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US Welcomes Indias Involvement in Afghanistan
[Tolo News] The United States has said India can play a constructive role in Afghanistan and it will welcome New Delhi's involvement in Afghanistan.
"Of course we talk about Afghanistan with India and - as well as other regional issues. Our bilateral relationship with India is quite close and robust. We recognise India's role in the region and are frankly encouraged by it playing a more active and constructive role," Mark Toner said in response to a question at his daily news conference. Some Afghan politicians see the recent Kabul visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as an immense step ahead. Afghan parliamentarians have said Afghan government should reconsider its long-term strategic partnership with Pakistain. "At this time the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Afghanistan is very crucial from a political point of view. And it could be a new pressure over Pakistain. The bottom line is that the death of the late Osama bin Laden ... who had a brief but splitting headache... in Pakistain marks the end of Pakistain honeymoon with the United States," Abdul Latif Pedram, an MP representing northern Badakhshan province said. Another parliamentarian representing the western Herat province said: "Regretfully Afghanistan has no good sense of recognition of enemy and friend". The United States also welcomed the latest Indian initiative in Afghanistan and the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Kabul. "Prime Minister Singh's visit to Kabul, which he concluded today, underscored India's strong efforts to support international efforts to rebuild a secure, stable Afghanistan," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, has said. Mr Blake has said the Prime Minister raised India's assistance pledge to a total of USD 2 billion, and India has assisted with critical infrastructure, like power stations and the Parliament building, and small development projects like health care facilities and wells. Meanwhile, ...back at the cheese factory, all the pieces finally fell together in Fluffy's mind... experts say an strategic partnership between Afghanistan and India could leave Pakistain isolated. Posted by: Fred 2011-05-15 |
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