WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The article touched on other aspects of President Donald Trump's strategy — unveiled in a Monday evening speech — such as stepped up diplomatic efforts and increased military power.
"To be clear: America’s goal in Afghanistan is not to impose democracy or a strong central government that runs counter to Afghanistan’s tradition of local autonomy," Pence stated in the article published in the USA Today.
However, by abandoning US insistence that Afghanistan adhere to a Western model of centralized democratic government — with co-equal presidential, legislative and judicial branches, Pence appears to have rejected a fundamental principle guiding US intervention in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
The draft constitution was released in November 2003 and was approved by a constitutional loya jirga, or grand council, in early 2004. While the document requires that laws be consistent with Islam, the constitution also establishes a government that structurally resembles that in the United States.
Beyond the capital of Kabul, the Taliban terror group (outlawed in Russia) today controls more territory than in 2002, when it was ousted from power in a US-led invasion, according to US military officials.
