New Delhi, September 24 - India Thursday clarified that the External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna did not advocate a political settlement with Taliban, stressing that the country's Afghan policy had not changed direction.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson clarified Thursday that there was 'no change in India's policy towards Afghanistan'.

'EAM has been misquoted in his interview with the Wall Street Journal and he did not say that there should be a political settlement with the Taliban,' he said.

He noted that it was not India's position 'that a political settlement be attempted with those who do not share these aims'.

The spokesperson added that India wanted to strengthen the Afghanistan government in achieving its social and development goals, as well as in rebuilding its infrastructure.

'It is for the government of Afghanistan to take the initiatives necessary so that all those who abjure violence and extremism and accept Afghanistan's Constitution and democratic set-up, join the political process,' he said.

The Wall Street Journal had quoted Krishna in an interview Wednesday, as saying: 'India doesn't believe that war can solve any problem and that applies to Afghanistan also.