Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). **Assertion (A):** Alexander's invasion of the northwestern frontier indirectly paved the way for the rapid expansion of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya. **Reason (R):** The Greek invasion decimated the power of the independent tribal republics and small kingdoms of the Indus basin, creating a political vacuum in the region. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

Options:

• A: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• B: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• C: Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
• D: Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

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