Karzai Slams New US' Afghan Strategy as 'Trump More Focused on War & Rivalries'

Sputnik News

18:04 22.08.2017(updated 18:47 22.08.2017)

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said in a statement on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's new strategy toward Afghanistan is against Afghanistan's national interest.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US strategy should bring peace and prosperity to Afghanistan, but Trump is more focused on war and rivalries, Karzai said.

"I very strongly oppose the new US strategy towards Afghanistan as it is against peace and the national interest of Afghanistan," Karzai stated in a Twitter message.

Kazai said the United States needs to seek peace and stability in the region, not an extension of fighting and bloodshed.

The US strategy should bring peace and prosperity to Afghanistan, but Trump is more focused on war and rivalries, Karzai said.

On Monday, Trump announced a new US strategy for Afghanistan and pledged to continue support for the Afghan authorities in their fight against Islamic extremists. The US president said the United States will not be involved in nation building, but in exterminating terrorists.

Trump explained the new US strategy would be secret and any timetables for ending the war will be removed. He also said that he will not talk publicly about troop numbers or plans for ongoing activities in Afghanistan.

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