‘Could win Afghan war in a week but for deaths’

Bloomberg

President Donald Trump said he could end America’s longest-running war “in a week,” except that it would cost too many lives.
Trump complained that the nearly 18-year US campaign in Afghanistan is “ridiculous” in a White House meeting with Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan. He said he could “win” the conflict, in which
the US is trying to help Afghanistan’s government reclaim control of the country from militant groups, including the Taliban and IS, “in a week,” but that 10 million people would die.
“I don’t want to go that route,” Trump said. “Basically, we’re policemen right now.”
Afghanistan has asked for “clarity and explanations” from the US regarding Trump’s comments. “The Afghan nation has not and will never allow any foreign power to determine its fate,” according to a statement released on Tuesday from the Presidential Palace in Kabul.
The US opened a new round of talks with the Taliban last month aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan, which began after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The talks between the US and Taliban have taken on greater urgency as Afghanistan heads for presidential elections on September 28. It’s not clear whether the militant group will agree to participate in the elections after a possible peace deal. The Taliban had suggested forming an interim government following a deal but the idea was refused by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Before the meeting, a senior administration official said that Trump would also demand that Pakistan’s government free Shakil Afridi, a physician imprisoned after helping the US government locate and kill Osama bin Laden, the official said.