India can play constructive role in Afghanistan

From Lalit K Jha
Washington (PTI) - The US has said India can
play a constructive role Afghanistan and it will welcome New
Delhi's involvement in the war-torn nation.
"India can play a constructive role in Afghanistan and
in the region, and we would certainly welcome their
involvement," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told
reporters at his daily news conference.
"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," Toner said in response to
a question.
The US also welcomed the latest Indian initiative in
Afghanistan and the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
Kabul that concluded on Friday.
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central
Asia Robert Blake said: "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."
"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."
Blake, speaking on India-US relations at a
Washington-based think tank, noted Singh has spearheaded
initiative to normalise relations with Pakistan.
"Building on the cricket diplomacy launched by Prime
Ministers Singh and (Yousuf Raza) Gilani in Mohali, the
Commerce Secretaries of the two countries met last month in
Islamabad and jointly announced ambitious commitments to
enhance trade and commercial ties," he said.
India's economic rise presents an "enormous
opportunity" to Pakistan, and the normalisation of economic
ties could provide immense benefits to millions of
entrepreneurs, farmers and businessmen in both countries, the
official said.
"More critically, a bilateral breakthrough could
provide a catalyst for wider regional economic integration, a
transformative goal we all wish realised," he added.