NEW DELHI: India is training a group of Afghan commandos in Rajasthan, army officials said on Friday, deepening its involvement with Afghanistan as its military prepares to secure the country after Nato’s withdrawal in 2014.
- File photo of Afghan commandos sitting on the top of their vehicle. PHOTO: AFP
Nearly 60 members of the Afghan special forces began training with the Indian army’s 10 Para brigade early this month at their hub in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan state.
“The focus of the training is on counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations, with special emphasis on operations in rural areas,” Colonel S D Goswami, a defence spokesperson said.
The training in Rajasthan is focused on carrying out operations with minimum civilian casualties, another Indian army officer said.
“Civilian casualties in anti-Taliban operations in Afghanistan have deepened resentment of US forces, and in turn, fuelled the insurgency,” he said.
Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch, a former commander of Indian special forces, said joint commando training is to be expected as military ties with Afghanistan deepened.
Perhaps for the first time in last 5,000 years — The Afghans are begging the Hindus for help !! The hall of shame goes to Karzai !!! we had to see this day as well L Tauba, what a fall of Afghans.
Ghaznavi, Ghauri, Abdalis and Sher Shah would be fuming in their graves !!
Pakistan trained Talibans and see what happenned to them. Who would like to get its commandoes trained by an Army who has never won a single war. Also, Hindus did not kill Karzai’s father and Karzai knows who killed his father and who are their masters. A beggar nation whose economy survives on foreign grants cant call another nation a beggar.
Today Afghanistan is much better off than it was a few years ago under Taliban regime which was a result of US and Pakistan’s politics towards Afghan people. Please do not degrade Afghans. Taking help from India does not mean begging and India is not a Hindu nation.
This is a way of expressing its sovereignty that Afghanistan is not dependent on its neighbours nor the US/Russia for its needs. India provides military training to many countries.
@Mustafa and Aseem lets get one thing straight, over 95% of the Afghan army are made of Tajiks and Uzbeks who have been hostile towards Pakistan via the old northern alliance and these are the people that india are training. Over half the population of Afghanistan are Pashtuns and Pashtuns are pro Pakistani and WOULD NEVER take help from foreigners especially indians and what they are doing is paving the way for a bloody and vicious civil war.
India is only doing this because it will get bases in Afghanistan and is north to Pakistan but they are so naive. Afghanistan will be their undoing. Afghanistan has always been a graveyard for foreigners and they are walking into there own graves.
Ali, when we see Afghanistan, we see it as a nation and not its diverse ethnic break ups. India is an exmple of diversities. All we indians want is peace in Afghanistan and we would love to see Afghanistan coming into mainstream and not be a puppet of any foreign country. We have seen it ruled by Soviet Union, we have seen it under the influence of US, Pakistan and Taliban and everybody has used Afghanistan to its detriment. We just hope all these Pashtuns, Tajiks, Ujbeks are united and work for the betterment of Afghanistan.
You will find that India is investing in roads, hospitals and other essential things required for the country. We are not sure who will come to power in Afghanistan in 2014 but hope these rods and hospitals would help save lives.
If india wants peace in Afghanistan it should stay out then , you said youve seen Afghanistan under the influence of the soviets, america and Pakistan AND NOW INDIA (and correction the taliban are afghanis)
india has invested in tajik and uzbek areas and completely none in pastun areas this is cause for concern they are dividing the country and this will be they’re undoing. when the americans leave and the Taliban come back the indians will leave with they’re tails between there legs.
Alicaan – India trained Hussain mohd Irshad of Bangladesh. Did India get a base in Bangladesh? India trains every year soldiers from many countries but I have never heard that India has a base in any of these countries? Afghanistan is a soverign nation and it must have an independent foreign policy. If it can accept aid from US and Europe whats wrong if India contributes to its development. India is not interested in sending its army to Afghanistan but would like to see peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
This article is trying to raise a non issue.
aseem your knowledge of international and geo-political knowledge is so weak i dont want to even discuss with you. First of all india did not need bases in Bangladesh it controls everything that enters and leaves, india does have a base in Uzbekistan and is working with the Iranians for a port there. they want a permanent base in Afghanistan with atleast 10 000 soldiers that can encircle Pakistan from the north and i really wish that happens it would be indias biggest mistake.
If you think that with 10,000 soldiers in Afghanistan India will attack Pakistan then i really pity your understanding. India only want that no country should allow on its soil any anti india activity and this includes Pakistan also. Today Bangladesh and Myanmar dont allow their soil to be used for anti india activity and this is achieved thru diplomacy and good relations.
India has used diplomacy to persuade or pressurize even Pakistan to some extent, to not allow terrorism in India and the result is peace and prosperity in J&K. There is a saying in hindi that what a needle can do, a sword can never.
INDIA IS GREAT COUNTRY
Yeah.. a dream that never came true… Keep Dreaming…