Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) released a statement in response to President Donald J. Trump’s decision to continue pursuing a military solution to the war in Afghanistan. The congressman criticized the plan — which Trump described in a speech on Aug. 21 — for lack of specifics and not being fundamentally different from strategies pursued by past administrations that have led to the “present stalemate.”

“The policy announced by the president failed to deliver any ‘dramatic’ changes to U.S. strategy,” Schiff said. “Instead, the president presented a vague course that appears to mimic past approaches that have led us to the present stalemate. He paid brief lip service to diplomacy, economic development, and regional and international partnerships, while championing an undefined military escalation, but withheld from the American public any meaningful information about how and to what extent our military will deepen its involvement in the country.”

Schiff said one of his concerns was the “conditions based” approach Trump said he would use to guide the U.S. future in Afghanistan.

“The uncertain time frame and lack of metrics to measure any improvement in security or governance is unlikely to change the course of the conflict, even with up to 4,000 more troops and less constraints on how our military uses them,” Schiff said. “Such a policy of secrecy with regard to timelines and troop levels also deprives the American people of the information they need to determine whether another escalation is taking place and the ability to hold their elected officials accountable for the results.”

The congressman also criticized the Trump administration’s decision to confront Pakistan over the support or sanctuary it provides to terrorist groups.

“This is now the third administration to prioritize that issue, and would be more convincing had the president put forward nominees for the key diplomatic posts that would be tasked in securing such cooperation,” Schiff said.

Schiff continued to say that an Afghan government with “broad legitimacy” would be the only way forward.

“The only path to a stable Afghanistan is a national government that enjoys broad legitimacy,” Schiff said. “The Afghan government, working closely with the United States and other partners, will need to fight corruption credibly if it is to shore up domestic support and repel the Taliban’s advances sustainably. Ultimately, peace and stability in Afghanistan will necessitate a bold diplomatic solution, which will require clear-eyed direct negotiations with the Taliban to bring an end to the conflict that has taken so many lives.”