WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said that different nations must assume the fight against extremists as the United States negotiates a withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The US has reduced its military presence in Syria and Iraq as a withdrawal is being negotiated from Afghanistan with the Taliban insurgents. However, defense experts warn that a vacuum left by the United States could enable an extremist resurgence.
Trump said, “Other countries must assume the battle against extremists as the US negotiates a withdrawal from Afghanistan, at a certain point Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, they are going to have to fight their battles too.”
However, Trump singled out India and Pakistan as frontline nations that are doing little to battle against the militant groups.
He said, “Look, India’s right there, they are not fighting it, we’re fighting it. Pakistan is next door. They’re fighting it, very little, it’s not fair. The United States is seven thousand miles away.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump again offered to mediate between India and Pakistan over the alarming situation in occupied Kashmir.
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