'It happens in every election, (that the results are) questioned,' Krishna said.

Krishna's remarks came amid reports of fraud and rigging in Afghan presidential elections. A preliminary tally has President Hamid Karzai leading with 54 percent of the vote, followed by Dr Abdullah Abdullah with 27.7 per cent of the vote.

A run-off between Karzai and Abdullah may be a way out of the political crisis in Afghanistan.

Krishna also rejected suggestions that India's growing involvement in Afghanistan is designed to encircle Pakistan, a fear often voiced by some sections in Islamabad. These circles resent India's growing activities in Afghanistan, saying it will deprive Pakistan of strategic depth in Afghanistan. 'I think that is a baseless allegation,' Krishna said.

The minister, however, accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of playing a disruptive role in the Taliban insurgency by continuing to provide aid to the Afghan Taliban to complicate the military situation there.

'They are a tandem. They are still together,' Krishna said, suggesting the Pakistan government has been unable to break ties between its spy agency and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In remarks that have annoyed some officials in India, Gen. McChrystal, said India's growing influence in violence-torn Afghanistan did not bode well for its stability.

'Indian political and economic influence is increasing in Afghanistan, including significant development efforts and financial investment. In addition, the current Afghan government is perceived by Islamabad to be pro-Indian,' said McChrystal, who has demanded an additional surge of 40,000 troops.

'While Indian activities largely benefit the Afghan people, increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India,' McChrystal at .

Pakistan has repeatedly objected to India having four consulates in Afghanistan at Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat, Kandahar and Jalalabad, in addition to the embassy in Kabul, saying these are used to spy on Islamabad.

India had blamed the ISI for the July 7, 2008 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul that killed 58 people, including an Indian Army brigadier, an Indian diplomat and two Indian security personnel.