India rules out getting involved in Afghan security affairs

INDIA-AFGHAN
From Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 29 (PTI) As the Obama Administration
begins drawdown of American troops from Afghanistan next
month, India has informed the US that it would not be involved
in the security affairs of the war-torn country, but would
continue with its developmental efforts there.
This was conveyed by Indian Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee in his interaction with the US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and the National Security Advisor Tom Donilon
Tuesday when he discussed with them the situation in India's
immediate neighbourhood.
"We do not want to get involved in the security
affairs of Afghanistan," Mukherjee said in response to a
question at the media round table giving an insight into his
talks with Clinton and Donilon.
Mukherjee, who left for India via New York this
afternoon after a three-day trip, was leading a high-powered
Indian delegation for the second India-US Economic and
Financial Partnership.
"We discussed the overall situation, shared our
perception, our relationship of strategic partnership. We
discussed the geopolitical situation, what is happening in our
neighborhood, what we could do," he said.
"USA is interested that there should be dialogue
between India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. India should also
play a pro-active role in Afghanistan. We discussed these
issues and the problems as we look at," the Finance Minister
said.
President Barack Obama last week ordered withdrawal of
American troops from Afghanistan, with 30,000 soldiers leaving
initially, a process that would continue until the Afghans
take over the security in 2014.
The US troop withdrawal will see a first group of
10,000 soldiers brought home this year and another 23,000 by
the end of September 2012, two months before American voters
decide whether to give President Barack Obama a second term.
"I informed NSA and the Secretary of State that we had
resumed dialogue process with Pakistan some time back.
Actually it began at the margin of SAARC summit at Thimphu.
It was advanced further when (Indian) Prime Minister invited
Pakistani Prime Minister Mr Gilani to watch the cricket match
at Mohali," Mukherjee said.
Dialogue has taken place at various levels and next
month the Pakistani Foreign Minister is scheduled to visit New
Delhi for talks, he said.
"Therefore the important ingredient of the structured
dialogue has started at the different levels of the
secretaries," he said.
Referring to the recent visit of the Prime Minister to
Afghanistan, he said during the visit the Prime Minister
announced an additional USD 500 million for Afghanistan.
"We are mainly engaged in Afghanistan on building of
capacity in different areas, in particularly in areas of
social sectors. We are also helping them in infrastructure
sector," the Finance Minister said.
Mukherjee said Clinton would be visiting India in the
month of July to carry out the Strategic Dialogue.