<p>Krishna is also expected to argue against premature exit of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan.<br /><br />The External Affairs Minister is representing India in the international conference on Afghanistan, which is set to begin in London on Thursday. <br /><br />Ahead of the London Conference; Pakistan over the past few days revived a grouping of six immediate neighbours of Afghanistan along with Russia, US and UK. <br />Diplomatic sources in New Delhi said that Pakistan’s move was intended to limit India’s role in Afghanistan. <br /><br />Wary of India’s role in Afghanistan; Pakistan has been mobilising the immediate neighbours of Afghanistan over the past few months. <br /><br />Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts resulted in a trilateral summit between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey in Istanbul last Monday. <br /><br />This was followed by a conference of six neighbours of Afghanistan in the Turkish capital on Tuesday.<br /><br />Apart from Pakistan, Iran, China and Tajikistan; the US, UK and Russia too sent their representatives to the meet in Istanbul. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – both neighbours of Afghanistan – were also invited, but did not attend the conference.<br /><br />New Delhi has already conveyed its displeasure to Ankara for not being invited to the conference on Afghanistan, although India’s US $ 1.2 billion aid to the conflict-ravaged country makes it the sixth-largest donor, four times higher than an estimated US $ 300 million contribution by Pakistan.<br /><br />India is involved in construction of highways, buildings and urban infrastructure in Afghanistan, although it has no military role.<br /><br />Sources in New Delhi said that Krishna might refer to a recent opinion poll in Afghanistan that found India was viewed most favourably among the foreign countries by the Afghans. <br /><br />The survey revealed that India topped the list of most favoured nations with approval from 71% Afghans, far ahead of the US, Germany, Iran and Britain. Pakistan was favoured by only 2% Afghans, the poll revealed.<br /></p>
<p>Krishna is also expected to argue against premature exit of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan.<br /><br />The External Affairs Minister is representing India in the international conference on Afghanistan, which is set to begin in London on Thursday. <br /><br />Ahead of the London Conference; Pakistan over the past few days revived a grouping of six immediate neighbours of Afghanistan along with Russia, US and UK. <br />Diplomatic sources in New Delhi said that Pakistan’s move was intended to limit India’s role in Afghanistan. <br /><br />Wary of India’s role in Afghanistan; Pakistan has been mobilising the immediate neighbours of Afghanistan over the past few months. <br /><br />Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts resulted in a trilateral summit between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey in Istanbul last Monday. <br /><br />This was followed by a conference of six neighbours of Afghanistan in the Turkish capital on Tuesday.<br /><br />Apart from Pakistan, Iran, China and Tajikistan; the US, UK and Russia too sent their representatives to the meet in Istanbul. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – both neighbours of Afghanistan – were also invited, but did not attend the conference.<br /><br />New Delhi has already conveyed its displeasure to Ankara for not being invited to the conference on Afghanistan, although India’s US $ 1.2 billion aid to the conflict-ravaged country makes it the sixth-largest donor, four times higher than an estimated US $ 300 million contribution by Pakistan.<br /><br />India is involved in construction of highways, buildings and urban infrastructure in Afghanistan, although it has no military role.<br /><br />Sources in New Delhi said that Krishna might refer to a recent opinion poll in Afghanistan that found India was viewed most favourably among the foreign countries by the Afghans. <br /><br />The survey revealed that India topped the list of most favoured nations with approval from 71% Afghans, far ahead of the US, Germany, Iran and Britain. Pakistan was favoured by only 2% Afghans, the poll revealed.<br /></p>
