India invited to international meet on Afghan-Pak in Italy

WASHINGTON: India along with other key global powers and regional players has been invited to an international meet on Afghanistan and Pakistan in Trieste, Italy later this week.

Iran, which has been also invited for the crucial Afghan-Pak meet by host Italy, has not yet responded.

"We expect an open dialogue on the challenges that we face together in Afghanistan and Pakistan," said a State Department official.

However, the senior official could not comment what would be expected from India at this meeting with regard to Pakistan. India's role in Afghanistan is well known, where New Delhi is quietly involved in massive developmental activities.

The meeting would be held on the sidelines of the G-8 Foreign Minister's meeting. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns and Special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke would represent the US.

Italians are convinced, he said, that this is a global problem and can only be dealt with globally.

"If we all working together, I think there's a significant amount of common interest in Pakistan in bolstering the Pakistani government and in providing more resources for its fight against the Taliban and other extremists, and for finding money," he said.