US praises India’s role in Afghanistan

The Pentagon has praised India’s significant contribution in the peaceful development of Afghanistan; calling on China to have an active part in Afghanistan.

India and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership declaration in 2011, which formalized cooperation on governance, economics, commerce, education, public administration, and security/law enforcement which said in a report submitted to the US Congress.

India would like to expand its role in the south Asia region, and accepts a regional arrangement for rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan with close cooperation of other nations.

However, Pakistan has expressed opposition to the creation of a regional body which will oversee the economic and security situation in Afghanistan.

India would also hope for the various ethnic divisions of Afghanistan to cooperate with each other to ensure sustainable peace in Afghanistan.

US secretary of state, John Kerry called on China and other countries to play effective role in development of Afghanistan like India.

“Afghanistan has its good neighboring countries such as; India and China. I think anyone in the international community can benefit from a stable, secure and successful Afghanistan,” Kerry said.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping considered President Ashraf Ghani as an old friend of the Chinese people with whom China prepared to work towards “a new era of co-operation,” and “to take development to a new depth.”

Despite China’s concerns that a deteriorating security situation could threaten greater investment, it agreed to give Afghanistan $327 million in aid over the next three years — $81.8 million in 2014 and the remaining sum between 2015-2017.

More significantly, China also agreed to act as a mediator between Afghanistan and Pakistan while Ghani pledged to help China fight its own Islamic militants.

China is interested in playing a larger role in Afghanistan, long seen as primarily a U.S. responsibility after its 2001 invasion.

China’s Afghan policy is now feeling the pressure emanating from the withdrawal of western troops and Taliban surge threatening to give a boost to Islamist militancy in China’s western Xinjiang region.

US Secretary of State once again condemned the recent deadly attacks in Afghanistan; renewing support form Afghan-Taliban reconciliation process.