CSS 2018 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | Donald Trump’s Policy for South Asia
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Outline
1- Introduction
2-A glimpse of the importance of South Asia for the US
3-An overview of Donald Trump’s policy for South Asia
4-President Donald Trump’s policy focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India
4.1- ✓Trump’s policy towards Afghanistan
- Announcing no immediate withdrawal of the US forces
- Evidence: Trump said, “A hasty exit from Afghanistan would simply allow terrorists to flood back into that country.”
- Vowing for attaining victory rather than nation-building
- Evidence: Donald Trump said, “Our troops will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition that is attacking our enemies.”
- Calling for boosting the US troops in Kabul
- For example, the US congressional officials mentioned that 4000 additional troops would be sent to Afghanistan.
4.2- ✓Trump’s policy towards Pakistan
- Blaming Pakistan for safe heavens
- Evidence: Trump said, “We have been paying Pakistan billions of dollars; simultaneously, they are housing the very terrorists the US is up against.”
- Turning off Pakistan’s financial tap
- Evidence: According to research article Donald Trump’s Policy and Posture Towards Pakistan by Fazal Rabbi, “In July 2017, the Trump administration withheld $300 million from Pakistan.”
- Forcing Pakistan to do more
- Evidence: Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations, said, “Islamabad would have to do more if it wanted to maintain US aid.”
4.3- ✓Trump’s policy towards India
- Requesting India’s assistance in providing economic support to Afghanistan
- Evidence: Trump said, “The US appreciates India’s significant role in maintaining stability in Afghanistan and seeks to expand its economic involvement.”
- Strengthening defense ties with New Delhi
- For example, on the first visit to India by a senior official from the Trump administration, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster reaffirmed India’s status as a significant defence partner.
- Supporting India’s membership in international institutions
- For example, the Trump administration backed India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
5-Donald Trump’s policy’s implications for Pakistan
- ✓Risk to cause diplomatic isolation
- For example, in 2016, India boycotted the SAARC Summit in Islamabad, citing Pakistan’s role in the Uri terror attacks.
- ✓Likely to decrease foreign direct investment
- Evidence: According to the World Bank Report, 2017, “Pakistan’s foreign direct investment net inflows as the percentage of GDP is 0.923%.”
- ✓Potential threat to the national security of Pakistan
- Evidence: Major General Babar Iftikhar, army spokesperson, said, “Indian embassies and consulates located near Pakistan’s borders have become hotspots for terror sponsorship against Pakistan.”
6-Donald Trump’s policy’s implications for the South Asian region
- ✓Likely to create security dilemmas in South Asian States
- Evidence: According to the research article ‘Nuclear Arms Race in South Asia: Pakistan’s Quest for Security’ by Ghazala Yasmin, “In 2017, Pakistan tested a submarine-launched cruise missile in response to Indian ballistic missile technology.”
- ✓Potential to escalate regional rivalries
- For instance, in the past, tensions between India and Pakistan boiled over until a border dispute turned into a full-fledged conflict in 1965.
- ✓Possible to aggravate India’s aggression in the region
- For instance, the wars of 1948, 1965, and 1972 between India and Pakistan, repeated violations of the Line of Control (LOC) by India, and revocation of the Indian-occupied Kashmir’s special status depict India’s aggressiveness.
7-Critical analysis
8-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
US President Donald Trump unveiled a new South Asia policy in August 2017, focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Undoubtedly, his suggested approach is not all that different from that of his predecessors. Delving into the key points of his South Asia policy, basically, he disclosed that American forces would stay in Afghanistan until the war was won. Along with that, Donald Trump praised India for its positive involvement in stabilizing an Afghan state. He viewed Pakistan as a breeding ground for cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan and India rather than the other way around. Since South Asia’s economic structure and security dynamics are in flux; therefore, this policy has the potential to further polarize an already unstable and least integrated region where unsolved political difficulties, particularly those between India and Pakistan, the two nuclear-armed nations, continue to simmer. Now, light has been shed on the implications of Trump’s policy for Pakistan and the South Asian region. Unequivocally, the policy has important ramifications for Pakistan since Trump’s accusations against Islamabad for harbouring terrorists could damage the state’s reputation internationally and potentially reduce foreign direct investment (FDI) in the nation, which would lead to economic decline. In addition, Trump’s new strategy could exacerbate Indian aggression in the region and create a security conundrum, which would affect not just Pakistan but the entire South Asian region. Therefore, rather than fostering collaboration, US President Donald Trump’s approach to South Asia could further polarize the area.
