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" 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," Rao told PTI in New York.
"It appreciates that we are 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 Obama Administration officials in Washington including
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her counterpart, Bill Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs 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 of growing speculations the New
Delhi is being sidelined in the Washington's Af-Pak policy.
Rao also spoke out against the distinction of "good Taliban and bad Taliban" in light of recent developments that
see Washington and the Karzai government planning on engaging with certain members of the Taliban to induct them in
country's polity.