With the drawdown of American forces entering the last lap, Afghanistan is all set to renew its request for modern weaponry, vehicles and military hardware from India to equip its forces to fight Taliban. A request for 230 types of military equipment, including attack helicopters, jeeps, tanks and automatic guns, made by former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in April was put on hold by the then UPA Government for the fear of antagonising Pakistan.
However, with the change of Governments both in Afghanistan and India, the neighboring nation has renewed hopes from the Narendra Modi dispensation. Afghanistan’s Minister of the Interior Umer Daudzai is in India to hold informal talks with the Indian Government. “India is our all-weather friend. Changes in Government will only have a positive impact. We have requested India for assistance in the economic, security sector, training of our forces, and with some equipments,” said Daudzai.
It is learnt that top security officials from India, including the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, are expected to visit Afghanistan shortly to assess the situation.Nearly 40,000 troops of United States and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have begun leaving Afghanistan leaving behind just about 10-12,000 soldiers in nine different centres. The US Air Force will also stay put for another two years. While the international troops are leaving behind some vehicles and equipments they are largely carrying back weapons with them. The Afghan National Army will now need to expand rapidly from present 1,95,000 to 2,20,000 troops by 2015. Besides, the number of police and the border security personnel too will be increased substantially.
“The Afghan security forces had already started replacing the international troops and manning borders. In the next three months or the next three years, violence may not cease but the Afghan National Army and our security forces will be able to secure the spaces,” Daudzai said.
Afghanistan is also using China’s ‘leverage’ with Pakistan for its gain. While the new Government in Afghanistan makes an assessment of reconciliation process started with Taliban, Daudzai said Kabul wants China to pressurise Pakistan to prevent militants crossing the Afghan-Pakistan borders. China views Afghanistan as an important factor to prevent suspected movements of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which it sees as a terrorist outfit.