Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether after the US departure from Afghanistan, India’s interests are bound to suffer;

(b) whether India figured in the US’s post-pullout scheme of things;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) whether India would follow a foreign policy which serves its interests best and avoid biting off more than it can chew?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) The United States has said that it remains committed to maintaining an “enduring presence” in Afghanistan. The U.S. and Afghanistan are currently negotiating a Bilateral Security Agreement which will define numbers, mission mandate and other modalities for the US troops’ presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

(b) & (c) India and the United States share a commitment to promote a stable, democratic, prosperous and independent Afghanistan. The two countries hold regular consultations on the situation in Afghanistan, including in trilateral format with the Government of Afghanistan.

(d) Government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Afghanistan and is in touch with various stakeholders, including the Government of Afghanistan, and other regional and international partners, to keep pace with developments pertaining to Afghanistan. India is also part of various international efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Government will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard India’s interests in Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan

South Asia