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Washington Runs Serious Risk in Coercing Islamabad

U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Pakistan to stop harboring terrorists, or else – outlined in a speech on U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia on Monday night – risks enflaming tensions in the region. Trump also called on Monday for more cooperation with India, and especially India’s help in Afghanistan. “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,” he said. This risks stoking more tensions with Pakistan, as Pakistan views Afghanistan as a buffer to Indian hegemony and would like to keep India out.

Meanwhile, China on Tuesday defended Pakistan after Trump’s speech. “We believe that the international community should fully recognize Pakistan’s anti-terrorism [efforts],” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing, noting Pakistan has made “great sacrifices” and “important contributions” in the fight.

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