A glimpse of the importance of South Asia for the US
Before exploring further, it is imperative to take a glance at the importance of South Asia for the US. Undoubtedly, South Asia is just like a golden bird, not only for the US but also for other hegemonic powers of the world. The region is valuable for the US due to various reasons, such as strategic location, economic potential, and security concerns. Besides that, the importance of this region for the US has increased in the 21st century because of China’s growing influence in South Asia. Evidently, to counter China’s rising influence, the US is finding more allies in South Asia. As a result, it has been signing various agreements with India to strengthen its footsteps in the region. Therefore, this region is important to the US.
An overview of Donald Trump’s policy for South Asia
In addition, it is pertinent to explain Trump’s South Asian foreign policy. Basically, Donald Trump’s administration began in January 2017. After taking over the presidency, he gave a speech on August 21 that was solely about future relations between the United States and South Asian countries. Essentially, the Trump administration revealed two new foreign policy frameworks in which South Asia was important. First, Trump’s South Asia Strategy, which prioritized Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Second, he implemented the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, which aimed to confront China. Both of these strategies are consistent with those of prior US administrations. Here, light has been shed on Trump’s South Asia policy, which is also known as Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia (SASA).
President Donald Trump’s policy focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India
A- Trump’s policy towards Afghanistan
Highlighting US President Donald Trump’s policy for Afghanistan, some of the key points of his policy are listed below.
- Announcing no immediate withdrawal of the US forces
To begin with, Donald Trump has decided to prolong the war and declared no hasty withdrawal of the US forces from the land of Afghanistan. Basically, seven months into his presidency, Trump decided to further engage in war rather than withdraw. Trump said that though his original instinct was to pull out military troops from Afghanistan, he had realized that a hasty exit from Afghanistan would simply allow terrorists to flood back into that country and begin planning attacks on America and its allies and partners. This fact depicts that before becoming a candidate, Trump had argued for a quick withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, as he called the war a massive waste of U.S. blood and treasure and declared on Twitter, “Let’s get out!” But after assuming the office, he changed his plan. Therefore, Trump’s policy has shifted from immediate withdrawal of forces to being reluctant to withdraw military forces from Afghanistan.
- Vowing for attaining victory rather than nation-building
Moving ahead, Trump has declared that his new strategy towards Afghanistan would follow the path of victory. Moreover, he mentioned that his new policy would step away from the path of nation-building. Donald Trump said, “The men and women who serve our nation in combat deserve a plan for victory. They deserve the tools they need and the trust they have earned to fight and to win.” This fact indicates that President Donald Trump has planned to attain victory against the Taliban in Afghanistan; for this purpose, he boosted his military assistance in Afghanistan. In addition, he further said, “Our troops will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition, which is attacking our enemies.” This fact highlights that Trump has given more military autonomy to the US forces. Basically, he relaxed the US authorities to attack the Taliban and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, unlike President Obama, who put restrictions on the US offensive operations in Afghanistan. Thus, President Donald Trump has vowed to gain victory in Afghanistan.
- Calling for boosting the US troops in Kabul
To continue, President Donald Trump has given the Pentagon power to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by several thousand to fight. Basically, Trump did not specify how many more forces would be sent to Afghanistan. Further, Trump did not give a timeline for ending the US presence in the country. For example, the US congressional officials mentioned that 4000 additional troops would be sent to Afghanistan. This fact indicates the increased presence of military forces in Kabul under Trump’s administration. Moreover, the additional military forces would perform two roles. First, counterterrorism missions, and second, training the Afghan forces. In short, Donald Trump has endorsed a Pentagon plan to boost troop levels in Afghanistan.
