With Afghan Army Chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai set to visit India next week, India on Thursday said that it supports the government and the people of Afghanistan in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future that protects the interests of all sections.
“The India-Afghanistan relations are guided by the strategic partnership agreement signed between the two sides in 2011,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said while replying to a question from The Daily Guardian on whether India will give military support to Afghanistan in its fight against Taliban.
He further said, “As a contiguous neighbour, India supports the government and the people of Afghanistan in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future where the interests of all sections of the Afghan society, including women and minorities, are protected.” Bagchi also referred to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s comments at the Afghanistan Conference in Geneva last year reaffirming India’s long-term commitment to the development of the war-ravaged country.
The MEA spokesman may not have confirmed India’s plan to support Afghanistan in terms of military cooperation, but the sources say that New Delhi may take a call on the proposal of extending such a support to Kabul during Afghan Army Chief’s three-day visit beginning from 27 July. The Afghan Army chief is scheduled to meet key security officials, including the Indian Army Chief General M.M. Naravane and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. His visit to India assumes more significance because of its timing. He is coming to Delhi amidst the Taliban expanding influence across Afghanistan. He is said to be coming here to explore possibilities of ‘military support’.
New Delhi has not sent troops to Afghanistan during the two decade long stay by US-led international troops. This, despite the fact that the groups within the Pakistan-backed Taliban like the Haqqani network have in the past targeted Indian consulates as well as the Indian embassy in Kabul.
Afghan envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has said that Afghanistan would expect military support from countries like the US and India should the pressure mount on Kabul.
What is worrying India is the fact that hundreds of Afghan soldiers have either surrendered or run away even as Taliban mounted massive attacks. Sources say that India has a lot of military advice to offer when Afghan army chief holds meeting with top army officials here. What Afghanistan is seeking from India is military cooperation in terms of military assets and some effective tips on strategy to tame the Taliban. “Since India does not share a border with Afghanistan, it cannot help Afghan forces directly,” say sources. However, possibilities may be explored on how to help Afghanistan out of the present crisis.
Sources say that top Indian officials from diplomatic and security establishments have been in touch with several global players and also with the Afghan government officials to take stock of what is happening there. Sources said Indian Army Chief will take a detailed information on all the security scenario in Afghanistan. A focus on which terror organisations are actively supporting Taliban, and how they could be dangerous to India’s assets there. Needless to say, India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country. India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.
Apart from training the Afghan National Army, India has been providing air assets to Afghanistan. Four Mi-35 attack helicopters were provided to Afghanistan in 2015-16 and four more Mi-35s in 2019 along with three Cheetah light helicopters.
Afghanistan has been witnessing a series of terror attacks since the United States began withdrawing its troops from the country on May 1. The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31, ending nearly two decades of its military presence in Afghanistan.