The United States of America is seeking a greater role  for India in Afghanistan after Pakistan's unwillingness or failure to deliver its promises regarding peace process in Afghanistan.

The visit of U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter to India also boost the partnership between the both countries. According to the diplomatic sources, the  U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and United States Ambassador to Pakistan,Richard Olson hints the  U.S. thinking on India’s role in Afghanistan during a meeting in  New Delhi, last week.

Peter Lavoy, Senior Director for South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council and Mr. Olson met with Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) and other senior officials. They also joined  John Kerry,  Secretary of State in Afghanistan's capital  Kabul.

A State Department statement describes Mr. Olson’s visit, as “an opportunity for U.S. officials to express appreciation for India’s support for the people and Government of Afghanistan, including trade ties, security and development assistance, as well as India’s key role in promoting a more stable and prosperous region”

“India is in Afghanistan because the Afghans want us to be there, regardless of what Pakistan or U.S. may want,” an Indian official pointed out.

A senior State Department official described Pakistan’s cooperation as “notable” and China’s as “constructive”. “We (the four countries) have met a number of times.. Now, of course, this was without the Taliban, but we wanted to lay out terms of reference and a road map for peace and do everything possible to facilitate an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned reconciliation process and to test the proposition that the Taliban were prepared to come to the table.”

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Nandini