B- Trump’s policy towards Pakistan
Unpacking US President Donald Trump’s policy for Pakistan, some points of his policy are mentioned below.
- Blaming Pakistan for safe heavens
Going ahead, the Trump administration has accused Pakistan of being selective in its efforts to combat the Taliban and providing a safe haven for Taliban-linked insurgents planning lethal attacks in Afghanistan. Basically, Donald Trump, after assuming the office as president, used harsh words for Pakistan. He has unveiled a new approach towards Islamabad by saying, “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe heavens for terrorist organizations.” He added, “We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars; at the same time, they are housing the very terrorists the US is up against.” This fact shows that Trump has blamed Pakistan for providing a safe heaven without taking into consideration Pakistan’s long struggle, operations, and sacrifices against terrorism. Hence, Donald Trump has come up with the toughest policy measures for Pakistan.
- Turning off Pakistan’s financial tap
Along with that, in contrast to the Obama administration, the Trump administration has made significant modifications to its aid and assistance policy towards Pakistan. Essentially, during the Obama administration, the United States paid adequate help to Pakistan as compensation for its participation in the battle against terrorism. But Trump’s administration has cut off financial assistance for Pakistan. According to the research article Donald Trump’s Policy and Posture Towards Pakistan by Fazal Rabbi, “In July 2017, the Trump administration suspended $300 million in reimbursement to Pakistan, citing that the country had failed in eliminating the Haqqani Network.” This fact underlines Trump’s severe policy measures for Pakistan, which include freezing aid and forcing the country to do more to combat terrorism. Thus, Trump’s new policy has reduced funds to Pakistan.
- Forcing Pakistan to do more
Apart from that, Trump has compelled Islamabad to take more action against terrorist organizations after accusing it of harbouring terrorists. Specifically, the Trump administration has asked Congress to impose a condition on the coalition support fund of 225 million dollars to Pakistan, stating that Islamabad would not receive the funds unless and until it cracked down on the terrorist network inside its territory, as desired by the US. Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the United Nations, said, “Islamabad would have to do more if it wanted to maintain US aid.” This fact suggests that the Donald Trump administration has utilized aid as a foreign policy tool to pressure Pakistan into doing more. In a nutshell, Trump pursued a harsh stance toward Pakistan.
C- Trump’s policy towards India
Shedding a light on Trump’s policy for New Delhi, some of the important points of his policy are mentioned below.
- Requesting India’s assistance in providing economic support to Afghanistan
Additionally, Donald Trump has called on India to join hands with the US in stabilizing Afghanistan, increasing New Delhi’s involvement in Kabul. Certainly, New Delhi is one of the biggest donors in Afghanistan. Furthermore, Trump has also called India a true friend of the US, highlighting his policy of making stronger ties with New Delhi. Trump said, “The United States appreciates India’s significant role in maintaining stability in Afghanistan and seeks to expand its involvement, particularly in terms of economic assistance and development efforts.” This fact highlights that Donald Trump has shown a friendly policy for India, seeking New Delhi’s cooperation in the Afghanistan matter. Thus, Donald Trump’s policy is to strengthen Washington’s ties with New Delhi.
- Strengthening defense ties with New Delhi
Following that, Donald Trump announced his policy of increasing defence trade with India. Basically, under Trump’s administration, Washington and New Delhi have reinforced their strategic partnership by promoting collaboration in defence, counterterrorism, and trade. Essentially, Trump has recognized India as a key player in countering China’s expanding influence in South Asia. For example, on the first visit to India by a senior official from the Trump administration, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster reaffirmed India’s status as a significant defence partner. This fact signifies Trump’s desire to increase arms and nuclear weapons trading with India. Thus, during Trump’s administration, both countries sought to enhance their defence and strategic collaboration.
