New York:
Despite appearances, this is an alliance based on distrust. The US has indicated that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's White House invitation could be withdrawn if he continues with his anti-US rhetoric.
After being publicly upbraided by the US about corruption and cronyism in his government, the Afghan President has hit back, accusing the UN and the US of interference and fraud in last year's Afghan election and trying to weaken his government.
Reacting to these accusations, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said: "They're troubling, they're confusing. They've been investigated, and they've been found to be untruthful."
Now, Karzai has threatened to enter into negotiations with the Taliban - an enemy the US is sending 100,000 American troops to fight.
Karzai's stock in Washington has fallen since the days of the Bush administration. The Obama government has routinely criticised him, both behind closed doors and openly for failing to eradicate corruption. But short of deposing him, the US has no options for the Afghan President is key to a US exit from the war.
As tensions heighten, the next step in this war of words could be the revoking of a invitation to the White House for May 12.
When pressed whether the White House might cancel the get-together, Gibbs said, "We certainly would evaluate whatever continued or further remarks President Karzai makes, as to whether that's constructive to have such a meeting."
And India will be watching these developments closely, for a chasm between the US and Afghanistan opens up an opportunity for Pakistan. The more dependent the US is on Pakistan to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan, the greater the likelihood of the US taking an aggressive stand with India on resolving Indo- Pak issues.
After being publicly upbraided by the US about corruption and cronyism in his government, the Afghan President has hit back, accusing the UN and the US of interference and fraud in last year's Afghan election and trying to weaken his government.
Reacting to these accusations, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said: "They're troubling, they're confusing. They've been investigated, and they've been found to be untruthful."
Now, Karzai has threatened to enter into negotiations with the Taliban - an enemy the US is sending 100,000 American troops to fight.
Karzai's stock in Washington has fallen since the days of the Bush administration. The Obama government has routinely criticised him, both behind closed doors and openly for failing to eradicate corruption. But short of deposing him, the US has no options for the Afghan President is key to a US exit from the war.
As tensions heighten, the next step in this war of words could be the revoking of a invitation to the White House for May 12.
When pressed whether the White House might cancel the get-together, Gibbs said, "We certainly would evaluate whatever continued or further remarks President Karzai makes, as to whether that's constructive to have such a meeting."
And India will be watching these developments closely, for a chasm between the US and Afghanistan opens up an opportunity for Pakistan. The more dependent the US is on Pakistan to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan, the greater the likelihood of the US taking an aggressive stand with India on resolving Indo- Pak issues.
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