
