- Supporting India’s membership in international institutions
Besides that, Donald Trump has supported India’s membership in international organizations during his presidency. Essentially, Trump’s administration considers India an important partner in opposing China’s growing influence in the South Asian region, thereby maintaining a balance of power in South Asia. Now, light has been shed on some key institutions where Trump has supported India’s membership. First, the Trump administration backed India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). He has also called on other members of the elite grouping to back New Delhi’s application. Second, Trump supported India’s inclusion in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Although the Obama administration declined to support Indian membership in APEC, the Trump administration showed its approval. Third, India aspires to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, so Donald Trump supported India’s membership application. In short, the Trump administration’s support for India’s membership in these institutions reflects the growing strategic partnership between the two nations and India’s increasing importance in regional and global affairs.
Donald Trump’s policy’s implications for Pakistan
- Risk of causing diplomatic isolation
First, Pakistan may face potential diplomatic isolation due to Trump’s alleged speech after assuming the office. Basically, in his speech, he accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorist groups, such as the Haqqani Network. Such allegations can tarnish Pakistan’s image on an international level and put the state in hot water, as the country may face international criticism and global trade restrictions. Furthermore, Trump’s policy for Pakistan may affect Islamabad’s relations with its neighbouring states. Certainly, the state’s relations with India are likely to worsen further because India may seize an opportunity to denigrate Pakistan and gain a strategic advantage in regional affairs. For example, in 2016, India boycotted the SAARC Summit in Islamabad, citing Pakistan’s role in the Uri terror attacks. This fact indicates that India can further accelerate its efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan in response to Donald Trump’s charges against Pakistan like New Delhi did in the past. Apart from that, Pakistan’s role in international forums such as the United Nations would be reduced, making it more difficult to advance its interests. Thus, Donald Trump’s policy address for Pakistan could have major consequences for Pakistan.
- Likely to decrease foreign direct investment
Second, Donald Trump’s alleged speech against Pakistan might bring far-reaching negative consequences for Islamabad’s economy. In his National Security Strategy address, Trump emphasized that Pakistan must take action against terrorists hiding on its soil and warned that the US would not provide any substantial financial assistance to Islamabad if it failed to comply. Such accusations may damage Pakistan’s reputation on a global level, making the state face various implications. One of the major implications of such alleged speech is that the country may lose its foreign investors. According to the World Bank Report, 2017, “Pakistan’s foreign direct investment net inflows as the percentage of GDP is 0.923%.” This fact highlights that as Islamabad already has low FDI, Donald Trump’s remarks against the state might further damage the confidence of foreign investors in the state, making the country suffer economically. Hence, Pakistan may face further economic challenges due to Trump’s policy.
- Potential threat to the national security of Pakistan
Third, Trump’s desire for an increased Indian role in Kabul might create more security concerns for Islamabad. Basically, New Delhi’s involvement in Afghanistan may aim to limit Pakistan’s strategic depth and undermine its ability to secure its western borders. In addition, India may support Baloch insurgents and other militant groups in Pakistan, using Afghanistan as a base. Major General Babar Iftikhar, army spokesperson, said, “Uncontrivable evidence demonstrates that Indian embassies and consulates located near Pakistan’s borders have become hotspots for terror sponsorship against Pakistan.” This fact demonstrates how increased Indian involvement in Afghanistan can destabilize Islamabad. India’s expanding influence in Kabul will eventually allow it to control regional affairs while undermining Pakistan’s interests. Therefore, Indian participation in Afghanistan may undermine Pakistan’s national security.
Donald Trump’s policy’s implications for the South Asian region
- Likely to create security dilemmas in the South Asian States
After highlighting the implications of Trump’s policy for Pakistan, light has been shed on the implications of Trump’s policy framework for the South Asian region. Undoubtedly, the US and India partnership and defence cooperation under Trump’s administration may put the South Asian region into a security dilemma, a situation when an increase in one state’s security leads other states to fear their security. Therefore, due to the US-India defence corporation, other states in the South Asian region also try to increase their military strength to counter India’s enhanced military strength. According to the research article ‘Nuclear Arms Race in South Asia: Pakistan’s Quest for Security’ by Ghazala Yasmin Jalil, “In January 2017, Pakistan tested Babur 3, a submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), in response to Indian ballistic missile technology.” This fact indicates that Islamabad and New Delhi are both in competition to increase their deterrence against each other to survive in a global anarchic environment. So, in this situation, strengthening US-India defence ties will add fuel to the fire, exacerbating the situation of the arms race in the South Asian region. Hence, Indo-US strategic and defence ties may increase the power asymmetry between India and Pakistan, intensifying the security dilemma in South Asia.
