Need to prevent reappearance of Taliban post 2014: India

, Jun 9: Observing that the drawdown of US troops from

by 2014 is now a reality, a top Indian diplomat said there is a need to ensure that the

does not regain prominence after that.

"There are definite indications of a drawdown in the US presence in Afghanistan. That's the reality that Afghanistan and the region has to deal with. And to see what needs to be done in order to secure the situation in Afghanistan and prevent any possibility of an upsurge of violence and terrorism and the reappearance of elements like the Taliban, who have caused so much grief and destruction for that country in years gone by," Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao said at the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based think tank.

Rao, in her joint appearance with the US Ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, said that the US was in close touch with the Indian government. "We consult with each other very regularly about the situation in Afghanistan and how we can work together, all of us in the region, to strengthen Afghanistan's capacity to deal with forces that are anti-progress and do not want peace or stability in Afghanistan. So we have to all work together to strengthen Afghanistan's capacity to deal with forces that threaten its progress and prosperity," Rao said. In Afghanistan, she said India has adopted the policy of "Invest and Endure." Afghanistan's development is very much a primary goal or primary concern for India, she said.

PTI