Afghanistan will top the agenda in talks between India and America

Afghanistan will top the agenda in the strategic dialogue between India and America which is due to take place next Wednesday. The talks will be lead by U.S. Foreign Minister Hillary Clinton and Indian Foreign Minister S.M Krishna.

 America wants India to broaden its role in Afghanistan. According to the Washington Post, Deputy Foreign Minister of America has said that any discussion on America and India’s strategic relations should be started from Afghanistan.”

American ambassador in India Nancy Powell said in a speech in US Development Center last Friday “now it is clear to all that the training of Afghan forces in India would be very valuable.”

India has expressed its concern about the future of Afghanistan after withdrawal of NATO forces at the end of 2014 and has pledged to help about two billion dollars for rebuilding of Afghanistan.

India and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership document last year. Afghanistan’s Minister of Commerce and Industry said, “In continuing efforts to rebuild Afghanistan, India will place a world conference at the end of this month. In this conference investment opportunities and assistance for Afghanistan will be discussed.”

In response to America’s request from India to decrease its oil imports from Iran, India has managed to cut down its oil imports from Iran but cannot fully stop importing Iranian oil.

Officials in America have increased pressure on Tehran in recent controversy regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Barack Obama’s Administration has warned eleven countries including India, China, South Korea and Turkey to stop import of oil from Iran otherwise they will be faced with serious actions from the U.S. government.