India, U.S. agree military strategies not enough to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan

Source: Xinhua | 03-10-2009 16:05

NEW DELHI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- India and the United States have agreed that military strategies alone are not enough to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan, during talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon with U.S. officials in Washington, reported semi-official Press Trust of India on Tuesday.

Menon, who is on a four-day visit to the U.S., met with top officials of the Obama Administration, including National Security Adviser General James Jones on Monday and discussed with them counter-terrorism cooperation and regional issues, said the report.

Both sides also discussed the progress in the probe into Mumbaiterror attacks and the Afghan-Pakistan strategic review by the United States, according to the report.

The report also quoted U.S. National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer as saying the two sides to bring stability to the region, "economic development and rule of law are also vital to success."

The U.S. government considers India a key regional player in restoring lasting peace in Afghanistan, according to Indian media reports quoting India and U.S. officials as saying.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei