The Trump Administration has said that India is a responsible aid provider to Afghanistan and the war-torn country seeks strategic partnership with it.
During a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells said that India has played an important role in hosting business conferences so that companies get interested in investing in Afghanistan and they can use India as a launching pad.
"We see India's support to Afghanistan as very important. They are a responsible aid provider. They have pledged USD 3 billion in assistance through 2020, Wells said.
"The Afghan government welcomes that assistance. And the Afghan government welcomes and seeks a strategic partnership with India," she added.
She also said that Afghanistan wants a strategic partnership with India.
"We do joint training programmes, USAID, some of its training programmes are conducted in India. We have a trilateral with Indian officials and Afghan officials to coordinate our efforts, and make sure that we're lashed up in the development approach and diplomatic approach," Wells added.
Last year, US President Donald Trump had revealed in his new South Asia strategy that he wants India to play a major role in bringing peace in Afghanistan.
He had also accused Pakistan of giving "safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror," and said the time had come "for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilisation, order, and to peace".
(with PTI inputs)
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