India has a critical role to play in Afghanistan, says US lawmaker

India has a 'critical role' to play in lending stability to Afghanistan and its involvement in the war-ravaged country could redefine its geo-political relations with the US, a top Indian-American lawmaker said on Monday.

'As our troops begin to withdraw by 2014 and Afghanistan goes to elections, India has the opportunity to give the best shot for Afghanistan. And India's role here will redefine its geopolitical relationships with America,' Congressman Ami Bera said.

Bera was speaking at an interaction with former Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen where he noted that "India should be the stable foundation for Asia".

"India has a critical role to play in stability of the Af-Pak region. And as the world's largest democracy and the world's oldest democracy, together we must see that Afghanistan goes for elections in a stable manner," Bera said.

The 48-year-old US-born Democratic lawmaker, only Indian-American currently serving in Congress, reiterated President Barack Obama's words that "Indo-American relationships will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century" and the "next generation of the Indian-Americans will further redefine it".

"We (Indo-US) need to have a constant robust dialogue for our geopolitical stability. I am there in the Congress and I would like other members of the Congress to understand the relationship. I would like them to understand India. And, now people born and raised in US will play a role in redefining that relationship," he said.

The California-based physician who recently visited Afghanistan called engaging in Afghanistan till 2014 end as "in our interest".

"As part of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I will continue to say that it is in our interest to engage with Afghanistan till December 2014. And, we should do it successfully," he said.

Bera's father hailed from Gujarat and migrated to the US in 1950.

Born in California state, he is the third Indian-American after Dalip Singh Saundh in 1950 and Bobby Jindal in 2005 to have ever been elected to the House of Representatives, the lower house in the US legislature.