India won't scale down operations in Afghan: Rao

Underlining the importance of stability in Afghanistan for regional security, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Thursday said Washington 'fully recognises' India's role in the war-torn country and reiterated that New Delhi will not be 'scaling down' its operations there following the recent attacks targeting Indians.

"The United States fully recognises that India has legitimate interests in Afghanistan. It appreciates the development work we do there," said Rao.

"It appreciates that we are a force of stability and moderation in our region. We are not scaling down in Afghanistan," she added.

Rao is visiting New York after her meeting with top Barack Obama administration officials in Washington, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns, where they discussed a host of issues on Indo-US relations.

In Washington, Rao emphasised that India had a stake in Afghanistan's future, amidst growing speculations that New Delhi is being sidelined in US' Af-Pak policy. Rao also spoke out against the distinction between 'good Taliban and bad Taliban' in light of recent developments that see Washington and the Hamid Karzai government in Afghanistan planning on engaging with certain members of the Taliban to induct them in the country's polity.

Emphasising that India understood Afghan society due to centuries old civilisational ties, Rao noted that the international community should prepare for the long haul and not try to find quick solutions to the problem.

"There are certain forces that spread terror. The Taliban is part of the very negative presence," said Rao.

"India, as well as the international community, has to stay involved in Afghanistan in order to deal with this problem that has been created by these extremist groups in this country. It is very important to deal with these problems in a way that Afghanistan becomes a stable and prosperous democracy. That is the core of what we are saying and what we convey to our friends like the United States," she said.

The foreign secretary also addressed the Council on Foreign Relations, a prominent think- tank, in a closed door session. As her six-day United States trip winds down, Rao is slated to meet high ranking diplomats at the United Nations including President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the UN Hamidon Ali.

Image: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao at the Indian Consulate in New York | Photograph: Paresh Gandhi