- Potential to escalate regional rivalries
Subsequently, Trump’s 2017 South Asian policy may exacerbate regional rivalries, especially those between China and India as well as between India and Pakistan. In essence, Trump’s policy sought to offset China’s increasing power in the region by highlighting India’s importance as a partner, but it can increase tensions in the South Asian region. Additionally, Trump’s policy designated Pakistan as a terrorist haven, which may escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, as New Delhi will see it as a chance to isolate diplomatically Islamabad. For instance, in the past, tensions between India and Pakistan boiled over until a border dispute turned into a full-fledged conflict in 1965. This is a vivid illustration of how hostility between the two nuclear-armed nations can escalate into conflict and destabilize the region. Furthermore, as China may view India’s growing military spending and strategic alliances with the US as a danger and expand military building along the border, the approach may intensify the strategic rivalry between China and India. Regrettably, the policy might exacerbate regional instability and jeopardize initiatives to advance South Asian peace and cooperation. Trump’s 2017 South Asian strategy might, therefore, have far-reaching effects, escalating regional rivalries and threatening regional stability.
- Possible to aggravate India’s aggression in the region
Lastly, Trump has mentioned India as a true friend in his policy and demanded Indian involvement in counterterrorism efforts and Afghan development, highlighting the importance of New Delhi in US foreign policy. Such support from the powerful state may increase the Indian hegemony in the region. Moreover, under Trump’s administration, the Indo-US strategic partnership can adversely impact strategic stability in South Asia, as India ranks among the world’s top arms importers. This adds to the conventional imbalance among states in the South Asian region. Importantly, it also makes India aggressive towards its rival states like Pakistan. For instance, historical wars between India and Pakistan, Indian violations of the Line of Control (LOC), and revocation of the Indian-occupied Kashmir’s special status are glaring examples of Indian aggressiveness in the region, especially towards its rival state, Pakistan. This fact shows that US unconditional support to India can make New Delhi more aggressive and irresponsible. Thus, due to Trump’s policy, tensions in the region might heighten, undermining regional corporations.
Critical analysis
Critically, US President Donald Trump has unveiled his South Asian policy, ignoring Pakistan and aligning with India in Afghanistan, counterterrorism, and defence matters. Now, delving into whether Trump’s policy is a recipe for regional harmony or discord. Unequivocally, Trump’s policy towards South Asia is set to make regional divides sharp rather than bridging them because this policy is detrimental to Pakistan’s core national interests, including peace in Afghanistan, resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and economic prosperity through regional connectivity. Moreover, pro-India policy is an indication that the US is not interested in resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. Therefore, the future course is likely to be murky, given President Donald Trump’s hardline South Asian policy. Furthermore, a troubled and damaged Pakistan-US relationship is neither good for South Asia in general nor for the Afghanistan crisis in particular. President Trump does not seem to be interested in resolving the complex issues of South Asia, as he did not give any framework or work out any concrete plans. Thus, Trump’s policy is not suitable for resolving the core issues of the South Asian region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Donald Trump presented his new policy for the South Asian region, focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Basically, in his policy, Trump announced that he would prolong the presence of the US military in Afghanistan. Coupled with that, he accused Pakistan of providing a safe haven to terrorist organizations and applauded India for its substantial role in the development of Kabul. The approach has major ramifications for Pakistan since it could cause economic collapse, diplomatic isolation of Islamabad, and national security issues. In addition, the policy might exacerbate Indian aggression in South Asia, prolong the cycle of power balance, and create security quandaries among regional states. As a result, Donald Trump’s new South Asia policy may have an effect on the region’s economic and security conditions, making already difficult issues worse.
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