INDIA: On Thursday, India said that it completely supports the government and civilians of Afghanistan in its goal for a peaceful and democratic country. “India Afghanistan bilateral relations are guided by the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two sides in October 2011,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said.
Bagchi stated after he was asked if India would support the Ashraf Ghani government with military hardware. Afghanistan security forces are struggling to maintain peace in the country as the Taliban is invading and capturing several districts.
As per the terms of the accord, India has trained Afghan military personnel and gifted four military helicopters to the government. Meanwhile, India has not sent troops to Afghanistan during the two-decade-long stay by US-led international troops.
“As a contiguous neighbor, India supports the Government and the people of Afghanistan in realizing their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future where the interest of all sections of Afghan society including women and minorities are protected,” Bagchi said.
“At the Afghanistan Conference 2020 held in Geneva to reaffirm the commitment of the international community towards Afghanistan, EAM (External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar) emphasized India’s long-term commitment to the development of Afghanistan,” he added.
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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.
The Taliban has warned India to stay unbiased and not support Kabul with lethal military hardware. On the abduction and assault on the daughter of the Afghan envoy to Pakistan, Silsila Alikhel by unknown people earlier this week in Islamabad, Bagchi described the incident as “shocking.”
