India is an essential partner in Afghanistan: US

Terming India as an "essential partner" in Afghanistan, the US has asserted that the two countries share the view that the peace process in the war-torn country should be Afghan-led.
"From the US perspective, India is an essential partner in a peaceful, stable Afghanistan and a prosperous Afghanistan," a senior administration official told reporters yesterday during a conference call ahead of Vice President Joe Biden's India trip starting Monday.
"India's role is characterised by a number of different features. One would be important role as a development partner and supporting economic development of Afghanistan, also supporting institutions of the Afghan State and facilitating commercial investment in the country," he said, adding India and the US closely consult on issues related to Afghanistan.

During his trip to India, Biden would convey to the Indian leadership the US' "view that the necessary outcome of any Afghan-led process that involves the Taliban has to be breaking with al-Qaeda, renouncing violence and abiding by the terms of the Afghan constitution," the official said.
"The US has been very clear on these necessary outcomes," he said.
On the peace process, the official said, the two countries share the views that Afghan-led process that results in a democratic peaceful and stable Afghanistan is the core outcome that they are looking for.

"Indian role in that is an important one. India's role is contributing to regional peace and stability," the official said.

Meanwhile, a State Department spokesperson also said that the US was committed to a peaceful, democratic, and united Afghanistan.
"I would say that our position on Afghanistan has been clear and has not changed, that we are committed to a peaceful, democratic, and united Afghanistan," State Department spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters.
"But obviously, clearly we have some more work to do."
Formal negotiations on the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), which was suspended by Kabul last month continues to be the same, she said.
"Formal negotiations have been suspended. We continue informal discussions with the Afghans on a bilateral security agreement. As the President said in January with President Karzai, we have two goals going forward. These discussions are going to be part of what that looks like post 2014," she said.