India has 'legitimate' security interests in Afghanistan: US

NEW DELHI: India has legitimate security interests in Afghanistan, like Pakistan, and Washington was open to having international partners for constructive investments to stabilise the war-torn country, the United State has said. US acting assistant secretary of state for south and central Asian affairs Alice Wells also said the military relationship between the US and India in the past 10 years “has been an extraordinary story, with sales jumping from zero to $15 billion.”

“Just as Pakistan has very real and legitimate security interests in Afghanistan, so does India. And we would like to see and appreciate constructive economic investments in Afghanistan’s stability and institutional stability,” Wells, the, told a Congressional subcommittee told in response to a question from Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera on India’s role in Afghanistan. Bera had said the more India was involved in Afghanistan, the more Pakistan seemed concerned, and asked Wells how she would negotiate in that situation to bring stability to Afghanistan.

But Wells remarks have virtually recognised India’s role in Afghanistan and that will also not go down well with Pakistan that has been trying to scuttle Delhi’s role in the landlocked country. US President Donald Trump’s South Asia policy has irked Islamabad and the Pak government reacted by cancelling meetings with the American government.


Persons familiar with India’s role in Afghanistan indicated to ET that India and US has not yet discussed details of further role by Delhi to stabilise the landlocked country. Experts on Indo-Afghan relations pointed out that India might enhance quantum of grant for additional socio-economic projects in Afghanistan in the coming days.

“If you look at India, by 2020, they’ve (Indians) pledged to spend $3 billion. Some of the projects they’re already funded include the parliament house; an important dam; training in India for experts and in agriculture... very vital programs that Afghanistan is going to need,” Wells replied.

“And in that instance, I think, the more international partners we can bring to bear who do constructive investments, again, in the economic sphere and in the development sphere - we are very supportive of,” the US official said.