US wants both India and Pakistan\'s help

WASHINGTON: Regardless of Pakistan's all-out bid to minimise India's role in Afghanistan, the United States has invited both India and Pakistan to be engaged and support the transition in Afghanistan, where the Obama administration plans to complete the transfer of security to Afghan forces by 2014.





"Our strategy is a regional strategy, and we have invited countries, from Pakistan to India, to be engaged in and support this transition in Afghanistan," US State Department spokesman Philip J Crowley told the foreign media.



This regional approach is 'perhaps the most significant change that we've put into effect over the last 18 months, almost two years," said Crowley, broadly indicating that in this scheme of things there is a role for both India and Pakistan.



"India is significantly invested in Afghanistan, and we continue to encourage the role that India is playing to help Afghanistan develop its economy and improve its security," he said.



Even after completion of the transition by 2014, the US would not be abandoning this region, Crowley said here.



As he put it, "We have a commitment to engage this region over the long term. We are seeking a partnership with Afghanistan, with Pakistan. As you saw with the President's trip to India, we believe we're developing a strategic relationship with that country, and it demonstrates our commitment to the region as a whole."



The process between now and 2014 would be focused on helping to strengthen Afghanistan at the national and local levels and building up critical institutions, including the military and the police.



"As you build up institutions and they perform, you can expect to see improvements in the Afghan economy and the export of Afghan goods to other countries in the region," Crowley said.



He also stressed that as Afghanistan stabilises with the ongoing transformation efforts, the benefits will accrue to the other countries of the region as well, including India and Pakistan.



On Kashmir, Crowley stuck to the US position that it does not see any role for itself other than encouraging a dialogue between India and Pakistan.
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