Trump's prepared remarks contain a brief reference to Afghanistan, where the U.S. engaged in its longest-ever war. Touting his new strategy unveiled in August, Trump said: "Our warriors in Afghanistan...now have new rules of engagement. Along with their Afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies our plans."
The "conditions-based" approach was perhaps the biggest change in Trump's Afghanistan policy. But so far, the plan has made limited progress. According to the most recent estimates, the U.S.-backed government in Kabul retains control or exerted influence over about 56 percent of Afghanistan's districts. The country has experienced four major insurgent attacks in the last nine days that have left scores dead.
