New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday named India a key partner in stabilizing Afghanistan, in a speech outlining his new strategy towards South Asia that also saw him putting Pakistan on notice for being a global sponsor of terrorism.

Trump, in an address to the nation, said a “critical part" of his South Asia policy—which he said did not include a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan—was to further develop US strategic partnership with India.

“We appreciate India’s important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development. We are committed to pursuing our shared objectives for peace and security in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region," Trump said. India is one of the largest donors in Afghanistan, pledging and delivering $3.1 billion since 2001.

“India is now officially part of the Afghanistan-Pakistan policy. India was previously kept out of the decision making on Afghanistan by the US, now India has been highlighted as a much more important player," said Harsh Pant, an international relations’ professor at the London-based King’s College.

Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said Trump’s speech had shown that he had “de-hyphenated India" and Pakistan in the context of Afghanistan.

In response, India said it was “committed" to bringing “peace, security, stability and prosperity" to Afghanistan. “We will continue these efforts, including in partnership with other countries," foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. “We welcome President Trump’s determination to enhance efforts to overcome the challenges facing Afghanistan and confronting issues of safe havens and other forms of cross-border support enjoyed by terrorists. India shares these concerns and objectives," he added.

The reference was to Trump’s comments on Pakistan. “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond," Trump said.

Ahead of his speech, news reports said that Trump had plans to cut military aid to Pakistan if it does not abandon support for terrorist groups. Successive US administrations have been seen as reluctant to lean on Islamabad beyond a point, given that supply lines for US troops in Afghanistan run through Pakistan. Pakistan is also seen as an intelligence partner of the US in the war. “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. That will have to change and that will change immediately," Trump said.

On Monday, a Pakistani army spokesman said in Islamabad that Pakistan had taken action against all terrorist groups including the Haqqani network, allied to Afghan Taliban.

In his speech, Trump revealed his “instinct" was “to pull out" of Afghanistan—underlining the frustration with 16-year-old war that has killed thousands of US troops, cost the US trillions of dollars and has little support at home. But after consultations, the administration concluded that “the consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable"—leaving a “vacuum" that terrorists “would instantly fill," Trump said.

“A core pillar" of the “new strategy is a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions," Trump said. “I’ve said many times how counterproductive it is for the United States to announce in advance, the dates we intend to begin, or end, military operations," he said indicating an open ended commitment to Afghanistan. “We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities," Trump added, though news reports speculated that the US could add as many as 4,000 troops to its 8,400 personnel already there. The Taliban predictably condemned Trump’s remarks. “If the US does not pull all its forces out of Afghanistan, we will make this country the 21st century graveyard for the American empire," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, according to Reuters.

On its part, the Afghan government hailed Trump’s commitment to Afghanistan.

In a speech to troops in southern Kandahar, birthplace of the Taliban, President Ashraf Ghani said Trump’s address showed that America was “with us, without any time limit".

Trump also had a warning for Afghan leaders—stating that the security assistance to Afghanistan was “not a blank check"—a not so subtle hint to politicians to end infighting and improve governance.

A door was also left open for a possible deal with the Taliban. “Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan," Trump said. “But nobody knows if or when that will ever happen."

“The direction of Trump’s thinking is right but it doesn’t mean it will get adequately translated on the ground," Sibal said, sounding a cautionary note.

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