The Economic Times - Best Way Out of Afghanistan is Through New Dehli

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As the United States prepares to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, a top American Senator has said that the best way out of Kabul is through New Delhi and India offers the last opportunity to help make war-torn nation get rid of terrorist safe haven.

"I have long felt that the best way out of Afghanistan is through New Delhi, is to have a military alliance with India that we encourage India to roll into Afghanistan, to be a non-terrorist base," Senator Mark Kirk said during a Congressional hearing.

"I have long advocated that the United States really sides with India in the Pakistan-India struggle," he said, adding that India offers the last opportunity to help make Afghanistan get rid of terrorist safe haven.

"I know that is an anathema to the ears in Islamabad. I think the US should bet on New Delhi, because it is democracy and inherently a stable and more statuesque," Kirk said.

Responding to a question on the meeting between the Indian and Pak Prime Ministers in New York over the weekend, Kirk said there is tremendous community of interests between the two nations.

"When ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) leaves Kabul, we can't have Afghanistan source of future Mumbai attack," he said.

"I remember the last time I was in India, the Indian military briefed me that they were fighting about 30 separate terrorist insurgencies. So the two countries have strong national security common interests," he said.

"I think the (US) President would be well advised to invite India into Kabul. India has a strong interest in being a good status quo influence in Kabul. My recommendation has been always bet on India because that is a democracy," Kirk said.

Kirk earlier said the two cases where the United States and India overlap considerably on interest is missile defence, which is why India has become such a large purchaser of Israeli missile defence military hardware.

"This is tremendously encouraging to see that link between Israel and India, being status quo democratic powers who I think are good bets for the defence equipment business," he said.

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