New Delhi, Jul 22 : The United States today ruled out the possibility of stability in Afghanistan without Pakistan's help, admitting that India too had a vital role to play for peace and security in the the war-torn nation.
 
It, however, sought to allay fears that Washington's closeness to Islamabad was in any way detrimental to New Delhi's interests and vice versa and said India's role in the region, specially Afghanistan, was significant.

''You can't stabilise Afghanistan without Pakistan's help.

India has a vital role to play. Our support to India is undiminished. We support India's role in the region. India has a genuine concern for security and stability in Afghanistan,'' US Special Envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said here, articulating Washington's perception two days after the international meet on Afghanistan in Kabul.

Mr Holbrooke, who met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon here, said at a press conference that the United States Strategic Dialogue with Pakistan ''provoked an anxiety'' here about improved relations between Washington and Islamabad.

Also, improved relations with New Delhi, provoked an anxiety in Islamabad.

'The truth is that the United States has close relations with both India and Pakistan than you two countries have with each other,'' he said.

Replying to a question on India's role in Taliban reconciliation, Mr Holbrooke said India's role was not being ''diminished'' to Pakistan's advantage.

''India is not being diminished. It's not a zero sum game...,'' he said when asked about Pakistan's growing role in the Taliban reconciliation process.
--UNI