Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer Monday lauded India’s reconstruction work in Afghanistan and stressed that there were opportunities for the two countries to work together in stabilising the violence-torn country.
He also underlined that Washington closely consulted New Delhi on regional issues relating to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“India’s role in Afghanistan is critically important. US President Barack Obama has appreciated India’s contribution to Afghanistan,” Roemer told reporters when asked about reports that suggested some sections in the US regarded India’s reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan as part of the problem, rather than the solution.

“We will continue to solicit India’s views on developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the envoy said.

Alluding to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meetings with Obama in November last year and more recently last week, the envoy stressed that the US held in high esteem the Indian prime minister’s “insights” into the region. “We reached out to the Indian government about their perspectives,” the envoy said, adding that the US briefed India about the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue held last month.

Manmohan Singh and Obama held intensive discussions on AfPak issues when they met on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington April 11.

Obama assured India that the US was “engaging” Pakistan on the issue of trans-border terrorism and shared New Delhi’s concerns over outfits like the Lashkar-e-Taiba plotting attacks on India’s cities.