"Not to appear to meddle"

"After Mr. Karzai’s complaints of foreign interference, the administration is also determined not to appear to meddle." Not to appear? What does it appear then? But the same article said this: "coming after heavy pressure from European and American officials, including veiled threats that his actions could affect pending decisions about troops levels..." Don't you like how the New York Times often add "European" and Belgium to the mix to make it seem more like an international adventure?