Why Does US Want India To Stay Out of Kabul?

Hmmm, even though this is but a vague rumour that is being talked about in this opinion piece, this could damage the still fragile relationship between India and the US, if true. A very nicely written article, and argues compellingly about why India's interests lie in strengthening ties with Afghanistan, while Pakistan will not like the proceedings. Actually, a complete reading of the article also points out why it is in Afghanistan's best interests, as a country struggling to pull its self out of rubble, to be friends with India.

Why Does US Want India To Stay Out of Kabul?

Musharraf reportedly threatened to 'step up' activities in Afghanistan if India opened up consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar as promised by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha during his visit to Afghanistan in August.

This apparently prompted American fears of fresh terror attacks on its forces or on the floundering Hamid Karzai regime, whose writ is yet to extend beyond Kabul.

To this, the reported Indian response was that while it had no problems with Pakistani involvement in Afghanistan if it involved development work, if it involved attempts to recreate or revive Islamabad's Frankenstein's monster of the Taliban, why, that was the US' problem.