HOLBROOKE 2 LST

Holbrooke, who attended the Kabul Conference on Tuesday,
said the US recognises that Afghanistan's "neighbours and near
neighbours have genuine security concerns" in that country and
"that includes definitely India."
To a question about worries here that India's stakes and
role were not being appreciated by the US, he insisted that
"nobody wants to diminish India in Afghanistan."
The US Envoy, who also met India's National Security
Adviser Shivshankar Menon, said "India has a vitally important
role to play" in Afghanistan. He, however, refused to define
that role saying it was for the Indian leadership to do so.
At the same time, he added that there was no "zero sum
game" between India and Pakistan.
He sought to allay apprehensions here that Pakistan
would be taking control of Afghanistan after the US-led forces
leave the country.
"Pakistan is not going to take over Afghanistan nor is
Taliban. But every country in the region has to be part of the
solution," he underlined.
But, he added, "you cannot stabilise (Afghanistan)
without the participation of Pakistan which has legitimate
concerns."
Holbrooke said Taliban poses a "formidable threat to
security and stability of Afghanistan and the region."
He also sought to allay concerns here over the US'
efforts to develop relations with Pakistan.
"Improved (US) relations with Pakistan is not bad for
India and improved (US) relations with India is not bad for
Pakistan," he said, while pointing out that he hears worries
on this count every time he visits Islamabad or here.
"The truth is that America has closer relations with
India and closer relations with Pakistan than you two
countries have with each other," he said.
He said the US firmly believes that its improved
relations with Pakistan and India are in interest of both the
countries. "So, that is the reason we have strategic dialogue,
to improve relations with Pakistan."
On the recent trade and transit pact signed between
Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said it was the "most important"
agreement reached in 50 years and was better than the 1965
pact between Afghanistan, Pakistan and India which was
"outmoded and disregarded".
This agreement does not include India but it does allow
Afghan trucks to come up to Wagah crossing on Indian border
and offload goods directly to Indian trucks, he said, terming
this as a "big step" for Afghan-India relations.
"I hope it is just the beginning of more such steps,"
he said. PTI AKK
MRD


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