India has not been 'squeezed out' of Afghanistan

New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI) Refuting reports that it has been
"squeezed out" of Afghanistan, India's External Affairs
Minister S M Krishna has said India was playing a "stellar
role" in rebuilding the war-torn country which was
acknowledged by the people and the legitimate government
there.
He also said India has taken note of Afghanistan
President Hamid Karzai's statement that it was a friend and
Pakistan a conjoined twin.
"I do not think that India has been squeezed out. I think
India is playing a stellar role in rebuilding Afghanistan
which has been acknowledged by the people of Afghanistan and
by the legitimate Government of Afghanistan, and that is what
matters," Krishna said in an interview to Karan Thapar for
Devil's Advocate.
He was asked about the media reports that whilst
Pakistan's influence was growing, India was either left out of
the loop or is being squeezed out.
On Karzai's statement, the Indian minister said "In
President Karzai's assessment, I think that is the scheme of
things."
"We take note of that", was his reply when asked if it
worried India.
About attacks on Indians, Krishna noted that those who
have gone there on humanitarian purposes are unarmed which
makes them "easy and soft targets" but he said Afghanistan
government has assured that they will be able to protect the
Indian personnel who have gone there on call of duty.
He said "apart from what the Afghanistan government is
doing, India will have to take some additional measures
ourselves."
The minister also rejected the reports that the US
Administration was trying to minimise India's presence in
Afghanistan.
"We have in our interactions with the US Administration
at various levels not got the impression that the United
States is trying to convey directly or indirectly to the
Indian Government that our presence in Afghanistan should be
minimised. That is not my impression," he said. PTI PYK
RDM