Trump warns Pak of action

Washington: President Donald Trump has unveiled his long-awaited Afghanistan policy, warning the US will act within Pakistan if it did not stop backing terrorists battling American forces. And in a first for an American President, Trump brought India directly into the equation by assigning a strategic role for New Delhi.

Trump put long-time ally Pakistan on notice with a virtual ultimatum that it "has much to lose" by backing terrorists. He accused Islamabad of sheltering "the same organisations that try every single day to kill our people".

"We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the very terrorists we are fighting. But that will have to change and that will change immediately." In an implied warning to Islamabad, he added: "These killers need to know they have nowhere to hide - that no place is beyond the reach of American arms."

Trump also asked India "to help us more with Afghanistan" and said a "critical part of the South Asia strategy for America was to further develop its strategic partnership with India -- the world's largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the US". The new US policy, a reversal of Trump's threats during the Presidential campaign to quit Afghanistan, was hailed by Kabul and New Delhi. But the Taliban denounced it -- so did leading figures in Pakistan.

Trump presented his strategy for the 16-year Afghanistan war, three weeks before the anniversary of 9/11 attacks on the US by the Al Qaeda which was then based in that country.