US asks India to step-up training of Afghan national army

09 Dec 2009 8ak: US government has asked India to step-up the pace of training being rendered to Afghan military personnel. While the immediate attention is on training them to tackle internal security threats the U.S. also needs them to continue fighting the Taliban once the International forces exit as per Obama's stated withdrawal in 18 months.

"The US and the coalition in Afghanistan are all interested in Afghanistan succeeding, Pakistan remaining stable and solving their own internal problems, and there is a sense of urgency in things being accomplished. So the US should welcome all assistance in the region in Afghanistan and Pakistan challenge that I think we all face," said US pacific commander-in-chief admiral Robert F Willard. 

However, the Obama administration has ruled out applying any pressure on India to send forces to Afghanistan. Former US President George W. Bush has asked India to send its forces to join the international coalition in Kabul, but the Indian government had declined due to severe implications the move would have evoked back home. 

"It is for the Indian military and the Indian government to decide" if it wanted a role in post-withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. India was playing a responsible role in Afghanistan,” Willard said. Adding, "Whether India should see or desire to contribute more is entirely for India to decide."

The Indian government has been providing humanitarian aid and financial aid to Afghanistan. The government has gifted commercial aircrafts to Afghan’s state run airline and provided buses to build a smooth public transport system. India is also building schools and setting up health care facilities in Afghanistan. India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is building roads, which have been damaged badly after years of fighting. 

Apart from this, India is also training the Afghan military personnel for the newly raised national army by posting some special forces officers to Afghanistan. Our national military academies like the National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy has some Afghan cadets undergoing training to lead the men back home.

Comments

[Jason Verdugo]

Its nice to see India getting recognitions for her work in Afghanistan. Our press here doesnt say much about the help we have recieved from anybody. Only with India's help can we hope of stabilising the region. Pakistan and China are problems not helpers in this.