Some top American politicians and former diplomats have called on U.S president-elect Donald Trump to review Washington’s strategic policy on Pakistan. 

These diplomats also called on Trump to realize that Washington will not withdraw its forces from Afghanistan once U.S relations with Pakistan have been reviewed. 

They also warned that Trump will no longer give blank checks to the Afghan National Unity Government (NUG) once he enters the White House.

These comments were made during a debate under the theme ‘Afghanistan and the Trump administration’ at John Hopkins University. 

Participants at the gathering said that the solution to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan was linked to more political and military engagements between the United States and the countries which are somehow involved in Afghanistan’s affairs. 

“To convince Afghanistan’s neighbors that we are there for the long haul you can’t play a waiting game in order to gain advantage around the system that is vitally important,” said Scott Worden from United States Institute of Peace. 

The speakers said that Trump will likely convey a clear message to the NUG in Afghanistan. 

“There will be clarity in the region once and for all about the enduring nature of the U.S presence and commitment to that part of the world as long as the United States has a willing and committed partner in the government of Afghanistan,” said James Cunningham, former U.S ambassador to Afghanistan. 

He went on to say the onus was on Pakistan in “curtailing the activities of the Taliban and the Haqqani’s within Pakistan and eliminating the safe haven that they enjoy.” 

The speakers also advocated Trump to include Afghanistan among Washington’s main challenges it currently faces regarding the Middle East and some other parts of the world and not allow Daesh and its ideology to gain ground in Afghanistan. 

This new development takes place at a time that Afghanistan continues to face numerous challenges in the security sphere amid an unending Taliban insurgency.