Washington, Jan. 28 : Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen has appreciated India's role in Afghanistan and said that New Delhi has taken "significantly positive steps" to rebuild that war-torn country.

"I believe India plays an important role here (in Afghanistan)," Admiral Mullen told reporters here at the Washington Foreign Press Center, when asked the role of regional countries in Afghanistan.

"I think the strategic leadership and views, opinions and support provided by India will be very clear. India has taken significantly positive steps to invest in Afghanistan - has for some period of time," Admiral Mullen said.

Reiterating President Barrack Obama's recent remarks on adopting a regional approach in resolving the Afghan problem, Admiral Mullen said, "I think there -- when I talk about a regional approach, I include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, as well as India."

Referring to the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Admiral Mullen said, "There''s certainly a historic tension between Pakistan and India, obviously accentuated greatly as the result of the Mumbai attacks."

Admiral Mullen remained hopeful that the strategic leadership in both Pakistan and India would not progress towards any conflict in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack.

"I think continuing in that direction is important - in the future is very important, as we resolve that particular - the Mumbai attacks, I think properly as opposed to getting in any kind of conflict," he said. (ANI)