Seeking to clear the air on proposed talks with the Taliban, which India has stressed should be "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned", visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry Sunday said any political settlement would be based on the Taliban renouncing violence and accepting the Afghan constitution.
Addressing a gathering at the India Habitat Centre on US-India Strategic Partnership, Kerry said: "Let me be clear, any political settlement has to be on the Taliban breaking ties with the Al Qaeda, renouncing violence and accepting the Afghan constitution, including its protection for all Afghan woman and men."
He said that Afghanistan "cannot again become a safe haven for international terrorism" and the US is committed to countering terrorism in that country where the US-led forces are set to drawdown next year.
India has said that it has "reservations" about the Taliban and it would support "an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" peace initiative.
The US has proposed peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar which Afghan President Hamid Karzai has strongly opposed.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had Friday said that India "has had reservations about the Taliban all along, We want an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace initiative".
"But, if we have no alternatives we should not obstruct what is happening. We hope and expect it will be an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led initiative; and anything that points to the contrary will be removed from the process and I'm sure the US also has the same viewpoint," Khurshid said.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has voiced anger over the Taliban opening an office in Doha, Qatar, and naming it "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" - like a de facto mission.
He said his government would not join US peace talks with the Taliban "until the peace process is totally under Afghan control".
Kerry had called up Karzai to assuage his anger.
In his talk, Kerry termed the handing over of charge to the Afghan security forces earlier this week as a "milestone".
He said the US was for lasting relationship with the Afghan people. "The US will continue to work with the government in transition and will support the government of Afghanistan to achieve a responsible end to the 30 years of war".
Praising India's constructive role in Afghanistan, Kerry suggested that India could also play a crucial role in the Afghan 2014 elections.
"India can play a critical role in supporting these elections," he said, adding that New Delhi could help "Afghanistan in improving the electoral system in creating a credible and independent framework for resolving disputes".
