Thaindian News

Kabul, July 20 (IANS) Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna met his US counterpart Hillary Clinton here Tuesday and discussed the Afghan situation, the recent India-Pakistan talks and the forthcoming visit of US President Barack Obama.
In their discussions, Krishna conveyed India’s position on the shifting Afghan situation and backed the peace and reintegration plan provided the Taliban renounces violence and accepts a democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan, sources said.

Krishna and Clinton are among those who are attending an international conference on the future of Afghanistan, the largest gathering in Kabul in decades.

Krishna also told Clinton about his talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad last week, sources said.

He conveyed India’s position that Pakistan needs to take tangible action against the militants behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack so that the dialogue process becomes meaningful in days to come, said the sources.

The two also briefly touched on preparations for Obama’s state visit to India in November and reviewed the recent visit of US National Security Adviser James Jones to New Delhi.

India is hoping for the easing of US high-tech exports, including dual-use technologies, as a major gain during Obama’s visit.

In her discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday, Clinton, according to Pakistani media reports, encouraged the continuation of dialogue between India and Pakistan.