Trump aims to destabilize Pakistan via new Afghanistan strategy

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared the United States’ new Afghanistan strategy. The most crucial point of the new strategy, which plans to increase the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, is Pakistan. The Trump administration will intensify its pressure on Pakistan, claiming that the country supports Taliban, charges which Pakistan denies. The U.S. Secretary of State also made statements aimed at Pakistan.

Targeting Pakistan one day after Trump announced his new Afghanistan strategy, Tillerson confessed that they will increase pressure on Pakistan.

Pakistan, one of the most significant allies of the United States after NATO, has a strategic importance in the region.

Tillerson claimed that Pakistan shelters Taliban, and threatened Pakistan that it could lose U.S. privileges if the government failed “to change their posture.”

He said that “the aid that Pakistan receives from the U.S. could be on the table for discussion if they are unwilling to change their posture or their approach to how they are dealing with the numerous terrorist organizations that find a safe haven in Pakistan,” according to BBC.

He mentioned some of the pressures which Washington might put on Pakistan, including withholding military aid and reassessing its status as a major non-NATO U.S. ally.

“It is in Pakistan's interest to take those actions. They are a nuclear power and we have concerns about the security of their weapons,” Tillerson noted.

He also added that the United States may not win a war in Afghanistan, but neither will the Taliban.

India is pleased with Trump’s plan to increase pressure on Pakistan. The Trump administration encouraged India to play a greater role in Afghanistan. India and Pakistan, where tensions are high due to many issues, particularly the Kashmir group, once again conflicted in Trump’s new Afghanistan strategy.

Tillerson also acknowledged the concerns that too much pressure could destabilize Islamabad.