‘U.S. supports India’s constructive efforts in Afghanistan’

The United States has said that it supports India’s constructive efforts in war-torn Afghanistan and would like New Delhi to continue with its current role there.

“We have talked to India regularly, repeatedly, in every high-level meeting about Afghanistan. We completely support India playing a constructive role in Afghanistan as part of our regional strategy,” U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters at a daily news conference.

“We recognize that a number of countries in the region, including India, including Pakistan, including others, can play an important and constructive role in the advancement of Afghanistan. So we have not excluded India in any way, shape, or form,” he said in response to a question.

A joint-statement issued at the conclusion of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to India said that the two sides committed to intensify consultation, cooperation and coordination to promote a stable, democratic, prosperous and independent Afghanistan.

“President Obama appreciated India’s enormous contribution to Afghanistan’s development and welcomed enhanced Indian assistance that will help Afghanistan achieves self-sufficiency,” the joint-statement said.

“In addition to their own independent assistance programs in Afghanistan, the two sides resolved to pursue joint development projects with the Afghan Government in capacity building, agriculture and women’s empowerment.”

The two leaders reiterated that success in Afghanistan and regional and global security require elimination of safe havens and infrastructure for terrorism and violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it said.