India, Iran and Russia, according to media report, will discuss cooperative actions to contain the rising influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan during the SCO ministerial meeting.

    The three countries are concerned that the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan is giving Taliban and other militant groups "a growing space" and the United States and Pakistan may arrange the coming to power of some "moderate" Taliban forces, so that the U.S-led NATO can work out an "exit strategy" to pull out of the country.

    Meantime, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to Kabul on March 16 and in talks with newsmen expressed his opposition to deploying more troops to Afghanistan, saying assistance to Afghanistan would not come from deploying more troops, "therefore we support the Afghan leadership stand in wanting more support in reconstruction efforts." Lavrov called on the regional countries to enhance cooperation in war against terrorists.

    The Russian top diplomat whose country closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan made this comment after U.S. President Barack Obama approved deploying 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

    It is crystal clear that the U.S.-led coalition forces would not win the war against terrorists without the support of Pakistan, Iran and countries bordering Afghanistan.

    Appointing veteran diplomat Richard Holbrook as a special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan is an appreciable step but his mission should cover Iran, India and Russia in order to allay their concerns over the presence of U.S.-NATO troops in the region.

    Even Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta gave importance to Russia's role on March 16 by saying, "Russia's role as an important country and a big power in the world is essential, and it's impossible to have peace in Afghanistan without its cooperation."

    Military's failure to deliver and Taliban stiff resistance forced Washington and its allies to take U-turn and began advocacy for dialogue.

    President Obama, according to U.S. media in talks with Canadian television on Feb. 17, said, "I am absolutely convinced that you cannot solve the problem of Afghanistan, the Taliban, and the spread of extremism in that region solely through military means."

    Obama, according to U.S. media reports, said early March that his administration would open the door to a reconciliation process to what he described "moderate Taliban elements", a stance welcomed by President Karzai as a positive approach for strengthening peace in his country.

    Additionally, realizing the importance of the neighboring states in solving Afghanistan imbroglio, the White House has shown interest to invite Iran for an international conference on Afghanistan opened in Hague on March 31.

    Underlining the importance of neighboring states and wider approach for the solution of Afghanistan crisis, the Afghan President in his address at Munich Security Conference early February stressed that "security cannot come to Afghanistan, or to the region, or to the international community without better coordination with our neighbors."

    This is quite right as the general perception among Afghans shows that neighbors' support with Afghanistan against insurgents guarantees viable peace in this land, otherwise the chaotic situation would continue.